1S77.] 
VILLA GARDENING FOR DECEMBER. 
279 
weatlier, the Greenhouse should therefore be made as interesting as possible with 
such plants as display their blossoms during the winter. What a great assistance 
a little fire-heat is! It is wanted now to quicken the Chrysanthemums into 
flower, for they are very tardy in opening, and there is every probability these 
beautiful autumn flowers will be spared much longer to us than usual. Where 
there is fire-heat, judiciously employed, such things as early flowering Ericas^ 
Epacris^ scarlet Salvias^ Cinerarias^ Heliotropes^ Pelargoniums^ tuberous-rooted 
Begonias^ Fuchsias^ Priimilas^ Cyclameiu &:c., will gladden the heart of the 
gardener for many days to come. A few of the handsome-berried Solanums are 
capital things for the greenhouse at this season of the year. Where a nice warmth 
can be maintained, Eucharis amazonica., the commoner kinds of Lady s-Slipper^ 
Calanthes^ Bouvardias^ Lycaste Shinneri^ and a few other things of a higher 
order of merit may be bloomed and enjoyed. 
Strict attention must be given to cleanliness, and the atmosphere kept pure 
and healthy. By many villa gardeners proper ventilation is sadly neglected, to 
the injury of the plants. Such a small matter as picking off decayed leaves, 
greatly assists the appearance of plants; also occasional stirrings of the surface 
soil to prevent the growth of moss, and the occasional cleansing of the outside 
of a pot that becomes stained through this cause. Water must, of course, be 
given to plants that require it, doing it judiciously, and taking care to give it 
sparingly to tender plants. At this season of the year, many plants are killed 
through over much water ; and if the use of the watering-pot could be restrained 
a bit, depend upon it the plants in many instances would be the better for it. 
While the weather remains soft and balmy, fire-heat should be sparingly applied; 
when the atmosphere is humid, a little gentle heat from the fire by day will be 
advisable, if ventilation be given with it, but fire at night should not be applied 
till necessary. If the house be shut up warm before the sun leaves it, it will 
continue comfortable for hours. 
Flower Garden. —At this season of the year beds of Boses require attention. 
Some cultivators adopt the practice of taking a portion of the surface soil 
from the beds, loosening what remains about them, and then giving the 
roots a good soaking with liquid manure, returning the soil taken away, 
and finally adding a good dressing of well-decomposed stable manure 
as a mulching. As most of the deciduous trees will now have shed 
their leaves, they should be cleaned up and stacked away in a heap to 
fonn leaf-mould; or, if desirable, to make up beds in Spring for early 
Potatos., Carrots, Radishes., Lettuces., &c. The grass-plat should be well swept and 
rolled, in drying weather ; and if the turf requires re-laying, now is the time to 
set about it. Store-boxes and pots of cuttings of bedding-plants need to be 
looked over occasionally, to remove damp and decaying leaves. But little water 
is required during the dull winter months. Now is a good time to plant out 
seedling Pansies., Foxgloves., Canterbury Bells., Walljlowers., Pentstemons., and 
other hardy plants, to flower next summer. 
Cold Frames. —Those who have to winter a few bedding and other favourite 
plants in a cold frame, must be on the alert while the weather is dull, cold, 
foggy, and rainy. It is essentially necessary that the bed of the pit be well drained, 
say a foot of brick rubbish, with a layer of ashes at the top, to make a level 
surface. The soil in the pots must be kept dry, and decaying leaves picked off, 
to keep down damp. Air should be given on all favourable occasions, and, 
indeed, during dull weather, if it be mild also, tilting up the lights on the side 
farthest from the wind. All hardy plants in pots in cold frames should be looked 
