DECEMBER: Te 
‘the store: be damp, when a hittle air maybe given on dry days. Trench 
and manure ground for new plantations of Currants and Gooseberries, 
sand for planting Strawberries in the: spring. Forcing Ground.—Pot 
-Mint, Chervil,and Sorrel, and. place the pots in the forcing-houses, 
vwhere there is.a moderate heat. Keep up a regular supply of small 
salad ‘by sowing every few days in heat. Introduce a succession of 
Rhubarb, Seakale, and Asparagus roots in the foreing-pits, treating 
othem: as before advised;)if these are forced in the open ground, 
ythe linings should be turned occasionally, or renewed; so that a good 
~heat be maintained;. cover.with mats, or litter in» frosty weather. 
Giye air to Asparagus as soon as the heads appear. above the soil. 
+ Sow’ French, Beans in’ succession, and top the plants as soon as they 
ehaveomade their second: leaf. » Cucumbers require every attention at 
«this time of the year to keep; them in health ; still maintain the tempe- 
»rature, previously advised, and give air every day when the weather 
» permits: Stop and train the plants as.they progress, and do not allow 
othe leaves to crowd) one: another, otherwise they will soon get yellow ; 
eawater occasionally with liquid manure; this: should be done when the 
»soilis dry. Keep up a moist. temperature, from 55° to 60°, in the 
» Mushroom house. Collect fresh horse-droppings and put them together 
vin aidry (place to heat, in preparation for making new beds by the end 
{of the menth., Peaches and Nectarines.—It must be remembered that 
these fruits will. not: admit.of rapid forcing in the early stages of the 
y process, therefore fire heat should be applied with caution, so that the 
| night temperature dces not exceed50°, otherwise the blossoms. will be 
»oweak, and» liable to-drop; during the day the temperature may rise to 
=60°,-with plenty of air on every favourable opportunity. Syringe the 
(trees, and close the house early after-a bright day; continue this till 
othe blossoms begin to expand. Cover the outside border with leaves or 
o Jitter, for the purpose of excluding frost and heavy rains. Tie in the 
»-trees in the next house, and get: all ready for starting by the end of the 
eomonth!. Cherries.—By. the end, of :the»month:the trees should be 
splaced in the early house, if early fruit-is. required. Top-dress the 
eypots with fresh loam and dung, and» keep a moist atmosphere, with a 
-night:temperature of 45°:to begin with. » Admit: plenty of air through 
— 
the day. Strawbderries:—Protect.the pots: from frost and wet by the 
same means recommended last month. Some pots of the early kinds 
‘may? be! placed-in: the forcing-house when the heat is moderate—the 
_rend: of the month-will be soon enough: Do not water them except they 
oarecvery dry: Pines.—Succession plants’ in dung-pits, that are not 
otherwise heated, should:have the lings renewed, so that the tempe- 
‘erature does not fall below 65°, with a bottom heat of about 75°. These 
will not require syringing or water at the root for the present. Give a 
-dittle’ air in fine weather, especially if the pits are damp, and cover 
_eevery night. Those plants intended to start into fruit next month 
should not be watered, and the atmosphere kept dry ; the temperature 
should:also. be increased: to 80° or 85°. If the plants are in pots and 
_ the heat:of the bed is declining, it should be forked over and the pots 
» replunged., Plants swelling fruit should not be allowed to get dry, and 
a high moist temperature maintained.: Syringe and close the pit early, 
