Horticultural Calendar. 
287 
METEOROLOGY. 
This month, thouffh colder, it not so unpleasant as the last; the bright clear frosty days 
which frequently occur, tend ;;reatly to enliven it, while it is scarcely possible to imagine any¬ 
thing more beautiful than the hoar frosts, which are now common, particularly if seen in a 
fine woody country. ' 
Barometer. —Mean Height 29,69.3. Highest 30,320. Lowest 29,120 inches. 
Ther.momkter —Mean Temperature 39,3 degrees. Highest Hb. Lowest 17 degrees. 
Rain. —Mean quantity 2,426 inches. 
Ev APORATio.N.— Mean 0,510. 
Dvffield.nank, Aoo. l631.' _ O J. 
VIIL—MONTHLY HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR, 
FOR DECEMBER. 
This Month is seldom so damp and foggy as the last, but Greenhouse plants must still have 
very little water, and as much air as the weather will admit of. Now, is the opportunity to 
collect all the leaves which the late frosts cleared from the trees, and lay them together, for 
hot-bed and other purposes. I.et every spare piece of ground be trenched, at every opportu¬ 
nity, so that the frosts may have power to act upon, and pulverize it. Look well to the Pine 
pits, that no declension of heat be allowed to take place, lest severe weather come suddenly 
and you be unprepared, 
FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 
Apples, Pears, &c, newly planted, should be mulched with rotten dung, to keep the frost 
from the roots. I 
Pig Trees on the open walls, must be well covered from the weather, (see Calendar for Nov.) 
Cherries, Plums, ^c. should now be pruned. 
Strawberries in pots for forcing, should now be brought in about every three weeks, and pla¬ 
ced in a frame or slight hot-bed, as recommended last month. 
Gooseberries. See page 202. 
Forcing. The earliest Peach-houses, should now have a little fire; be careful however, not to 
allow the heat to rise above .55 degrees by day, as forcing too rapidly, invariably causes the 
buds to break weakly 
Forcing Vines. See pages 6, 195, and 193. 
FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 
Dahlia Roots, being now taken up, will require carefully drying. See page 147. 
Mignonette and Ten- Week Stocks, in frames, must be exposed, by taking off the lights, as 
often as the weather will permit. 
Soils for Auriculas and Carnations, should now be prepared, if not done last month. Sec 
pages 56 and 199. 
Tulip Beds, will require sheltering occasionally, by mats or straw, from heavy snows or rains, 
or the bulbs will be damaged 
Rose Trees in pots for forcing, should now be taken into the stove, to come in flower about 
February or March. See page 245 to 253. 
Lilacs in pols, as well as many other sorts of plants, for forcing, should now be introduced. 
VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. 
Cauliflower Plants, in frames or under hand-glasses, must be well protected from frosts, and 
have plenty of air when the weather will permit. 
Asparagus. Continue planting new beds on a slight heat, as recommended last month, about 
every fortnight or three weeks, and cover them safe from the frosts. 
Radishes. A thin crop should now bq sown on a slight hot-bed ; as soon as they are up, give 
a great deal of air, to prevent them'from drawing, 
Peaf and Beans should be sow n in a sheltered part of the garden, if the weather be open, in 
the beginning of the month. 
Lettuce Plants, in frames or under hand-glasses, must have abundance of air. 
Mushroom Beds, out of doors, must be cleaned from wet litter, about every week or ten days; 
put a covering of dry hay next to the bed, and lay a sutiicient covering of straw or mats, to 
protect them from tne frosts. 
Sea Kale must be covered with pots aud dung, to blanch for table, when not done last month. 
As a criterion, we may generally calculate that it will be ready to gather in about six 
weeks after covering. 
