20G 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[December 215. 
and 50° by night; cut down all the shoots that flowered the preceding 
summer, to allow room for the young shoots ; keep them quite dry while 
at rest. Syringe blocks as directed last month. Water at the roots, 
apply carefully; do not wet the young shoots. T. Appleby. 
PLANT STOVE. 
See last month. Pot a second batch of Achimenes, Gesneras, and 
Gloxinias, to succeed those done last month. Give moderate supplies of 
water till they begin to grow. The heat of this house must still be kept 
low, as too much excitement will, for want of light, cause the plants to 
grow weak, and the young leaves to come yellow. T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Air. Whenever the sun overcomes the frost draw off the lights, it will 
refresh the plants much; if kept on the plants will begin to grow, and 
will be more liable to suffer from close covering during severe weather. 
In dull, humid, mild weather, give air at the back or sides by tilting up 
the lights. As the frost in this month is often very severe apply Cover¬ 
ings of sufficient thickness to keep it out; light open material, such as 
fern or straw, with a single mat over it to prevent it blowing about, is 
better than a covering of three mats laid close upon each other. Use 
hoops and mats over the tulip and hyacinth beds in severe frosty or heavy 
rainy weather. Pinks : after the frost is gone press the soil to with the 
hand firmly, or they will be thrown quite out of the ground. Ranun¬ 
culuses may be planted, weather permitting, the last week in the 
month (see former number of Tiie Cottage Gardener as to the 
manner). Water : give none in frosty weather, but as soon as a change 
takes place apply it early in the morning of a fine day. T. Appleby. 
FLOWER-GARDEN. 
Annuals in borders keep free from fallen leaves or other litter ; and, 
if the weather is fine, sow a few more at the end of the month. Bulbs, 
see that mice or rats do not get to them : fresh soot keeps th*nn off for 
awhile. Cuttings of various hardy deciduous shrubs, climbing roses, 
and the like, may yet be put in. Edgings, see that they arc in good 
order; slate edgings are the best, then box: either may be laid this 
month. If the soil is dry at the end of the month plant some Gladioli, 
such as Psittacinus, and continue in monthly succession to the end of 
April. Forget not to procure such stakes, rods, pegs, ami tallies as may 
be wanted next summer, in time. Destroy rats, mice, and other creatures 
destructive to seeds and roots. Again look at the protected plants to see 
they are dry. Grass, keep it clean and well rolled. Hedges, evergreen 
and otherwise, may be yet planted and dressed. Layers of evergreens 
or deciduous shrubs may be made as the borders are cleaned. Manure, 
in composts, apply to such flower-beds as may require assistance; and in 
a solid, rotten state to all roses. Mulch all newly-planted trees, &c. 
Potted plants in reserve-garden secure from frosts. Planting, push 
forward in mild weather. Prune and regulate every tree or bush which 
requires it: be more sparing with evergreens. Ranunculuses, if the 
soil is dry, plant a lot for another succession. Roses, prune, plant, and 
dung, if not already done: and wash them with strong lime and soot 
paint, to kill moss and insects. Seedlings and all young plants protect 
according to their hardihood and strength. Suckers, pull up and 
destroy, unless wanted for increase, as those of some roses, See. Trench 
vacant ground. Walks, roll as soon as they are dry after rains or frost, 
and keep them regularly cleaned. Weeds, destroy everywhere. Wheel¬ 
ing, reserve for frosty or very dry weather. D. Beaton. 
ORCHARD. 
Almonds, plant. Apples (espalier) prune, &c.; plant, See. Apri¬ 
cots, plant; prune and train in frosty weather. Brine, apply with a 
scrubbing-brush to stems and branches of fruit-trees, to destroy insects, 
eggs, and moss. Cherries (wall and espalier), prune and train ; plant. 
Chrsnuts, plant. Currants, prune; plant. Cuttings of goose¬ 
berries, Sec., may be planted. Drainage, attend to. Espaliers, 
prune and regulate. Figs, plant; protect from frost. Filberts, 
plant. Fork the surface around fruit-trees. Gooseberries, plant; 
prune. Layers, plant. Leaves, collect for various uses. Medlars, 
plant. Mulberries, plant. Mulcii, put around newly-planted trees. 
