234 



GARDENING FOE PLEASURE. 



MONTHLY CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 



Although I have endeavored throughout the foregoing pages to 

 be particular in stating the season or date at which each gardening 

 operation should be done, still it may save time to the novice, and 

 be otherwise of advantage, to briefly suggest what work should be 

 done each month. 



JANUARY. 



Greenhouse and Flower-Garden. — But little need now be 

 done in either; in the greenhouse care must be exercised with the 

 fires to protect against frost, as this is usually the coldest month 

 of the year ; it is also that in which there is the least sunshine. 

 But little ventilating need be done, but when it does become neces- 

 sary to do it, caution must be used ; be careful to raise the ven- 

 tilating sash only so high that the heated air from the green- 

 house will be able to drive back the outer air to such an extent as 

 not to chill the plants. For example, occasionally after a very 

 cold night, where severe filing has been necessary to keep up the 

 required temperature, say to 60°, it happens that the sun comes 

 out bright during the following day, so that by noon or before, 

 the temperature may be at 100° inside the greenhouse, though out- 

 side it may be nearly at zero ; in such case the raising of the sashes 

 an inch or two will rapidly lower the temperature of the green- 

 house, so that an hour or so of such ventilating would be all that is 

 required. If the greenhouse is heated by flue or even by hot 

 water, examine nightly, that no combustible material is laid on the 

 flue or thrown against the chimney of the boiler. As little fresh 

 air can be given, insects are to be watched this month closely ; by 

 the use of fire heat a dry atmosphere will be created in which the 

 red spider luxuriates ; nothing answers so well for its destruction 

 as copiously syringing the plants at night, and splashing the paths 

 with water, as it cannot exist to an injurious extent in a moist at- 

 mosphere. The Aphis, or "green fly," must also be destroyed, or 

 it will soon cause great injury to the plants. Tobacco in almost 

 any form is death to it ; it may be either used by burning the 

 stems or dusted on as snuff, or syringed on in liquid form : for full 

 directions see body of the work. Hyacinths and other bulbs that 



