270 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
removed mechanically, by being scraped or brushed off with a toothbrush, 
well washing the part to which they had adhered with a solution of Gisliurst 
Compound, made in the manner above directed. 
Culford Hall. P. Grieve. 
SEASONABLE GARDENING HINTS—DECEMBER. 
HE year now drawing to a close will long be remembered on account 
of its continued drought and great heat. The grass lands 'were com¬ 
pletely burnt up during the summer months ; white Turnips were a 
failure throughout the country; Peas and Broad Beans suffered 
severely, as did some other vegetable crops; and yet, notwithstanding* 
the season has been one of abundance. The cereal crops were never before 
harvested in finer condition; Wheat in most parts of the country has been 
abundant and of superior quality ; Potatos are generally sound and free 
from disease, and the crop is in most places good; so that with Potatos 
abundant and cheap, and flour good and reasonable in price, the coming 
winter we may hope, will not be one of such privations to the working- 
classes, as the last. In the garden, nearly all kinds of summer vegetables 
suffered severely, except such as were kept almost continually watered. 
After the fine rains we had, in the early part of August, everything revived 
wonderfully, and since that time autumn and winter vegetables have grown 
well. Fruits of all kind have been most abundant, and some of them very 
fine in appearance ; I think I have never seen Plums, Pears and Apples finer. 
The wood of fruit trees has had every chance of being well ripened this year, 
so that we may reasonably expect good crops of fruit next season, except 
from trees that have been allowed to carry too heavy a crop this year—a 
thing of frequent occurrence, as outside the gentleman’s garden very few 
people ever think of thinning the crop. This is one of the principal causes 
why we see fruit so abundant one year, and scarce the next. 
The out-door operations for December depend in a great measure on the 
weather. In severe frosts little can be done beyond affording protection to 
any plants requiring it. In mild open weather alterations in progress in 
the garden or pleasure ground should be pushed on with all despatch, so as to 
have the work in a forward state when the busy season comes round. 
At this season of diminished light, all plants should be kept at rest as 
much as possible. Plants in pits and frames suffer most from damp at this 
season; every precaution should be taken to prevent it, water being given 
only when absolutely necessary, and the lights being taken off for a few 
hours on fine days. Protection must be attended to in frosty weather. 
The principal difficulty in managing a collection of choice liardwooded 
greenhouse plants arises generally from the want of proper accommodation 
for the different classes. When a miscellaneous collection of plants is kept 
