KALENDARIAL INDEX. 



1163 



Routine culture. Collect earths, composts, and 

 manures ; and, in general, finish digging among 

 herbaceous flowers by the middle of the month. 

 Asters and such-like plants are often only checked 

 in their growth and flowering by the frosts and 

 rains ; attend to them, as they are apt to be blown 

 about, and be disfigured at this season. In cutting 

 them over after the ground is dug, choose a dry day, 

 and obliterate the prints of your feet with a fork. 

 Mow as occasion requires. 



Store-room. (1704.) Look at such bulbs as you are 

 keeping for spring planting. 



Bees. (1746.) See that these are properly protected 

 by straw covers, or by being placed in the bee- 

 house. , 



7. Flower-garden. Hot-house depart- 

 ment. 



Glass case without artificial heat.- (2686.) Take 

 care of alpines and the primula tribe. Also of the 

 annuals and perennials intended for forcing. Guard 

 against damps by admitting air; and to do this 

 effectually, always remove the sashes in the day- 

 time ; or, if the frames being in front of stoves, do 

 not admit of this, tilt or elevate them in front, as 

 high at least as the plane of the sun's rays at noon. 



Hot-beds and pits. (2678.) Go on forci'ng all man- 

 ner of flowering shrubs, bulbs, and perennial plants, 

 and take in now and then a few pots of mign nette, 

 to keep up a constant supply in full flower for the 

 drawingroom. Blow Dutch roots in water-glasses 

 as before. 



Green house. (6211.) Medium temperature, with 

 fire-heat, 42 degrees, maximum 44 degrees. Water 

 sparingly ; give air as the weather will permit ; and 

 see to neatness. Encourage mouldiness on the sur- 

 face of the pots, also weeds and decayed leaves; 

 these being great ornaments at this season, and 

 highly useful for the plants. 



Dry-stove. (6176.) Minimum temperature, with 

 fire-heat, 45 degrees, maximum 50 degrees. Suc- 

 culents require very little water at any time, but 

 especially at this season. 



Bark, or moist stove. (6214.) Your medium tem- 

 perature may now be 65 degrees, or less, but never 

 exceeding a minimum of 55 degrees, and a maximum 

 of 75 degrees. Lessen water and air, as light and 

 heat are lessened. See that bulbs receive proper 

 treatment, as these will produce your finest spring- 

 flowers, especially the crinums and amaryllideae. 



8. Pleasure-ground and shrubbery. 



Plant (2077.) deciduous trees, and shrubs of the 

 hardier kind so long as the weather continues dry. 



Prune and cut hedges. (2110.) 



Protect delicate American trees, as magnolia, and 

 shrubs not yet fully acclimated, as the Chinese rose. 

 Roll, mow, and sweep turf. Attend to fallen leaves. 

 (6195. and 6201.) 



Turf may still be laid, but it is now too late to 

 form or repair lawns by sowing grass-seeds. (2101.) 



Prepare for planting, by levelling, digging, trench- 

 ing, &c. (18G3. to 1871.) 



9. Trees. Nursery department. 

 Fruit-trees. (4361.) Plant only in mild and rather 



dry weather ; mulch, water to settle the earth about 

 the roots, and stake as circumstances require. For- 

 ward delayed work as to fruit-trees, for after the 

 middle of the month it is better not to touch them 

 till February. 



Ornamental trees and shrubs. Complete what 

 should have been done last month, as to planting, 

 laying, taking oft' layers, &c. (7031.) Prune the 

 more hardy sorts in the lines, and protect such as 

 are tender by the usual means. 



Forest trees. Finish sowing the larger seeds before 

 severe weather sets in. Complete all other nursery 

 operations for the season, if possible. Pruning the 

 plants in lines may be the last operation. Gather 

 cones, acorn, masts, nuts, keys, and berries for im- 

 mediate sowings, or the loft or rot-heap, according 

 to their natures, and your skill and circumstances. 

 (6983. to 7037.) 



10. Trees. Permanent plantations and 

 park-scenery. 



Plant in all temperate weather, and moderately 

 dry situations. (2079.) 



Thin, fell, and prune deciduous trees, as in last 

 month. Cut, plash, and repair hedges ; and more 

 especially the hawthorn kind. (6917.) 



Dead fences of every description, excepting mor- 

 tar-walls, may now be attended to ; but avoid 

 building in December and January, even the sim- 

 plest wall. Frost is certain at this season, and its 

 effects equally so. 



Operate on ground, water, rocks, woods, and 

 timber erections ; but by no means on buildings 

 where mortar is used. 



DECEMBER. 



1. Kalendar of animated nature round 

 London. 



.The mole (Talpa europeea} throws up hillocks; 

 the December moth (Eriogaster populi, Sam.) ap- 

 pears about the beginning, and the yellow-line 

 quaker (Noctua flavilinea, Sam.) about the end, of 

 the month. 



2. Kalendar of vegetable nature round 

 London. 



Some of the last month's plants continue in flower, 

 according to the weather. 



8. Kitchen-garden. Culinary veget- 

 ables. 



Sow (2071.) peas and beans, and a few radishes 

 (3760. and 3601.), as for last month. Choose the very 

 mildest weather, and consider the final result as 

 extremely uncertain. 



Protect (2206.) beans sown thick for transplanting, 

 and parsley intended for daily use, with fern ; ce- 

 lery, with litter ; any plants with litter which you 

 have not been able to land up, as artichokes, aspa- 

 ragus. 



To save seed. Transplant cabbages, if you have 

 neglected it until so unfit a season. 



Routine culture. Attend to this only in the best 

 weather, and chiefly in the middle of the day. 

 Earth up peas and beans, or cover their stems with 

 ashes, sawdust, or old tan. Earth up celery when dry. 

 Tie up any endive, cardoons, and white beet which 

 has been neglected. Weed, but do not depend on 

 the hoe, and only attempt to stir dry grounds ; as 

 stirring clayey lands at this season will do much 

 more harm than good. 



Take up edible roots and full-grown vegetables 

 with esculent leaves, as the borecoles, and plant the 

 latter in sand in an open shed for daily use. 



Destroy (2276.) slugs, snails, mice, and other ver- 

 min. 



Moot-cellar, seed, and store-room. (1702. to 1705.) 

 See that these, and what they contain, be kept in 

 perfect order. 



Ice-house. (1730.) Fill this, if not done last month. 



4. Hardy fruit-department. 



Plant (2077.) the hardier trees, as the apple, pear, 

 gooseberry, currant, &c. in mild weather. (4361.) 



Prune as directed for last month ; but remit the 

 operation in severe weather. (2110.) Partially unnail 

 or untie trained trees, and wash their boughs and 

 shoots, as well as the walls and trellises, with any 

 glutinous bitter fluid. 



Routine culture. Trench, dig, and ridge up the 



