148 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER ANT) COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 7, 1858. 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
Day 
Weathek 
near London in 1857. 
oi 
M’nth 
of 
Week. 
DECEMBER 7—13, 1853. 
Barometer. 
Thermom. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.andS. 
Moon 'i 
Age. 
Clock 
afterSun 
Day of 
Year. 
7 
Tv 
Chrysanthemums. 
30.479—30.318 
45—30 
S.W. 
_. 
54 af 7 
50 af 3 
59 af 4 
2 
8 
20 
341 
8 
\v 
Correa speciosa. 
30.033—30.543 
47—35 
s. 
— 
55 7 
49 3 
G G 
3 
7 
54 
342 
9 
Til 
Correa pulchella. 
30.399—30.200 
50—42 
S.W. 
— 
5G 7 
49 3 
20 7 
4 
7 
27 
343 
10 
f 
Coronilla glauea. 
30.371—30.317 
54-32 
s. 
— 
57 7 
49 3 
32 8 
7 
0 
344 
11 
S 
Cytisus. 
30.548—30.470 
49—27 
S.W. 
— 
£8 7 
49 3 
44 9 
G 
G 
32 
345 
12 
Son 
3 Sunday in Advent. 
30.037—30.001 
50—39 
S.W. 
— 
59 7 
49 3 
58 10 
7 
6 
4 
346 
13 
M 
Genistas. 
30.595—30.429 
N. 
CO 
1 
CO 
. ! 
S.W. 
— 
VIII. 
19 3 
morn. 
€ 
5 
36 
347 
Meteorology op tiie Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during: the 
last thirty-one years, the average V.giiest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are -15.6° and 34.4°, respectively. The greatest heat, 62°, occurred on the 15th, in 1841 ; and the lowest cold, 7°, 
on the loth, in 1853. During the period 105 days were fine, and on 91 rain fell. 
GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
After the unusually severe frost that we have lately 
had, it will he particularly necessary to go over the 
plantations of Cabbages, Broccoli, Celery, and all other 
such vegetables, and to remove the dead leaves ; as, after 
such a frost, they materially injure the plants, by causing 
them to rot. Continue trenching all vacant ground. 
Cauliflower and Lettuce. —To grow them stout and 
stocky in frames, they will require all the air possible, 
and to be only protected from sharp frosts and heavy 
falls of rain. If any are growing under a south wall, 
they will be benefited by a few Spruce Fir branches, or 
some other such material, being laid over them, to ward 
off severe frost, and if slightly frozen, to prevent them 
from being suddenly thawed by the sun,—as the action 
and reaction of frosts and thaws are most destructive to 
plants. 
Herbs. —A supply of Tarragon, Mint, Parsley, Chervil, 
&c., may be kept up by potting the roots, and placing 
them in a gentle heat. 
Peas and Beans. —Sow, if not done last week. Draw 
earth to the former sowings, when they appear above the 
surface. 
Onion.— The Potatoe is a most productive crop. The 
small offsets should be planted in four-feet wide beds,— 
four shallow drills to be drawn, ten inches apart, on the 
beds. The bulbs should be placed upright, and slightly 
pressed into the soil, and merely covered with leaf mould, 
or any other light compost. To be earthed-up on a fine 
day, when the shoots appear above ground. They will be 
fit to take up about the end of June, and will be useful 
as a succession to the August sown crop. 
Potatoes. —If stored in a dry place, protected from 
frost, they will require to be looked over occasionally, 
and any diseased or mouldy ones removed. If pitted, to 
be examined; and if they exhibit no symptoms of disease, 
or fermentation, they may be finally earthed over, and 
secured from severe frosts. 
Rhubarb and Sea-kale (if not forced by the applica¬ 
tion of dung and leaves in the open ground) plant in 
plots, or boxes. They should be placed in any corner 
where there are heat and darkness at command. 
ELOWER GARDEN. 
Where alterations and planting are in hand, they 
should be carried on with expedition, while the weather, 
after the late severe frost, is again favourable for the 
purpose. Shrubs, plants, &c., may still have a spell of 
mild weather, to make fresh roots before the severity of 
winter sets in. Mulching is recommended as a protection 
to everything planted now. 
Auriculas. —Give abundance of air, and protection 
from falls of rain, or snow; as they will bear, when in a 
healthy condition, many degrees of frost without injury. 
Bulbous Roots. —Plant such as Crocuses, Hyacinths, 
Jonquils, &c., without further delay, in mild, dry weather, 
in beds or borders, of sandy, or light, naturally dry soil. 
No. 532. Yol. XXI. 
Carnations and Picotees. —If the spot, or mildew, 
appears, cut away the diseased portions of the foliage, 
and place the plants on wood, under glass, in an elevated 
position, with a free current of air in mild weather. 
Prepare the compost-heap for next season, by carefully 
turning it occasionally for the next three months: during 
each operation it should be closely examined, to detect 
the florist’s plague, the wireworm. 
Heartsease ancl Pinks. —Look over the beds, as, after 
the late frost and thaw, they are apt to get loose in the 
soil, and will require careful attention to fix them in their 
proper places. 
Herbaceous Plants. —The hardiest kinds may be 
planted in open weather. 
Ranunculuses. —The roots to be looked over occasion¬ 
ally, kept thoroughly dry, and the mouldy ones, if any, 
picked out. The soil in the beds intended for them will 
be improved by being turned over in frosty weather, and 
then left to settle, or consolidate,—as they do best in beds 
of a close texture,-—leaving five or six inches of the sur¬ 
face in ridges, to be raked level when planting them in 
February. 
Roses. —Plant in mild, open weather. They thrive 
best in strong, stiff, rich soil. The ground to be trenched 
two feet deep, and well drained. The following compost 
is recommended, where the soil of the garden is not 
naturally suitable for their growth:—One-third loam, 
one-tliird vegetable mould, and one-third half-decomposed 
horsedung; to be well mixed together before using. When 
planted, the Roses to be staked, to prevent the wind from 
loosening them at the neck, and to be mulched with rotten 
manure, to protect the roots from injury by frost. The 
Cabbage and Provence may be pruned, if the weather con¬ 
tinues mild; but Chinese, Hybrid Perpetuals, and other 
tender kinds, should be left till the spring. Get in a 
stock of Wild Briars, for budding upon next season. 
William Keane. 
BRINGING UP ARREARS. 
If what everyone says must be true, I shall never 
be able to finish the system of portable greenhouses to 
the satisfaction of my next-door neighbours, unless Mr. 
Fish will have a finger in the pie; for they all say he 
is the man for that kind of thing. But it is merely 
on purpose to be on good terms with my neighbours, 
that I mention him thus, as I had the good luck of see¬ 
ing him in St. James’s Hall, when he promised that he 
would send in his contribution before I should have time 
to sum up. Anybody, and every person, high or low, 
rich or poor, may yet have a solid share in this business, 
without risking any responsibilities. But I must close up 
my own shop before the end of the old year. I have so 
many things belonging to this year on my conscience, 
that I could not relish Christmas fare, unless I relieved 
my budget. 
The cutting cold wind of the fruit-show week, and the 
intense frost which succeeded, kept me from seeing the 
new Pompones and Chrysanthemums at Mr. Salter’s, at 
