THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 24, 1857. 
NOTES FOR DECEMBER. 
Kitchen Garden. —As the weather is likely to he favour¬ 
able a sowing of Peas ancl Beans may he made on a border, 
or on any dry, well-sheltered ground. All vacant pieces ot 
ground should now be manured, trenched , and left in ridges 
to be pulverised by frosts and thaws. The strong crops of 
Celery to be earthed up to the top in dry weather, and the 
others according to their growth. Trenches dug out now 
will receive benefit by the admission of frost during the 
winter, and may be planted in the spring with Cauliflowers, 
and dwarf Peas or Lettuce between the rows, which will be 
off by the time the trenches are wanted for Celery. It is an 
old, but a good practice to take up the Broccoli that are 
now growing luxuriantly, and to lay them in by the heels, 
covering the stems nearly up to the heads with the soil in 
the open ground in rows close to each other, and with their 
heads turned to the north. By the check they receive in 
removal, and the position in which they are placed, they are 
more certain to escape the damaging effects of frost than if 
they were left to grow in luxuriance where they are more 
susceptible of injury from unfavourable weather. If through 
any mishap Cauliflower plants are scarce it would be advisable 
to sow now in a box, to be placed in a gentle heat, and when 
the plants are of sufficient size to be pricked out in a frame 
on a slight hotbed. On the first appearance of severe frost 
it is advisable to get some Turnips under cover, to be laid 
in sand when the tops are cut off. Earth to be drawn to the 
stems of Brussels Sprouts and Cabbages ot different sorts, and 
the dead leaves removed, as sometimes after frosts they 
injure the plants by causing them to rot.. Advantage to be 
taken of every favourable day for the admission of air to the 
Lettuce and Cauliflower plants in frames or under hand- 
lights, as they are more liable to suffer from a confined, 
damp atmosphere than even from slight degrees of frost; 
therefore the more air they get the more hardy they grow, 
and the less they will suffer when shut down during severe 
frosts or heavy falls of snow. Provide for a succession^ 
supply of Sea-hale, Asparagus, and Blvubarb, in whatever 
way forcing is practised, as recommended last month. linish 
dressing the outdoor beds. 
As all the choice sorts of Pears and Apples are not keeping 
well this season it is necessary to examine them frequently, 
that they may be used while fit for table. Any that do not 
appear to ripen properly may be improved by removal to a 
dry warm room for a few days before using. Although the 
cause of fruit not keeping well this season is. attributed by 
some great authority to the attacks of a species of fungus, 
we would, nevertheless, be bold to surmise that the cause 
may be more properly attributed to the remarkably fine sea¬ 
son we have had, when fruit ivas never known to be so well 
flavoured, with a superabundance of saccharine matter to 
excite early fermentation and premature decay. 
The planting and nailing of fruit trees should be attended 
to without further delay, and no favourable opportunity of 
fine weather should be neglected to expedite such work, 
which will give to the walls and grounds a much neater 
appearance, and will afford more time for the multifarious 
operations of the spring. If any old Apple or Pear trees 
are unproductive, or only productive of an indifferent or bad 
quality of fruit, and it is intended to graft better sorts on 
them in March, it is advisable to cut them back now in pre¬ 
ference to the spring, when the sap is in circulation, and 
should the decay of a portion of the limbs or canker 
ensue, the cut portions to be covered with a little paint to 
protect them from frosts. The bark of trees infested with, 
scale to be well scraped and painted with a composition of 
soft soap, cowdung, and lime, and well worked into the ere- j 
vices of the bark. Lime or soot, lightly worked into the soil 
between the rows of Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries, 
will be both useful as a manure and a preventive of the 
attacks and increase of grubs and insects. It is often re¬ 
commended to get the ground between rows of fruit trees 
dug, that it may look clean and fresh,,which is generally a 
most injurious practice, destroying the roots upon which 
the health and vigour of the tree mainly depend for sub¬ 
sistence, and never should be resorted to unless to check 
over-luxuriance by a careful system of root pruning. 
