394 MONTHLY CALENDAR. [December. 



Collect from heaths and rocks, such kinds of earth as arc 

 suited to the different species of exotic plants, and gather up 

 leaves of trees. If you intend to make hot-beds of them, 

 they should be put together dry ; but if you intend them for 

 compost, they may be laid together as wet as possible, in 

 order that they may rot, for use in succeeding years. 



FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



If any of the work recommended to be done in the last 

 month was not accomplished, let it be done with all possible 

 dispatch this month, as we know not what a day may bring 

 forth. 



Protect the stems of newly-planted trees. Cover with 

 litter the roots of Grape Vines and Figs against walls, and 

 cover the branches with mats, &c. In temperate climates 

 prune Apple, Pear, Quince, and other hardy fruit trees; cut 

 out rotten and decaying branches, 253. 



To destroy insects on the fruit trees, and prevent them 

 from creeping up and breeding on them, do as follows : 



Take a strong knife with a sharp point, and a sharp hook- 

 like iron made for the purpose ; with these scrape clean off 

 all the moss and outside rough bark, and with the knife pick 

 out or cut away cankered parts of the bark and of the wood, 

 in such a slanting manner that water cannot lodge in the 

 sides of the stems of the trees. Having cleared the trees in 

 this way, make up a mixture of lime, soot and sulphur ; 

 put these ingredients into a pot or tub, pour boiling water 

 upon them, and with a stick stir and mix them well together. 

 When this strong mixture becomes cold, and about the 

 thickness of white-wash, take a brush, dip it in the mixture, 

 and apply it to the stems and large branches of the trees, 

 dabbing it well into the hollow parts of the bark. 



The pruning of hardy fruit trees and hardy shrubs may 

 be performed at all favourable opportunities through the 

 Winter, 251 to 254. 



For farther information on the Winter management of 

 Fruit Trees, the reader is referred to the articles commen- 

 cing pages 239, 244, 251 and 259. 



