CALENDAR FOR NORTHERN STATES 247 



Hotbeds may be kept going, or at least started for next 

 month's planting. Winter crops may be grown in them 

 continuously. The amount of growth will be governed by the 

 covering. If the beds are in a sunny exposure and protected 

 from north winds the plants will do much better. Potted 

 plants and boxes may be made ready here for moving to the 

 windows from time to time. Thus a fresh supply of all kinds 

 of growth are available throughout the winter. 



Trees and Fruits. — December is a very suitable time to 

 begin pruning. More pleasant weather for the work is found 

 now than in January. 



Protect tender roses, such as the teas and their hybrids, 

 by tying about them bundles of stalks or straw to prevent 

 winter growing- 



Plowers. — Make double boxes for use in the windows 

 to keep the soil from cooling too much in severe weather. 

 One box is set inside a larger one and packing is placed be- 

 tween the sides of the two boxes and underneath the inner box. 

 Suitable packing material is sawdust or tightly crumpled 

 newspapers. Schools using such double boxes will find it 

 much easier to protect the plants over Sunday when the 

 building becomes cold. The tops of the plants may be pro- 

 tected by wrapping with newspapers. During the coldest 

 weather these boxes should be set in the warmest part of the 

 building, or in the cellar over Sunday. 



The window boxes should be given utmost attention from 

 now on. Keep everything in a thrifty condition. Use liquid 

 manure or solutions of nitrate of soda for watering those where 

 growth is desired. A little potash and phosphate in the 

 water is better for the flowering ones. Study the light rela- 

 tion. Some plants can endure more shade than others. Such 

 is true of begonias, ferns, dracaenas, palms, vincas, fuchsia, 

 English ivy. 



A good sunny exposure is required for suehwindowplantsas 

 abutilon, sweet alyssum, geranium, marguerites and petunias. 



