GARDENING CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER. 
531 
THE FORCING GARDEN. 
General Directions. — Everything being 
ready, the earliest houses may be shut up, 
giving a little air during the day, if sunny ; 
use the syringe freely. Have every thing well 
secured from frost ; and shrink from the idea 
of losing anything from carelessness : never- 
theless covering may be, and is at times in- 
jurious ; therefore, in many cases, it will be 
necessary to exercise skill in determining how 
to afford protection ; when there is any risk 
it is best to err on the safe side. 
Asparagus. — Temperature from 50 to 60 
degrees. When in pits or frames give a little 
air about midday ; prepare for a successional 
supply. 
Cucumbers. — Temperature from 55 to 60 
degrees by night, rising to 70 by sun heat. 
Keep the fruit and wood thin ; syringe often 
if fire heat is much in request ; otherwise it is 
necessary to guard against damp in this the 
darkest month. When there is no other con- 
venience, a dung-bed seed-frame may be put 
up, and in this case sow early next month. 
Figs. — Temperature from 50 to 70 degrees. 
This only applies to those in pits, which it is 
presumed are pretty forward ; apply the 
syringe freely when fire heat is required, not 
otherwise. 
Kidney Beans. — Temperature from 50 to 
70 degrees. Sow for succession at the end of 
the month, either in pots or boxes ; where 
there is plenty of room, plant three in a 
smallish pot. This will be found advan- 
tageous, as then they only require one other 
shift ; give them all the light possible, and 
syringe them twice a day. 
Melons may be forwarded in pots by being 
put near the glass, and having plenty of air 
and moisture, and a heat of 70 degrees ; pre- 
pare a seed bed for cucumbers and them, and 
have the dung thoroughly sweetened by fre- 
quent turnings ; common stable litter requires 
six weeks' preparation before it is in a proper 
condition for this purpose. 
Mint, Tarragon, and other herbs, may be 
forced in boxes, placed either in the pine stove 
or early vinery, or where they will have about 
55 degrees of heat and plenty of light ; the 
roots can simply be lifted out of the ground, 
and forced at once. 
Mushrooms. — Temperature from 55 to 60 
degrees. This is one of the most useful houses 
at present, and every corner should be filled 
with such as rhubarb, seakale, and even aspa- 
ragus : devote one corner to the increasing of 
spawn, by having some prepared strawy dung 
in a medium state of wetness and decay, 
amongst which thrust a few handfuls of loose 
spawn from the old beds : beat the whole firmly 
together, and in a few days it will be ready 
for distributing over the new bed. The spawn 
thus procured is equal to that made in bricks, 
and is more easily procured : a dry heat must 
never be found here. 
Mustard and Cress. — Temperature 60 de- 
grees. It will be found to grow best in old 
decayed tan ; place it near the glass in such 
structures as the pine stove, and give it little 
water ; if the house is moist and there is no 
sun it will require none. 
Musas. — Temperature from 55 to 70 de- 
grees. Continue w r ith a low temperature to 
give little water ; admit air when mild. 
Oranges.' — Temperature from 40 to 55 de- 
grees. Keep sponging the dirty plants ; and, 
if any transplanting is to take place, now is a 
good time ; they delight in a loamy rich soil, 
well drained. Cut out all irregular branches, 
and pick off every yellow leaf as it appears. 
Peaches and Nectarines. — Temperature 
from 45 to 55 degrees. Those in pots may be 
ready for disblossoming, if not disbudding, by 
the end of the month ; the one is as useful an 
operation as the other : syringe freely, and 
maintain a steady heat. The early house 
may be started now by merely shutting it up 
closely at night, giving air daily, and putting 
a little fire in at the end of the month ; syringe 
in the mornings, and shut up early. 
Pine Apples. — Temperature from 55 to 70 
degrees. See that none of the fruiting plants 
want water ; keep up the heat in the pits and 
frames by covering up at night, renewing 
linings, &c. Use as little fire heat as possible ; 
it may be requisite at times during the day, 
in order to give air : syringe occasionally in 
the mornings, but sparingly. 
Rhubarb. — Temperature 55 degrees. Water 
that in the houses with tepid water ; see that 
the heat is not strong about that which is 
being forced out of doors, as it is apt to draw 
very weak. The same may be said of sea- 
kale. At the end of the. month a successional 
crop must be covered up. 
Strawberries. — Temperature from 50 to 55 
degrees. Syringe freely those advanced in 
growth, but give very little water to those 
newly brought in ; keep all near the glass, 
and the house clean and healthful, by airing, 
watering and fumigating. 
Vineries. — Those in pots when 
should have a heat of 60 degrees at night, 
and 70 degrees or more by sunheat. Shut up 
the early house ; bring in a quantity of fer- 
menting manure, or leaves and dung mixed ; 
syringe freely in the middle of the day, and 
shut up early. Have the late houses pruned 
soon. 
FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
Plant and transplant as the weather per- 
mits. 
M m 2 
breaking 
