1876 .] 
281 
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GARDEN WORK FOR DECEMBER. 
elongate; place them in a cooler place if wanted later ; also Cypripediim^ in 
flower. 
Greenhouse: Goldjussia longifolia is a very useful plant at this season in a 
cool house ; the leaves turn a dark crimson, and it is altogether a very elegant 
object as a foliage-plant, apart from its flowering character, which appears in 
spring; it should be kept on a shelf near the light; its good characteristics 
are lost in a stove. Statice profusa should be looked over, and the shoots when 
too thickly placed thinned out, and at the same time any of the worse-looking 
leaves removed. If more pot-room is needed, it is best to give a liberal 
shift into rich loam, dung, and river-sand in about equal parts. Pot Calceolarias^ 
Cinerarias^ and Primulas into pots that ■will be of the most ser'viceable size; 
the latter, even in 3-inch pots, are very useful and very pretty ornaments in 
rooms. Give backward or late Carnations of the ever-flowering kind a liberal 
shift into loam and liver-sand, and be sure the balls are not mutilated or the 
roots in any way injured. This remark simply means not to poke away at the 
crocks at the bottom of the ball, amongst which are always to be found the best 
and healthiest roots ; let the crocks alone, and pot the plant as it is turned out 
of the pot. The same thing may be said about Mignonette, and all such yearling 
cut-flower plants. Put into moist heat batches of Lily of the Valley^ Spiraea 
japonica^ Deutzias^ Weigelas^ Hydrangeas^ also a batch of well-budded hardy 
Rhododendrons and Ghent Azaleas. Pot a quantity of many of the hardy border 
l^lants, such as Polyanthus., Hellehonis niger^ Balm., Music., and Solomon’s Seal, 
and lots of other things which are equally well worth the trouble. Even Daisies 
are pretty in a pot, and as a window-plant or a present to an ailing friend, 
they are equally appreciated.— H. Knight, Floors Castle. 
FRUITS. 
Pines: Plants in fruit will require a moist, high temperature of 75° to 85° by 
day; sprinkle the paths and walls with tepid v'ater, but avoid wetting the fruity 
particularly when the plants are in flower ; water with care, but copiously, when 
necessary. The most likely plants for starting in January may now be placed 
together where the heat may be raised to 80°; supply moisture sparingly for the 
j-n’esent. Give air on all favourable occasions, and let the bottom-heat range 
irom 80° to 85°. Young plants shifted into fruiting-pots in September should 
be kept steadily progressing in a moist gro'v\dng temperature of 60° by night, 
with a rise of 10° by day imtil after Christmas. Successions in dung-pits will 
require great care this month; keep the linings well made up to admit of venti¬ 
lation, and have plenty of dry covering at hand should severe frost set in. 
Vines: The renovation of outside borders should now be completed; cover' 
with good dry bracken or long litter, to keep out frost. Prune and cleanse all 
vines from which the fruit has been cleared; remove all loose soil from the 
surface of outside borders, and mulch with good rotten dung if the vines are 
weak, or with a compost of turf, bone-dust, and lime-rubble where they are 
strong and vigorous. Examine late grapes for decaying berries, and maintain 
a steady temperature of 55°, with air when the atmosphere is dry. Gradually 
raise the temperature in houses started in November until it reaches 60° by 
the end of the month; syringe the rods twice daily until all the buds have 
broken ; disbud and stop as soon as the best bunches are well formed; in 
preference to hurrying the vines in dull weather, allow the house to run up 
some 15° on mild fine days. Give water at a temperature of 80° to inside 
borders; admit air on all favourable occasions, close early, and damp every 
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