530 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER, 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Sow a few more peas and beans about 
Christmas. 
Plant and transplant nothing unless the 
weather be very open and dry, when such as 
cabbages and even potatoes may be put in with 
safety. 
General Directions. — Under this head may 
be included all that it is necessary to attend 
to. Persevere in draining, manuring, digging, 
trenching, and ridging the unoccupied ground. 
The wheeling of manure, soil, &c, should be 
always, if possible, done in frosty weather, 
and in the early part of the day. Spread the 
manure where there is any danger of the 
ground getting too hard ; strawy litter may 
also be strewed over the celery ridges, the 
beds of young plants, and every place where 
frost is likely to do injury ; the drier the 
material, and the looser it is put on, the more 
successfully will it resist the cold. The ma- 
Jung and relaying of walks may be proceeded 
with. The thorough preparation of the ground 
for new plantations of asparagus, rhubarb, 
and seakale should now have attention ; it 
should be trenched three feet deep and well 
enriched with manure, as seaweed, dung, sand, 
an 1 fresh loam. Get a supply of labels and stakes 
ready for use when wanted. The brocoli must 
be often looked over, and the mature heads 
cut, and others secured from frost. The Brus- 
sels sprouts require the latter attention : 
do not think of cutting the tops off these too 
soon, as is sometimes done. The young cauli- 
flowers should have the soil stirred about 
them, and air admitted freely when mild ; the 
same with lettuce, &c. Look over the stored 
potatoes, carrots, onions, &c, and take out all 
those which are decaying ; of course the latter 
operations suit wet weather. Turn anew the 
composts and ground in the open breaks when 
dry and frosty ; and see that even winter-work 
be done tastefully. 
THE FRUIT GARDEN. 
General Directions. — Persevere with the 
winter operations until they are finished. The 
orchard, which is usually the last place of 
pruning, must not be skipped over. Take 
every tree seriatim as on the walls, and make 
it appear evident that the gardener has been 
over them : allow no branches to cross each 
other, nor to become rambling ; make the tree 
as a whole look flat, open, and dwarf, as no 
form admits more sun to the fruit, nor is better 
adapted to withstand storms. Continue plant- 
ing, and draining beforehand, seldom making 
a pit, for it is desirable that the roots be near 
the surface ; attend to staking and tying them 
firm. The prunings may be all charred, and 
made again available in the soil, and the com- 
posts used for the trees. As much of the 
surface as possible should be exposed to the 
beneficial influences of frosty weather, by being 
frequently turned over. 