Nectarines, plant; prune and train in frosty weather. Peaches (see 
nectarine). Pears, plant; (espalier), prune, &c. Plums, plant; (wall 
and espalier), prune. Pruning, attend to generally. Quinces, plant. 
Raspberries, plant; prune and dress. Services, plant. Snails, 
destroy in their torpid state. Stake and support trees newly planted. 
Standards, remove dead and irregular branches from. Suckers, 
plant. Strawberries, top-dress and protect. Trench and prepare 
borders, Sec., for planting. Vines, plant, prune, and train. Wall- 
trees generally, prune and regulate. Walls: it is a very beneficial 
plan to paint these by means of a whitewasher’s brush, with a liquid 
mixture of lime, soot, and sulphur—lib. soot, 2 lb. sulphur, and 2 lb. 
lime. It destroys and banishes insects, as well as by its dark colour 
promoting the warmth of the wall. The liquid employed, in which to 
mix the above, should be urine and soapsuds—in equal proportions. 
Any trees proposed to be regrafted in the spring may be headed down 
now in open weather, but the stumps of the branches should be left suffi¬ 
ciently long to permit a few inches more to be cut off at the time of 
grafting. R. Errington. 
FORCING-HOUSE. 
Air, admit, as often as circumstances permit. Apricots (see peach). 
Bark-beds, stir, and renew, if heat declines. Cherries (see peach). 
Cucumbers, in pots, introduce; sprinkle frequently over head, but 
rather sparingly at the roots, and train. Currants, water when neces¬ 
sary. Figs (see vines): they should be in pots in the vinery—if set in 
pansallthe better. Gooseberries, water frequently. Kidney-Beans, 
sow in small pots—about seven-inch ; increase the size of the pots as the 
days lengthen; use now light and rich soil; water frequently. Light, 
admit as freely as possible. Mushroom-beds, carefully protect; in 
house, use much air moisture. Protect glass in very severe weather, 
even in the daytime, but under such circumstances do not keep up a high 
artificial heat, let it be several degrees lower than in favourable weather. 
Nectarines anil Peaches, in blossom keep at about 55 3 during the 
day, and at night about 40°; water very sparingly; shake branches 
gently to distribute the pollen; stir earth around often. Pink Apples 
(fruiting) may require increased bottom-heat to about 75° to 80° ; water 
if really requisite—if plunged, and the floor damped, they need but little ; 
temperature in houses from 6(D to 65°. Stovk, temperature, not above 
60° in the day, and at night 40°. Strawberries, in pots, introduce ; 
when blossoming, water frequently, and ventilate freely; day tempera¬ 
ture not more than 60°. Thermometer, watch its dictates out of doors, 
and regulate your fire occasionally. Vines, in leaf, keep about 60 3 ; in 
blossom, about 70° during the day if the weather be light—at night 55° 
tot) 0 °; protect stems outside by haybands, and the roots by fermenting 
matters. Wash the leaves of all plants, as requisite, either with a 
sponge or by watering. Water, soft, and warm as the house, apply as 
requisite; in pots, Sec., keep constantly in the house. 
R. Errington. 
GREENHOUSE. 
Air, admit at every favourable opportunity, whenever the temperature 
outside is above 35°, except in windy or foggy weather, especially among 
heaths, epacrises, and azaleas, that you do not wish to bloom early. Soft- 
wooded plants should be kept atone end of the house. Bulbs and hardy 
Shrubs, such as lilacs, azaleas, and roses, introduce from the forcing 
house, placing them at the closest and warmest end of the house; cal¬ 
ceolarias, cinerarias, geraniums, and Chinese primroses, clean, shift, and 
supply at times with manure-water. Climbers, prune in, if not already 
done, those that produce their flowers on the young wood ; others, such 
as Kennedyas, now flowering and growing, attend to, and especially train, 
every day, the tropaeolums, if you wish to prevent confusion. Fires, 
light in close, dull weather, to enable you to give a circulation of air. 
Beware of heating too much when frosty, as, without due precaution, the 
atmosphere will lie too dry; it is better to use coverings for the glass. 
