THE YOUNG FARMER'S ALMANAC 181 



ripened cereals ; save some of the kernels in jars ready for the study 

 of foodstuffs. Label all the seeds. Exchange with friends at home and 

 at a distance. Balance the books for the season just closing. 



NOVEMBER : November is the clearing-up time. Tidy the whole gar- 

 den. What do you say to setting out a dwarf apple tree ? This is a good 

 time. Cover the bulbs as soon as the ground has frozen hard. It is a 

 good rule to keep the ground covered with something, a growing crop 

 is desirable ; then it retains its richness. Spread on manure and fork it 

 in lightly. Leave the ground rough, so that the air may get in. Trans- 

 plant evergreen ferns from the woods for the garden and for the house : 

 rock ferns, the Christmas fern, Asplenium ebeneum, are all attractive. 

 These and other growing plants make the most charming Thanksgiving 

 decorations and Christmas gifts. They will grow in low Japanese dishes 

 or deep glass saucers. Arrange them as nearly as possible as nature does ; 

 do not try to add to their beauty with ribbons and tissue paper. Par- 

 tridge-berry vines are always lovely. Freesias, Chinese lilies, and other 

 bulbs may be coaxed to blossom for the holidays. 



Look over the tools, sorting out those that should go to the shop. 

 Polish them well with vaseline or boiled linseed oil before putting them 

 away. A gardener is known by the tools he keeps. 



DECEMBER : This is the month to get your collection of insects and 

 plants mounted and arranged. Supplement by books and reports your 

 own personal experiences with the growth and behavior of plants. You 

 will be surprised to find how much there is in the newspapers and the 

 popular magazines. Plan additions and improvements to be carried out 

 in your own garden. Decide upon your garden specialty for the new 

 season ; a garden never repeats itself. Work in the shop ; make labels 

 and trellises. Do all sorts of tinkering in odd moments. Dibbles can be 

 made, for instance, out of broken spade handles. Paint the signboards 

 and labels which you think will be needed for the coming season. White 

 letters on a green background is the choice in one garden. It is effective 

 and not too staring. 



If there is any manure to spare, make a present of a wheelbarrowful 

 to your favorite shrub or vine. It can be spaded in whenever the ground 

 permits. Don't burn the Christmas greens ; they make a good coverlid 

 for half-hardy plants outdoors. Form a garden club, if you have not one 

 already in your neighborhood. If it is a young people's club, admit a few 

 jolly grown-up people as honorary members. Get as many entertaining 

 books as you can on the subjects that interest you ; talk these over at the 



