279 
DECEMBER. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 
STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE. 
Keep the air of the house moderately dry, 
and then the temperature may he maintained 
at about 60° by night, without danger of para¬ 
lysing the constitution of the plants, or 
interfering with their vigorous action when 
subjected to the stimulus of more heat. Keep¬ 
ing this condition in view, growth is not 
necessary to be excited beyond merely a 
gentle movement of the sap. A display of 
flowers may be presented by Gesneras, Eu¬ 
phorbia splendens, Juslicias, Begonias, and 
other winter-flowering stove plants. Some 
kinds now at rest and which it may be desir¬ 
able to obtain early, may be started so as to 
be ready for potting next month. Orchids .— 
See that the plants do not suffer from dryness, 
but at the same time moisture should be 
cautiously and sparingly supplied. It should 
be in a great measure regulated by the greater 
or less disposition of the subjects to growth. 
Fire heat tends unduly to dry the air of hot¬ 
houses ; in order, therefore, that less of it may 
be required, and yet the necessary tempera¬ 
ture kept up, some covering material may be 
used with advantage to prevent radiation by 
the glass. 
GBEENHOUSE. 
Damp weather usually prevails at this sea¬ 
son, the air being saturated with moisture; 
and at the same time very little fire heat will be 
required. Under these conditions little water 
will be necessary, and none should be given 
except the soil exhibit evident signs of dry¬ 
ness. The little that may be allowed should 
be given in the morning, so that all super¬ 
fluous moisture may be dried up before the 
house is closed. Dead leaves should be care¬ 
fully cleared away, and the foliage kept 
clean from dust. The temperature may fall 
at night as low as 40°; it may even be several 
degrees lower, rather than use much fire heat. 
Some of the plants will bear a temperature 
close upon the freezing point, but on account 
of many other kinds that are wintered in this 
structure, it will be advisable to maintain a 
temperature of 40°, which, while it will not un¬ 
favourably excite any plant, will yet keep all 
in a condition to start with more vigour when 
active growth is required. Heaths and 
Epacriscs should be kept cool and dry, with 
plenty of air, avoiding fire heat unless the 
thermometer is likely to fall below 32°; water 
with caution, and apply sulphur if the least 
appearance of mildew can be detected. Pelar¬ 
goniums .—Water sparingly, and do not wet 
the foliage, train out the shoots regularly 
according to some preconceived symmetrical 
form. 
CONSERVATORY. 
A moderately dry heat, just sufficient to 
keep out frost, is all that will be necessary. 
Water sparingly, and in the morning, so that 
all superfluous moisture may be evaporated 
early in the afternoon. Chrysanthemums, 
Salvias, Linum trigynum, Narcissus, Hya¬ 
cinths, Cyclamens, Tulipa suaveolens (Due 
Yan Thol), and various Lilacs will ensure 
gaiety at this dull season. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
If the interior of these and their inmates 
be allowed to get colder at any time than the 
air surrounding them, damping of the plants 
will be likely to ensue, as a consequence of 
a deposition of moisture from condensation, 
which wall take place continuously till the 
plants acquire the same temperature as that 
of the medium in which they are placed, the 
more especially when the air is at the same 
time charged with moisture. Therefore, if 
the roots of a plant are colder than the air, 
they will become wet, and liable to damp off. 
A thorough circulation of air is hence bene- 
ficial, as it promotes a uniform temperature, and 
when that is the case, depositions of moisture, 
and damping-off, cannot take place. Rhododen¬ 
drons, Azaleas, Roses, See., may be introduced 
for being afterwards forced. 
FORCING. 
Pines .—However much it might be desir¬ 
able to prevent the escape of heat by means 
of a warm covering, such cannot be employed 
during the day on account of light; but at 
night the Pine-apple is as independent of 
light in our climate as in Jamaica, and we 
may then adopt any kind of covering that is 
most convenient for the purpose of economis¬ 
ing heat. Wooden shutters placed over hay or 
straw laid on the glass, answer well; their ex¬ 
pense is saved in economy of fuel, with ad¬ 
vantage to the health of the plants; for by using 
warm covering, uniformity of temperature, 
with less dryness of the air, may be attained, 
For starting early-fruiting plants, gradually 
increase the top and bottom heat, and in a 
fortnight’s time give a little water, for by 
fully maintaining the temperature at the same 
time, plan's that are swelling should have 
water in proportion to the dryness which a 
higher temperature occasions. Vines .—As 
the buds swell in the early vinery gradually 
increase the heat to 55° at night, and as they 
break to 60°. In the day the temperature 
may be allowed to rise 5° or 10° higher than 
at night. Fire heat will be necessary, and a 
moist atmosphere within the house should be 
formed by sprinkling the flues and paths. 
Moisture will encourage the swelling of the 
buds, and as the flow of sap tends most to the 
highest points, take advantage of this disposi¬ 
tion by bending down the extremities of the 
shoots till the buds on the lower parts expand. 
Elevate and bring near the light such buds as 
it is most desirable to advance. Peaches and 
Nectarines .—Natives of Persia and the East, 
and naturally flowering early, and at a cool 
period of the year, a high temperature is not 
natural for them, and if subjected to such, 
