GARDENING CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER. 
535 
neatly, than if they are left to a more busy 
season. 
THE PLANT STOVE. 
Temperature. — About 60 degrees by day, 
and about 50 degrees at night. 
Ventilation. — Great care is necessary in 
the admission of air ; the requisite tempera- 
ture must be maintained, and even then all 
strong draughts must be strictly avoided. A 
regular fire will be necessary ; and by using 
this rather briskly in the morning, sufficient 
air may be given without detriment to the 
plants, observing to close the house early. 
Watering. — Always use water of the same 
temperature or rather higher than that of the 
house, so that when applied the roots of the 
plants may not be chilled by a stream of cold 
water passing over and among them. Use 
water very sparingly, especially in dull cold 
weather. 
Potting. — Shift only such as absolutely 
require it, but provide a proper supply of 
pots, composts, crocks, &c. to start with when 
the time for more active exertions arrives. 
Insects. — Always bear in mind the reite- 
rated necessity of constantly waging war upon 
all descriptions of injurious insects, and act 
accordingly. 
Achimenes. — Keep up the succession by 
exciting another batch of roots this month, 
and steadily encourage the advance of those 
already growing, by placing them in a warm 
place near the glass, so as to receive all the 
light the season affords. 
Allamanda, Beaumontia, Echites, and all 
strong growing climbers, should be pruned as 
far as requisite while in a state of rest, so as 
to avoid the bleeding of the wounds, which 
takes place copiously if they are cut when 
growing. 
Alpinias, Hedychiums, and other reedy 
plants, should be kept at rest, removing the 
foliage as it decays, but giving very little water 
until it is necessary to start them again. 
Aphelandras, Justicias, Ruellias, &c. — Cut 
down such as go out of bloom, and gradually 
withhold water and heat as they show symp- 
toms of rest. 
Amaryllids. — Only encourage growth in 
such as throw up the flower stems : these 
should be kept rather moist as they advance. 
Begonias: — Adhere to last month's direc- 
tions, and use water with caution even to any 
that may be growing freely. 
Burchellia. — Advance those steadily which 
were placed in heat last month, but keep the 
others cool and at rest. 
Cacti. — Introduce a few more to the forcing 
pit, and remove those sufficiently advanced to 
a warm part of the conservatory ; keep the 
others dormant. 
Cinnamomum (Cinnamon tree). — Guard 
carefully against excess of moisture, and keep 
the plants warm. 
Clerodendrons. — About the end of the 
month a plant or two may be potted in fresh 
rich soil, and gradually excited, giving little 
water at first, but supplying it abundantly as 
the plants advance, using manure- water occa- 
sionally. Syringe frequently, and guard against 
mealy bug and green fly. The other plants 
should still be kept dormant. 
Climbers. — Continue last month's directions 
until all are properly done, and gradually in- 
crease the amount of water to such as com- 
mence growing. 
Daturas. — Continue to rest the majority of 
these. Eyes of the old wood should be potted 
in light sandy soil, and plunged in a brisk 
bottom heat : when rooted they should be 
potted singly in a free rich soil, and grown 
away rapidly, syringing and giving abundance 
of water as they advance. 
Erythrinas. — Start an old plant in bottom 
heat, and thin out the shoots as soon as firm 
enough to put in as cuttings, treating them in 
a similar way to the daturas. 
Euphorbias. — Adhere to last month's direc- 
tions in the case of these plants. 
Ferns. — Keep them comparatively dry and 
airy, in order to correct any tendency to 
damp off. 
Gardenias. — Steadily increase the heat and 
moisture to plants growing freely, and intro- 
duce another lot, removing any sufficiently 
advanced to the warmest part of the con- 
servatory. 
Gesneras, Gloxinias, &c. — Grow those in 
activity as vigorously as the season will allow ; 
and start a few more to keep up a succession. 
Sippeastrums, Crinums, Pancratiums, &c. 
— Encourage the development of any that may 
throw up their flower stalks by increased heat 
and moisture. 
Ipomceas. — Do nothing to excite any of 
these into growth at this dull season, but keep 
them cool and dry. 
Ixoras. — Keep the best plants in a state of 
rest ; one or two may be placed in heat and 
gradually advanced. 
Jasminums, Rondeletias, Brunfelsias. — 
Keep those growing freely which were intro- 
duced last month, and put in a succession. 
Lantanas. — Keep at rest and cool. If 
large specimens are wanted, some strong young 
plants may be started, and the shoots occa- 
sionally stopped to obtain a bushy plant. 
Luculia gratissima. — Do not encourage too 
free a growth in this plant yet; water spa- 
ringly. 
Lycopodiums must get no more water than 
necessary to keep them fresh and green. 
Malvaceous Plants, as hibiscus, should be 
