Reminders of Work to be Done. 381 



DECEMBER. 



PAY particular attention to the drainage of the land ; examine 

 all outlets and clear all pipes which may have become 

 blocked ; on heavy land see that all furrows are clear so that 

 rain-water can pass away freely. Pools of stagnant water 

 standing about on the land should not be tolerated ; there is 

 usually some simple means of removing such surplus water, 

 either by pipes or by surface drains (see pages 7 to 10), but if, 

 unless for some extraordinary reason, it cannot be got away, it 

 may safely be concluded that such land will not pay for culti- 

 vation. All the burnable rubbish should now be gathered 

 together for making " smother " or " smoulder " fires. As the 

 name implies, these fires must be managed so as to burn slowly, 

 or smoulder. When the fire has got a good hold of the rubbish 

 it is cased all over with earth, and further coverings are put 

 over any red fire which breaks through. The resulting black 

 ashes are excellent either as a fertilizing material or for im- 

 proving the texture of seed beds, and form a very valuable 

 ingredient of any compost. 



GENERAL OPERATIONS: p s a e g e e 



Beans (Broad) may be sown in a cold frame for transplanting 155 



Chicory may be forced ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 197 



Mint may be forced on a hot-bed 230 



Mushroom Beds may be made 235 



Mnstard and Cress may be sown on a hot-bed ... ... ... ... 242 



Radishes may be sown in a dry sheltered situation 285 



Rhubarb may be lifted and forced ... > 291 



Seakale crowns may be forced 302 to 306 



Seakale beds are " soiled " to produce " natural kale " ... ... ... 307 



FRENCH GARDENING: 



Asparagus may be forced on hot-beds or in. pits 152 



Cauliflowers may need transplanting deeper and further apart if the 



weather is mild and they are growing fast ... ... ... ... 86 



Continue digging vacant ground and repairing lights, &c. 



Give plenty of ventilation to all plants in frames and under cloches 



(with the exception of Forcing Cabbage Lettuce) whenever the 



weather will permit. 

 When the weather is frosty close all lights and shut down cloches ; if 



severe, all must be covered every night with mats, and dry litter 



should be scattered amongst and half-way up the cloches. 



