THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 11, 1860. 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
141 
Day 
Day 
DEC. 11—17, 1860. 
Weather near London in 1859. 
Moon 
of 
IVl’nth 
of 
Week. 
Barometer. 
Thermom. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
afterSun 
Day of 
Year. 
ii 
Tu 
Grosbeak comes. 
30.577—30.449 
deg. deg. 
34-26 
E. 
m. h. 
59 af 7 
m. h. 
49 af 3 
m. 
6 
h. 
7 
28 
m. 
6 
S. 
18 
346 
12 
W 
Red-throated diver comes. 
30.396-30.328 
40—29 
s.w. 
•01 
VIII. 
49 
3 
sets. 
5 
50 
347 
13 
Th 
Tufted pocher comes. 
30.291—30.065 
39-22 
W. 
— 
0 8 
49 
3 
34 
4 
1 
5 
22 
348 
14 
F 
Greenfinches congregate. 
29.968 -29.893 
31-22 
N. 
— 
1 8 
49 
3 
48 
5 
% 
4 
53 
349 
15 
S 
Chaffinches congregate. 
29.956-29.804 
34—14 
N. 
— 
2 8 
49 
S 
6 
r 
3 
4 
33 
350 
16 
Sun 
3 Sunday in Advent. 
29.689 -29.609 
34—14 
N. 
— 
3 8 
49 
3 
21 
8 
4 
3 
54 
351 
17 
M 
Grey-headed goosander comes. 
29.655-29.651 
28—18 
N. 
— 
4 8 
49 
3 
32 
9 
5 
3 
24 
352 
Meteorology of the Week. — At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-four years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 46.1° and 34° respectively. The greatest heat, 61°, occurred on the 13th, in 1842; and the lowest cold, 7°, 
on the 16th, in 1853. During the period 135 days were fine, and on 96 rain fell. 
WORK FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Proceed with, former directions as regards manuring 
and trenching. Asparagus, the most convenient plan of 
forcing it is to take the roots up carefully, and to place 
them in a frame or pit provided with a very gentle 
bottom heat, and covered with light soil. Celery, take 
advantage of any favourable opportunity, till frost occurs, 
of earthing up the late crops, both for protection and 
blanching. Lettuce, those in frames to be kept dry, and 
free from dead leaves. Sea-hale, the best-flavoured 
dishes are obtained from established plants subjected to 
no system of forcing, but merely covered with light soil, 
and brought forward by the natural warmth of the 
season. But where it is required earlier, the old plan of 
covering with pots, and supplying a stimulating heat 
with a body of leaves and dung is still preferred by 
many. The more modern system of taking up the roots, 
and forcing them in any dark place is adopted where 
there is the convenience, as being more economical of 
labour and quick of production. The exclusion of light 
is indispensable for the production of the proper flavour. 
Turnips, on the first appearance of severe frost it is 
advisable to get some under cover ; they may be laid in 
sand after the tops are cut off. Keep the Broccoli free 
from dead leaves, as after frost they generally injure the 
plants by causing them to rot. Where coal ashes are 
abundant they may be used with advantage for the back 
or narrow walks, as they bear the winter traffic well, and 
are always pleasant to walk upon. 
FRUIT GARDEN. 
The planting of fruit trees, if wanted, should be attended 
to immediately. The roots of all newly-planted trees to 
be protected from the effects of severe weather by mulch¬ 
ing. In the absence of frost all walls may be pointed and 
limewashed. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
The plants of a tender character in the borders to have 
some litter, sawdust, old tan, or coal ashes spread preffy 
thickly over the roots, and a few spruce fir or furze 
branches stuck round them. Flower-borders to receive 
a good top dressing with old leaf mould, or any other 
light, rich compost; to be forked in, and the surface of 
the borders to be left quite rough, that being amelio¬ 
rated and pulverised by the frosts of winter it will be in 
a more healthy state for spring operations. 
STOVE. 
A cautious application of fire heat to be still observed 
here. Ho not allow the temperature to rise above 55° at 
night for fear of exciting a premature growth; the use 
of the watering-pot to be judiciously attended to. A 
small portion of air to be admitted on mild days, to assist 
in purifying the atmosphere of the house. Any of the 
plants with large fleshy roots, such as the different 
varieties of Ipomoeas, to be allowed to grow nearly or 
quite dry. 
Ho. 637— Yol. XXV. Ho. 11. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
The great object now should be to avoid the ill effects 
of humidity and stagnant air, and at the same time to 
be cautious that the application of heat is not so great 
or so injudiciously applied at night as to excite plants 
into a drawn and unhealthy state : therefore, it is ad¬ 
visable, wherever it can conveniently be done, to apply 
night covers, and by that means dispensing in a great 
measure with the use of night fires. The leaves of 
Camellias, Oranges, &c., are liable to a dark scum, which 
should be cleaned away by a sponge, as a great portion 
of the interest among pot plants depends on their healthy 
condition and on cleanliness both with regard to the 
leaves and the pots. 
FORCING-FIT. 
This structure should now be kept fully occupied with 
a batch of the different plants as previously advised, and 
which are usually employed in forcing for the decoration 
of the conservatory or drawing-room. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
If former instructions have been carried out, the plants 
in these structures will present a dwarf and robust ap¬ 
pearance, thus being well fitted to bear deprivation of 
light for some time if severe weather should ensue. 
Damp has accumulated very much of late, owing to the 
heavy rains and dense fogs with which we have been 
visited. This may be removed by giving air at the front 
and back on fine days ; but where the pits are heated by 
flues a dry atmosphere can be obtained by putting on 
slight fires in the day, at the same time allowing a free 
circulation of air amongst the plants. W. Keane. 
SOWIHGr CYCLAMEH SEED. 
WINTERING CHRYSANTHEMUMS—SEWAGE FOR VINES — 
CHRYSANTHEMUM CUTTINGS. 
But was there nothing to be seen worth mentioning in 
your eastern travels, from the rich valleys of Dan, where 
you had seen that leafless forest, to the upland moors of 
Beersheba, where you say the luxuriant foliage covered 
down to the edges of pottery, except that reflex of Chinese 
gardening in the matter of Chrysanthemums, and the 
English short-hand method of modelling their flowers 
into unseemly bulk and proportions ? Well, what if 
there was or were? Is a traveller justified in telling 
family secrets more than others ? But if you or they 
want things to pay their cost, you must visit the east of 
London ; and to prepare you for it, let us look at the 
experiment of 1859, on the early coming of Cyclamens 
from seeds the same month and season. 
You will recollect it was to gather the berries or seed- 
pods of different Cyclamens a month before they were so 
ripe as to part naturally from the stalks, and to sow 
them in their own clammy pulp the same day—the work 
of sowing the berries, after being bruised to let go the 
seeds, being very much like spreading jam over bread 
and butter to reward good conduct. The pots then—the 
