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CALENDAR OF GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR DECEMBER. 



The plant and stove heat may be reduced to from 55 to 60 degrees during 

 the night. Fresh surface the pots whenever their soil gets hard or green with 

 moss. The soil for surfacing may be a little stiffer than that generally used for 

 potting, that it may not be so readily washed into holes by watering. During 

 fine weather give as much air as possible to the greenhouse, and carefully pick 

 off all decaying leaves, as they often, in a wet season in particular, generate 

 damp upon the plants. If necessary, occasionally light fires during the day to 

 dry off the damp, giving plenty of air at the same time. As soon as frost sets 

 in, and fires are obliged to be lighted, there is no more danger of damp. 



Attend to Carnations and Picotees, as well as half-hardy plants in frames 

 and pits, taking off all decaying and damping leaves, otherwise they will suffer 

 much, particularly during such a wet season. 



Continue to put into the houses for forcing, Roses, Lilacs, Rhododendrons, 

 and all other hardy plants wanted to come into flower early. 



Where there is a Mushroom-house, the beds should be made up so as to 

 follow each other in bearing successively. 



Dig up all ground free from crops, leaving it rough, so as to be ready for 

 cropping in spring. 



Prune hardy shrubs, and dig amongst them. 



Planting of deciduous trees and shrubs may now be done at any time, when 

 • the soil is not over wet. In clayey soils it should be deferred until spring. 



Many deciduous shrubs may now be layered for increase, and those layered 

 last season will be ready for taking off and transplanting. 



Crops of early Peas may be sown on a warm border facing the south. 



