720 



A MONTHLY CALENDAR OP OPERATIONS. 



take every favourable opportunity to earth it up (1517). Cucumbers : ridge out 

 the plants in the fruiting-beds (1057). Endive : preserve from fi'ost (1510). 

 Horse Radish : dig up for winter use (1547). Jerusalem ArlichoJces : take up for 

 winter use (1418) Peas : sow for an early crop (1388). Salsify : dig up for winter 

 use (1438). Scorzonera : dig up for winter use (1437). Sea-kale : clear away the 

 decayed stems and leaves (1490). Preserve culinary vegetables from frost (857). 



FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



Pinery : water the plant cautiously at this season ; those planted on a dung-bed 

 will require none : admit air at every favourable opportunity (943). Vinery ; 

 protect the border where the Vines of the early forcing-house are growing out- 

 side (956). Peach-house : prune (994) and dress the trees (1010) as soon as the 

 leaves have fallen. Cherry-house : if the lights have been taken off, they should 

 now be replaced, but left open night and day, unless the weather is severe. The 

 trees should now be pruned. Pot Fig-trees for forcing (1034). Continue to plant 

 all sorts of fruit-trees, as in last month. Protect Fig-trees (1323). Prune the 

 Apple (1149), Pear (1168), Plum (1207), Cherry (1192), Filbert (1260), and 

 Gooseberry and Currant, as in last month ; also nail and tie those against walls and 

 espaliers. Look over the fruit in the fruit-room (931). Mulch newly-planted 

 fruit-trees, to protect them from, frost. 



DECEMBER. 



VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. 



Asparagus : take up roots for forcing (1096). Celery: protect during severe 

 frosts (1517). Cucumbers: attend to the linings of the beds (1061), French 

 Beans: plant in pots for forcing (1 104). Mushrooms: keep a moist and steady 

 temperature in the house (1111). Radishes : sow on a hotbedfor early use (1108). 

 Rhubarb: take up roots, and pot for forcing (1098). Sea-kale: take uproots 

 carefully, for forcing (1097). Small Salad : keep a succession, by sowing once a 

 week (1107). Prepare materials for hotbeds (842). 



FRUTT DEPARTMENT. 



Pinery : Slightly increase the temperature of the fruiting-house (946) ; if there 

 is a great declination of bottom-heat, add a little fresh tan between the pots. 

 Vinery : Put on the lights, if they have been removed, so as to protect the Vines 

 from severe frost (969). Peach-house : after the trees are tied to the trellis, take 

 away a little of the loose, dry top-soil ; slightly dig the border (1010), so as not to 

 injure the roots, and add some fresh soil (997). Cherry-house : Fix the trees to 

 the trellis, and make preparations for forcing next month. Fig-house : the frost 

 should be kept out (1035); and if the trees need any pruning, it should now be 

 done. Continue to prune and nail in mild weather. Partially unnail the shoots of 

 Peach and Nectarine trees. Protect Strawberries in pots (1091), and all fruit- 

 trees intended for forcing. Dig fruit quarters where pruning is completed (928). 



NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, AND JANUARY. 

 The young gardener will have leisure during the long evenings of these three 

 months to improve himself by reading, to which he should add writing and drawing, 

 including of course arithmetic and mensuration. In these days, when the em- 

 ployers of gardeners are readers of gardening books, and often possess a consider- 

 able knowledge of vegetable physiology, the young man who does not occupy every 

 moment of his spare time in improving himself, has no chance whatever of getting 

 a good situation as head gardener. 