Flower Garden. —As the weather is still very favourable 
for outdoor operations, any improvements or alterations in 
the flower garden may he carried on. If any of the luxuriant 
branches of the more common sorts of shrubs are interfering 
with the growth of the more choice kinds they should be cut 
off for the free admission of light and air. A selection of 
handsome, well-grown specimens is preferable to a miscel¬ 
laneous collection of shrubs, that are too frequently huddled 
together and left to nature, when the weak, however more 
valuable as ornamental and beautiful, are overgrown and 
ultimately destroyed by the more strong and coarse-growing 
sorts. As leaves form an excellent compost for beds, borders, J 
or pot plants, they should now be collected into holes in any 
out-of-the-way place, and covered with soil. There are very 
few small places ivhere sufficient attention is given to the 
collection of materials for manure. The prunings of trees, 
the withered stems of herbaceous plants, and the dead leaves 
of kitchen-garden vegetables, road scrapings, old mortar, 
large “weeds, and any other vegetable refuse, if sprinkled with 
quicklime during the formation of the heap, will materially 
assist the process of decomposition. 
Greenhouse. —To counteract the injurious effects from 
cold, damp, foggy weather it is necessary to apply a little 
lire heat to the greenhouse during the day, when a little fresh 
air can be admitted to carry off superfluous moisture without 
lowering the temperature to an injurious degree, as there are 
certain limits even at this season, when a dormant state is 
aimed at, beyond which the constitution of tender plants 
will not bear it without, injury; therefore the admission of 
raw, cold air or high night temperature should be avoided, 
and a regular temperature of about 40° maintained by day 
fires occasionally, and by external coverings at night, where 
practicable, to exclude frosts. The Chrysanthemums while 
in bloom may be supplied occasionally with a little weak 
liquid manure in a clear state, and when done blooming 
to be removed out of doors, the stems cut down, and the 
pots packed away on the north side of a wall, and covered 
with long litter during severe frosts. Camellias in bloom 
will require a regular supply of tepid water to be given 
liberally when they are almost thoroughly dry, and a regular 
temperature with air at all favourable opportunities. The 
Heliotropes, scarlet Geraniums, Persian Cyclamens, Cinera¬ 
rias, and Chinese Primroses, with other such plants grown 
especially for bloom at this season, will also require careful 
attention that they do not suffer from want of water; and as 
the green fly is apt to infest soft-wooded plants, and to do 
them serious damage at this season, it should be destroyed 
as soon as possible by fumigation. Some few Hyacinths and 
other such bulbous plants should now be brought forward 
for early blooming. 
Advantage to be taken of mild dry days to give air freely 
to the pits and frames. Where the inmates are half hardy 
air may be admitted until the temperature descends to the 
freezing point, as they are more seriously injured by damp 
and mildew when closely confined than even by a slight 
frost when dry. If a severe frost sets in it is sometimes 
necessary to cover them up with mats, straw coverings, or 
with litter, for several days, and when the thaw takes place 
to be cautious that the admission of light is gradual, as 
the sudden exposure after confinement to the glare of sun¬ 
light will produce frequently very unpleasant results. The 
sides and ends of the pits and frames to be well banked up, 
to prevent the admission of severe frosts.— William Keane. 
AMATEUR CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY, 
KINGSLAND ROAD, BETHNAL GREEN. 
Tins new Society held its first Meeting on the 10th and 
17th instant, in a marquee in the York Garden, ICings- 
land Road. The members are all amateurs who have 
never exhibited before, and they have been advised and 
encouraged by that celebrated gardener at the Temple 
Gardens, the father, grandfather, and godfather of all 
the city Chrysanthemums, and “our own correspondent,” 
Mr. Broome; and between one thing and another, such 
as the Gas Company giving light gratis, some giving 
canvass for roofing, some hoards and tables for setting 
up the collections, and two wealthy brewers close by 
lots of empty casks to set the planks on for long tables, 
