198 OCCUPATIONS FOR THE MONTH. [DEC. 



December, to work in it ; but there is little to 

 be done if you have finished digging, besides 

 keeping it swept and rolled. The frame plants, 

 however, must be attended to ; they must have 

 air, when the weather is mild, and be protected 

 with mats from the frosts. I have before said, 

 that, though the frost is to be kept from the 

 frames, the plants must not be allowed to grow, 

 with the exception of a few, to which it is natu- 

 ral to vegetate at this season : among these is 

 the Calceolaria. When you find any plant 

 beginning to grow, or draw, as it is termed, you 

 may be certain that you are treating it too 

 tenderly, and must alter your management, 

 allowing it, by degrees, more air. I have 

 already explained, in a preceding letter, the 

 reason of this. 



I therefore now take my leave of the subject 

 on which we have been corresponding, regret- 