Succulents, unless growing and showing flower, refrain from watering. 
Water other plants only when requisite, and perform the operation after 
breakfast, using water rather higher than the medium temperature of the 
house. Place a few achimenes, gesnera, and gloxinia-roots, into heat for 
early blooming. In a conservatory or greenhouse, where no hard-wooded 
plants to speak of are grown, and where a medium heat of 50° can be 
maintained, Poinsettia pulcherriraa, Euphorbi, and Jacquiniflora, See., 
may be introduced from the stove. R. Fish. 
KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Artichokes, attend to, shelter, &c. Asparagus, plant in hotbed ; 
attend to that forcing ; temperature about 6o°, and at night 50°. Beans, 
plant, b.; earth up early; protect from frost; plant in hotbed. Beet 
(red) plant for seed. Brocoli, protect from frost. Cabbages, plant, 
e.; sow, e.; plant for seed. Cardoons, attend to, shelter, &c. Car¬ 
rots, sow small crop; plant for seed; (early Horn) sow on gentle hot¬ 
beds, fill the frame up well with earth, so as to bring the crop up close to 
the glass ; attend to early thinning out and earth-stirring with a little 
pointed stick among all frame crops. Cauliflowers in frames, attend 
to protection from frost, and give all open air possible in open weather; 
also hand-glass crops, clear away all decayed leaves and slugs, and earth- 
stir often ; if young plants are required a pinch of seed may be sown in 
pans, and placed in any heated structure, but have a gentle hotbed made 
up ready to prick them out upon, keeping the young crop up close to the 
glass. Celery, earth up, shelter, Sec. Composts, prepare and turn 
over. Cucumbers, sow and prick out; temperature, by day 70° to 75°, 
and at night 65°. Dung, for hotbeds, prepare; wheel on to vacant 
ground. Earth for hotbeds, prepare. Earth-up and fasten plants 
disturbed by frost, Sec. Endive, blanch, protect. Frost, protect plants 
from, by temporary covering. Ground, trench vacant. IIorsk-radisu, 
plant, e. Hotbeds, make and attend to. Jerusalem Artichokes, 
plant, e. Kalf. (Sea), force, b. Kidney Beans, sow in hotbed, c. 
Lettuces, in frames, attend ; protect from frost; sow on warm border, 
e. LiauoRiCK, plant, e., and dig up three-year old. Melons, sow, for 
fruiting in May; day temperature 75°, night 65°. Mint, force, in hot¬ 
bed. Mushroom Beds, make, and attend to those producing ; procure 
horsc-droppings for. Mustard and Cress, sow in hotbed. Onions, 
clear from weeds ; examine stored ; sow a small crop, e. ; plant for seed. 
Parsley, sow, e.; protect from frost. Parsnips, plant for seed. Peas, 
sow; earth up ; shelter from frost; plant 'in hotbed; and prepare sticks. 
This is a good season for making main sowings of early and second early 
peas where the soil works well and the weather is open. Potatoes, 
plant in slight hotbed ; and they may also be planted out in the open 
border, or quarters, in fine open weather, where the soil works well. 
Examine those in the store. Radishes, sow in hotbed; thin out as 
soon as the plants can be handled, and sift a little dry earth among 
them; sow in border, e. Rape (for salading), sow in hotbed; (edible- 
rooted), sow. Rhubarb, attend to; force, cither in pots, to be placed 
in some heated structure, or covered up with pots or tubs and fermenting 
materials. Salading (Small), sow. Savoys, plant for seed. Spinach, 
clean and sow, e. Tansy, plant in hotbed. Tarragon, plant in hot¬ 
bed. Turnips, plant for seed; should the weather seem inclined to set 
in severe, store in a good supply, or heap them and cover them over with 
coal-ashes. Weeds, continually destroy, and do any work which will 
lessen that of the following busier months. Woodlice, destroy in the 
mushroom-house by trapping under dry hay, and scalding it in hot 
water ; or by baiting small pots with boiled potatoes, or slices of potatoes 
under dry moss. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of 
Christ Church, City of London.—December, 26th, 1850. 
