December Making Plans 



amongst shrubs with a spade, turning over the soil as 

 though he were preparing a strawberry bed. The roots 

 of the shrubs are bound to be damaged by such a process. 

 A garden fork is the proper tool to use when working 

 among shrubs or plants ; deep digging is not needed 

 there. How few amateurs place a proper value upon 

 the dead leaves that are swept up at this time of year. 

 If only they were gathered and carefully heaped up or 

 buried in some out of the way corner, there would be 

 an invaluable store of leafmould in a year or so. The 

 leaves of Oak, Elm, and Beech are the most valuable. 

 They may remain exposed to the rain and frost, which 

 hasten decay, though it is necessary to prevent their 

 being blown about by placing hurdles or some other 

 similar protection over them. Watering occasionally 

 with boiling water hastens decay, and a cupful of 

 ammonia in 1 gallon of water forms a valuable solution 

 for killing insect pests. Tidying up is really essential 

 in the Rose garden now, for mild weather often prolongs 

 the growth of the plants, especially of climbers, to such a 

 degree that they become untidy. Shoots formed late in 

 the season are rarely of any value, for they have no 

 chance to ripen; consequently, in spring, they wither 

 away. Such shoots may be shortened considerably now. 

 Ramblers generally make very free growth, and on 

 established plants there is rarely room both for old and 

 young stems ; the former must of course give way to 

 the latter, and be cut out, the fresh ones being tied in 

 to replace them. It is a good plan to shorten all long 

 shoots, even on bush Roses, otherwise, during high winds, 

 they are liable to sway and the plants become loose in 

 the soil. As much as one-third may be cut off, unless, 

 of course, the intention is to peg down the shoots in 

 spring : then they must be tied in some way to prevent 

 their being blown about. 



Cleansing Rose Bushes. The present is an excellent 

 time to make an attempt to cleanse Rose bushes, so that 



