306 



CALENDARIAL INDEX. 



cleaned from weeds, and the vines or runners taken off close to the plants. 

 Then, if there be room, loosen the earth to a moderate depth between Uie 

 plants, taking" care not to disturb the roots. And if the plants are in beds with 

 alleys between, line out the alleys, and let them be dug a moderate depth, 

 breaking the earth very fine, and spreading a sufficiency of it over the beds, 

 between and round the beds, taking care not to bury their tops. A slight top 

 dressing of compost, such as described p. 286, may now be applied. It may now 

 be time to gather and preserve apples and pears, i3, though it is best to let them 

 remain on the trees as long as they are safe fi'om frost, 15. If you are no t ap- 

 prehensive of the depredations of mice, rats, squirrels, &c. you may sow tiie 

 stones of plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, &c. 5 or you may, if you think it 

 more prudent, preserve them in sand till March or April. 



Gather from your garden, before tlie hard frosts commence, all those fi'uits 

 of your labours, which you wish to preserve through the winler, not forget- 

 t'lig winter squashes. Take up and preserve cabbages, as directed p. 65. Pre- 

 irve 3'oar celery, 75. You ma}^ gather a part in dry weather, and pack it in 

 oxes in dry sand, and place the boxes in a WcU^m cellar, leaving the tops and 

 aaves open to the air. Those cabbage and caulitlower plants, wliich 3-ou mean 

 >hail siand through the winter in frames, should, during the continuance of 

 nlld weather he allowed every advantage of fi-ee air, to inure them, by de- 



frees, to bear cold. Take the glasses off entirely, in the v/arm part of the 

 ay, but place them on again at night, and in wet or cold weather. If your 

 beets, turnips, parsneps, &c. are not secured, take them up, and preserve 

 them,, as directed last mionth. You may nov/ sow the seeds of rhubarb, sea- 

 kale, skirrets, parsneps, and many other kinds, which are somewhat slov*' in 

 vegetating, and they will come forward early, and grow vigorously in the 

 spring. In the beginning of this monih, you may manure and trench the ground 

 which is intended for early crops, and, if it be of a stitl', heavy nature, lay it up 

 in ridges, to receive the benefit of the winter frosts. You may now sow early 

 peas, to come up in the spring, if you can preserve them against mice, 227. 

 This is, perhaps, as eligible a period as any for the planting of apple-trees, 

 and other fruit-trees, 17, 220, or sowing seeds in a nursery, 208, 210. Lay 

 light litter of some kind a good thickness over the roots of the more tender 

 and choice kinds of trees and shrubs, to protect them from frost. 



DECEMBER. 



The severity of the weather in this month generally allows but little to be 

 done in the Middle and Northern States. Should the season permit, you may 

 perform any of the operations directed for last month, which remain mifinished. 

 If the weather continues open, carry out and spread manure, and trench the 

 ground, as directed for the last month. Provide from the woods, &c. pea- 

 sticks and bean-poles, of suitable lengths and sizes, as directed in January. 

 Collect all your old sticks and poles, which are still fit for use, and place them 

 together wnh your new ones under cover, to prevent their rotting. Be careful 

 to shut the frost out of the apartments in which you have stored your fruit for 

 winter and spring use. Examine the fruit which'you have on shelves in cellars, 

 once every ten days, and take away any that you find tainted. Repair all 

 decayed trellises, espaliers, &c. Procure stakes and other materials which 

 may be wanted in a more busy season. 



