CARTER AND CO.’S GARDENER’S VADE-MECUM FOR 1862. 
93 
the year , tying them to the trellis need not ho commenced until the house is closed, at which time retouch any places not 
covered with the composition: let them bo very gradually excited; 40° by night is the best at present. Sec that Cherries, 
Reaches, Figs, and other fruit-trees in pots arc well protected from frost, and the tops secured from breakage by high winds. 
Pits and Frames. 
It will be necessary to keep up the bottom heat to Cucumbers at a range of 80°, two or three degrees higher rather than 
lower; and it the heat is produced by dung, sec that the linings are kopt well topped up ; and should the top heat rise 
% )0 T C '0. loave a little air on at night. Start another bed of Asparagus for succession, also bring forward another supply 
ot oea Kale and Rhubarb, either by taking up the roots und placing them in the Mushroom -house, or else by covering the 
beds out of doors with dung and leaves; in the latter ease do not lay it on too thickly, or there will be danger of burning 
the crowns or drawing it up very weakly. Let there bo a good supply of fermenting materials always kept in readiness for 
contingencies. 
DECEMBER. 
Kitchen Garden. 
Take advantage of frosty weather to wheel out manure to all parts of the garden where it is likely to bo wanted ; make 
good-sized heaps in places where it will bo at hand to spread out when the crops are cleared off; but on vacant ground it 
c „°f s8 > be 3 l ,, ; c ' ,a trenched in at once. Select the plots of ground you intend for Parsnips, Onions, and 
n ofs next year, and trench them up at once in as rough a state as possible, that the frost may penetrate. Continue to store 
, l A , att i c ! an< ! P™ teot Celery in severe weather. If the weather is mild, you may still look out for Cauliflowers 
and Guing 0 8 and Snow s Broccoli, and storo them away as they become ready. Mulch over the beds of Rhubarb, also of 
1 ,° ■ Alllt 'hokes; stir the surface of the ground amongst advancing crops whenever the weather wiU admit ; sow small 
salading undercover twice week: take up Chicory roots from the May sowing and put them in a corner of the Mushroom 
ilouse, and the leaves will make a very wholesome addition to the salads at this season. 
Fruit Garden. 
It is presumed that tho planting of fruit trees of all sorts is now entirely finished off, and the trees properly secured and 
mulched lor protection during the Winter, and that the pruning and nailing of all the hardier sorts of fruit trees is being 
proceeded with whenever the weather is fine enough: do not attempt to prune fruit trees in frosty weather ; it is often very 
injurious to the shoots, causing them to die back ; wo would most strongly recommend that the stems of standard Peaches, 
Nectarines, and Apricots against the walls should be well bound round with stout hay-bands before the ascending sail i., on 
the 11101 e. \\ hen Gooseberry and Currant Trees have been pruned, choose a wet day, and dust the trees well over with 
quick-lime; the ground may then be manured and forked over, unless it is desirable, on account, of tho Gooseberry 
Uiteipill.il to remove the top soil completely away ns before recommended, which operation is best performed when there 
is lrost su Iicient to cake (lie surface, say two inches ; the tender sorts of Strawberries, particularly the British Queen, will be 
temefi ted by a light covering ot brake during the prevalence of very severe weather : do not forget former directions with 
legal (l to the Orchard frees; for if they arc not done at this season, they will most probably be forgotten altogether. 
Flower Garden. 
tectcd by a covering of half-decayed leavOs! Dust over the beds and patches of Ilardy Annuals "wYth quiek-Ume” soo7 'and 
wood-ashes ill a dry state ; slugs are apt to be very destructive to them in mild weather. Most of the deciduous trees will now 
have shed their leaves ; and therefore the whole of the lawns should be thoroughly swept, the borders well raked over, and 
the grass and gravel kept constantly well rolled ; trench up all vacant beds, ancl leave them rough, to become well frosted • 
Plant Houses, Conservatory. 
As this structure will probably bo very much visited at this dull season of the year, extra care should be taken to keep the 
interior m a comfortable state, both ns regards temperature and the absence of any dampness about the floors and pathways- 
watering should, at this season, be all completed before nom, ancl the water which percolates through the pots wiped away 
early. In order to make the enjoyment of these houses more perfect, pay constant attention to those little things which 
constitute the perfection of neatness, such as picking off decayed foliage, pulling small weeds from the surface of the pots 
and, by carefully stirring, give those surfaces a fresh and neat appearance, and occasionally rake over the borders with 
a sharp-toothecl iron rake. Camellias in pots from the Forcing-House may have a little tepid manure water - but do 
not overdo it : the permanent plants in thu borders may be so assisted as soon as 1 lie buds begin to swell oil’ fast. Cut back 
and put m fresh plants ot all the latc-ltowering Climbers, such as Passiflora, Lapageria rosea, and Plumbago canensis 
Fuchsia clouumcana will now be a conspicuous plant at Ibis bouse. Train out Kennedyas and keep them very clean also 
li’opa'olums, and lot them have a free circulation of air; be careful not to over-water them. 
Forcing House. 
Upon the good management of this structure very much of the gay apppearance of the Conservatory for the next two months 
