THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 13, 1859. 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
of 
M’nth 
Day 
of 
Week. 
DECEMBER 13—19, 1859. 
Weather 
Barometer. 
NEAR LOND 
Tkermom. 
on in 1858. 
-nr- , (Rain in 
^ lnd - Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
afterSun 
Day of 
Year. 
13 
Tu 
Cytisus. 
29.902—29.783 
43-35 
S. 
__ 
vrn 
49 af 3 
54 
7 
19 
5 
44 
347 
14 
W 
Ember Week. 
30.164—30.001 
35—33 
w. 
•01 
i 
8 
49 3 
23 
9 
20 
5 
16 
348 
15 
Th 
Epocris. 
30.230—30.035 
40—34 
N.E. 
.01 
2 
8 
49 3 
48 
10 
21 
4 
47 
349 
16 
F 
Erica ves'tita. 
30.102—30.066 
38-34 
S. 
— 
3 
8 
49 3 
mom. 
22 
4 
18 
350 
17 
S 
Erica Fatersonii. 
30.025—29.783 
42—38 
S.E. 
_ 
3 
8 
49 3 
10 
0 
€ 
3 
48 
351 
18 
Sun 
4 Sunday in Advent. 
29.618—29.457 
49—34 
S. 
.62 
4 
8 
49 3 
32 
1 
24 
3 
19 
352 
19 
M 
Erica exsurgens. 
29.453—29.440 
48-29 
S.W. 
.09 
5 
8 
50 3 
55 
2 
25 
2 
49 
353 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-two years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 4.5.8 3 and 34.5°, respectively. The greatest heat, 61°, occurred on the 13th, in 1312 ; and the lowest cold, 7°, 
on the 16th, in 1853. During the period 117 days were fine, and on 107 rain fell. 
IN-DOOR GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR 
THE WEEK. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
As many of the hard-wooded plants are impatient of 
fire heat and a confined atmosphere, it is advisable to 
nse no more artificial heat than is absolutely necessary. 
The drying effects of tiro heat must he counteracted % 
a supply of moisture, the moisture becomes condensed 
on the glass and falls in drips, that are apt to spoil the 
beauty of the flowers, and to injure the foliage of the 
plants. The best correction for such unfavourable results, 
is to he found in keeping the temperature as low as may 
be consistent with the safety of the plants, and in with¬ 
holding moisture as much as possible whenever the glass 
is affected by frost. See that the young stock of Helio¬ 
tropes, Scarlet Geraniums, Persian Cyclamens, aud other 
such flowers, that are grown especially for winter, are 
accommodated with a light, airy situation, and receive 
regular attention as regards watering. Avoid watering 
the Pelargoniums until they are thoroughly dry, and 
keep down insects. 
STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE. 
The plants in the stove should be kept as quiet as 
possible, and only just sufficient water given to keep them 
from flagging, to be accompanied with a moderately 
low temperature; about 60° by day, and 50° by night, 
the object being to prevent them from growing before 
the spring of the year. Admit air when it can he done 
safely, hut do not expose the plants to cold, frosty winds 
at any time. As our collections of Orchids arc from 
countries with different seasons of growth, and various 
kinds of temperature and climate, it is difficult to cul¬ 
tivate in one house a miscellaneous collection of them so 
satisfactorily as where there are two divisions, the one 
commanding a higher temperature, with more moisture, 
than the other. Where there is no such division, ad¬ 
vantage may be taken of a forcing pit, or other such 
house, to which any of them now in a growing state may 
be removed, and thus their growth may be promoted 
without injury to the general collection. For the general 
collection a drier atmosphere and lower temperature are 
now desirable, as no plants are more benefited by a season 
of rest than Orchids. 
FORCING-HOUSES. 
All Vines, Peaches, and Eigs in Pots, or Tubs, to be 
secured from frost and wet. A fermenting body in a forcing 
vinery is an excellent plunging medium for such of these 
as are wanted very early. Keep up a succession of As¬ 
paragus, French Beans, Rhubarb, Sea-kale, &c., accord¬ 
ing to the demand. 
Cucumbers. —Thin out the fruit occasionally, more 
especially if too many appear at one time. If any plants 
had been hearing some time, and now appear nearly 
exhausted, they may be rallied into vigour again by a 
judicious pruning and thinning, and by the application 
of a top dressing of leaf mould or other such rich, light 
soil, aud of liquid manure occasionally. 
No. 585.—Vol. XXIII. No. 11. 
Peaches. —A moist heat, arising from dung or leaves 
is as beneficial to Peach trees as to Vines before they 
break, but as it can but rarely be made use of, in con¬ 
sequence of the difference in the structure of the interior, 
moisture must be supplied by other means, such as 
syriuging and sprinkling the flues, or pipes, when warm. 
A few trees, in pots, are useful for early forcing, as they 
can he easily plunged in a pit or any other convenient 
place where a mild regular bottom heat can he supplied. 
The trees for this purpose must have been grown and 
established for some time in pots. The advertising 
columns of The Cottage Gardener give information 
where they are to be procured. 
Pines.—A regular heat, both bottom and atmospheric, 
to be kept up to carry the general stock of fruiting plants 
safely through the winter. A high and close temperature 
to be avoided in the management of the succession plants. 
Strawberries. —If ripe fruit is wanted very early, some 
of the strongest plants, if treated as advised, should now 
he selected, and placed iu a pit where they can get a 
gentle bottom heat, or on the back or front shelf of a 
vinery or Peach-house, just started for forcing, to be 
placed near the glass with a free admission of air on fine 
days. 
Vines. —It is advisable, when beginning to force,to com¬ 
mence w ith a low temperature—say, 55° by day and 50° 
by night, to be increased 5° more until they break, when 
it may be raised to 60° at night, and 65° in the day, or 
thereabouts, allowing a rise of a few degrees by sun heat. 
The Vines to be syringed evening and morning until they 
break, and the walls and floor kept damp. If the stems 
of the Vines are near the flues, or pipes, w r rap moss over 
that part, and keep it constantly moist. The Vines in 
the late houses to he pruned,'the loose hark to be re¬ 
moved, and the scale, if visible, to be banished by an 
application of the Gishurst Compound, or by the more 
ancient composition of sulphur, soft soap, and tobacco 
water. Where the fruit is ripe, a little lire heat will be 
necessary iu frosty weather to prevent the vapour that 
adheres to -the glass on the inside from being frozen, for 
the moisture on thawing is apt to drop upon the hunches 
causing injury to the bloom, aud decay to the berries. 
William Keane. 
HOW THINGS ARE GOING ON AT THE 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
AND COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
Although the “Monthly Proceedings,” or journal of 
the Society, has been issued since the resolution on that 
subject was passed at the last annual gathering, Fellows 
of the Society away from London seem as much off the 
scent as ever as to the very “Proceedings ” of the Society. 
One cannot face any two or more of the body at kirk or 
market without a whole budget of questions and surmis- 
ings, wdiich are sure to end in this way ,—“ Can’t you run 
up, and let us know all about it F” 
Well, at last I did run up, and do know all about it. 
But without making a clean breast of it, I must say that 
