568 Horticultural Operations for December. 



FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 



Japan Lilies, in the open ground, should now be protected with a cov- 

 ering- of leaves or manure, sufficient to keep off severe frosts. Common 

 white and other lilies also come up stronger for having a slight covering 

 during winter. Bulbs for flowering in pots may be kept in a cold frame. 



HvACiJVTHS, Tulips, and other similar bulbs, should be protected with a 

 light covering of leaves or manure. 



Pansies set out now, and protected with a frame, will bloom finely in the 

 spring. Seeds may now be sown in pots for planting out next spring. 



Carnations and Picotees should now be protected by a covering of 

 leaves, and, if choice kinds, with the additional covering of sashes or boards 

 to keep off the rain and snow. 



Ranunculus Beds should now be got in readiness for planting in Feb- 

 ruary or March. 



Roses, taken up and potted last month, should now be headed in, cutting 

 away all small shoots to a good eye. They may be "wintered in a cold 

 frame, or be taken into the house, where they will bloom from February to 

 May. 



Chinese Primroses will need another shift this month into larger pots, 

 in Avhich they are to bloom. 



OxALisEs AND SpARAXis, pottcd last mouth, should now have a good 

 place on a shelf near the glass. 



Pelargoniums will now require to have another shift into the blooming 

 pots ; keep them in an airy place near the glass, and nip off tlie tops of the 

 young shoots to make them bushy plants. 



Hardy Herbaceous plants of all kinds may have a little old decayed 

 manure or rotten leaves thrown over them, and they will be greatly bene- 

 fited by it. 



Chrysanthemums, done blooming, may be wintered in a cold frame or 

 cool cellar. 



AcHiMENEs of the various sorts may be potted the last of the month for 

 early blooming. 



N^politan Violets, in frames, should be well secured from frost by 

 banking up well, and covering thickly with mats and straw or hay. 



Monthly Pinks and Carnations, for early blooming, may now be 

 shifted into larger size pots. 



Camellias will now require liberal supplies of water, and occasionally 

 liquid manure or guano ; keep tlie surface of the pots free from moss by 

 occasional top-dressing ; syringe the foliage once or twice a M'eek. Cut- 

 tings may be put in now, and seeds planted. 



Chinese Azaleas should now be ratlier sparingly watered. 



Rhododendron, Azalea and Kalmia Seeds may now be sown in pots 

 or boxes. 



Hyacinths may now be potted for spring blooming. 



Greenhouse Plants, of all kinds, will require attention. Many sorts 

 may now be propagated, particularly the hard-wooded kinds ; others will 

 require repotting, while others will need tying up, top-dressing, &c. &c. 

 Keep the pots clean by occasional washing. 



