288 THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOHIST. [ Decembee, 1874. 
If any scale or moss infest the trees, they should be dressed with a mixture of 
soft-soap, urine, and soot. Prune Currants and Baspherries^ and when finished, 
give them a good dressing of rotten manure, which is to be forked in between 
the trees. Trench and manure ground for new plantations, as well as for Straw- 
berries to be planted in spring. Protect Figs from frost by covering the branches 
with fern or mats. See last month’s directions in regard to planting all kinds of 
Fruit-trees; this still may be done in mild open weather, but if much wet or 
frost should set in, the operation had .better be deferred until the spring. 
The Fruit Boom will require looking over often, and all decayed or spotty 
fruits should be removed. No air or light need be admitted after this time, 
except the store-room is damp, when air should be admitted on dry days.—J, 
Powell, Frogmore. 
VEGETABLES, 
Little can be added to the suggestions of the past two months, in reference to 
kitchen-garden work. It may, however, be said that no department in any garden 
should present through the dull winter months, a more neat or tidy appearance. 
Good sound clean walks, adapted for free a:nd unobstructed pedestrianism, being of 
the first importance, these should be secured at all cost, as it is impossible to 
enjoy the garden without them. Happily associated as it is with the fruit de¬ 
partment, there is in connection with this latter much to impart interest, and 
render a garden interesting, irrespective of vegetable and salading crops. Any con¬ 
templated alterations, whether in regard to Walk-making, Fence-fixing, or Hedge¬ 
planting, should be pushed forward with the utmost despatch. So also, and I say 
it without wishing to encroach on the province of my estimable fellow-workman 
Mr. Powell, must attention be given to all fruit-tree removal and planting. As, 
however, I shall anticipate a visit from Mr. Powell, spade or fork in hand, intent 
on planting some kinds of trees, I shall leave the subject, with the friendly hint 
that I would see him as quickly through all his probable pruning and nailing 
operations, &c., as possible, in order that I may suggest that all wall-borders, &c., 
be dug up immediately after his suggestions have been acted on; and that 
Lettuce or Endive (planted in more exposed sites, but which in consequence of 
the mild autumn have grown unduly large and succulent) may again, should the 
weather prove mild, be taken up carefully and transferred to the foot of sunny- 
aspect walls. Plant the Lettuce moderately deep, and the Endive^ should it be 
of moderate size, with its crown well down in the soil, by which means a nice 
white heart will form without any additional covering. 
Look carefully through the crop of Onions, as amongst the stock at this 
season, following the sweating they always have to undergo at storing, some few 
are certain to decay, and so prove a source of injury to the others. 
The necessary fermenting materials placed upon Seakale must be watched, 
to see that the heat does not exceed a moderate mean of about 80°, or the crowns 
will be liable to injury by scalding, owing to undue heat. Other crowns should 
be covered with duplicate pots and materials, to insure a successional supply at 
the proper season. Those who make a rule of forcing the crowns by taking them 
up and placing them in a darkened corner of a mushroom-house or other similarly 
warm place will, it is not necessary to add, dispense with this latter practice ; 
but it may not be unnecessary to suggest in their case that a successional batch 
of crowns must be brought in to maintain a constant supply. Be careful not to 
keep up too high a night-temperature in Cucumber-houses proper, as nothing 
tends to enervate the plants or destroy their continued robustness more than this. 
If a little air be given at the apex of the house on all mild nights, it will prove 
of great benefit to them.—W illiam Eaeley, Valentines. 
