556 i 
Remove some from borders, and plant on a dry 
slope. Protect from frost. - 
Garlic.—Plant, as directed for the end of last 
month, if not then done. 
Horse-Radish may be planted. 
Lettuce.—F ill up gaps among those planted 
out-of-doors, and protect them from the attacks 
of slugs, birds, &c. Wood-ashes and soot com- 
bined should be dusted on them occasionally. 
Sea-Kale.—Remove all decayed leaves. 
Shallots.—Plant like Garlic. 
Water Cress may be planted for spring use. 
HARDY-FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 
deciduous, and all such trees are best planted 
when the leaves have fallen. In favourable 
soils and situations, most fruit-trees may be | 
planted sooner or later in the month. 
taking up trees, endeavour to preserve the 
roots as much as possible. 
let a wide and deep opening be made, so that 
it may be undermined with greater freedom. 
When taken up, let all bruised rootlets be cut 
clean off with a sharp knife. Plant as soon as 
possible after taking up, and as deep as the 
trees were in the ground before removal. Spread 
out the fibres, and introduce the soil carefully 
among them. Water, in order to thoroughly 
settle the soil among the roots. Standard trees 
should be staked when planted. 
This is the best time for removing and re- 
planting Pear, Apple, Plum, and Cherry trees, 
with the view of bringing them soon into a bear- 
ing state. In good soil, where these are apt 
to grow too much to wood, this is a very bene- 
ficial proceeding; and in bad subsoils it affords 
an opportunity of placing the roots which are | 
disposed to penetrate such in a more horizontal | 
In planting | 
direction in the better top soil. 
wall-trees, let the stems be 6 or 8 inches from 
the wall, otherwise in growing they will press 
against it. 
in bad condition for planting, it may be ex- 
pedient to defer the operation till next month; 
or if circumstances should then be unfavourable, 
it will be better to embrace the earliest oppor- 
tunity in spring. 
Soon after the fall of the leaf, pruning may be 
commenced as regards the Apricot, Peach, Necta- 
rine, Vine, Plum, Cherry, Pear, and Apple. 
Gooseberries and Currants should be deferred till 
later in the season, because birds are sometimes 
very destructive to the buds. Raspberries, if 
not pruned last month, should have the number 
If, owing to heavy rains, the soil is | 
In | 
If the tree is large, | 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
of canes reduced to five or six, tying them up to 
stakes as before. After wall-trees are pruned, - 
the wall should be washed, and the trees like- 
wise, taking care, however, that the buds are not 
injured in any way by the operation. Remove 
all decayed leaves of wall-trees from the borders, 
and bury them as manure in other parts of the 
garden that are being trenched. When the 
trees are pruned, and all cleaned up at the 
bottom of the wall, nailing may be proceeded 
with. Unnail Fig-trees, and tie them in bundles, 
preparatory to protecting them with spruce 
branches, fern, or straw. 
Attend to the ventilation of the fruit-room, 
and remove all fruit exhibiting the least symp- 
The hardy fruit-trees generally cultivated are | 
tom of decay. 
FoRCING DEPARTMENT. 
Asparagus. —For directions for forcing this 
vegetable see p. 400. 
Cauliflowers.—Those in frames should be kept 
hardy by exposure at all times, except in frosty 
nights or during heavy rains. 
Chicory.—Introduce some in pots, and cover 
with an inverted pot or box of the same size, in 
a dark place, in gentle heat, to grow and blanch. 
Endive.— Take up plants from the open 
ground, and plant in dry light soil in frames 
for blanching. A turf pit filled with good 
light soil, laid sloping, may be planted with 
Endive, which could be protected with thatched 
hurdles in severe weather. 
Kidney-Beans.—Sow in succession. When the 
plants come up, place them as near the light 
as possible. Fill up the pots as the plants ad-. 
vance. ) 
Lettuce.—The frames should be fully exposed 
on fine days, and well protected in frosty 
weather. 
Mint.—Plant some roots in pots or boxes; the 
former are the more convenient for moving into 
any spare warm corner. 
Mushrooms.— Prepare beds for succession. 
After the beds are spawned cover them with 
3 inches of loam, and ram it down hard. Attend 
to sprinkling the floor, so as to maintain a 
proper degree of moisture in the atmosphere. 
Radishes.—Sow in frames, and as soon as the 
plants appear give them plenty of air; or in the 
open air, in a bed hooped over, ready to support 
a covering in case of frost or other inclement 
weather. 
Rhubarb.—Roots may now be taken up and 
forced in any warm place that may be found 
convenient, whether in frames or the Mush- 
