The Young Gardener's Assistant

Hyacinths, 199; Irisis, 201; Ixias and Jonquils, 201; Lilies, 202; Narcissus, 203; Pæonies, 205; Tulips, 207 to 210. These, and all other kinds of plants, will need protection before the setting in of the Winter, 181. Flowering and ornamental shrubs may be planted in mild weather, 169; lay long litter round the roots of them, and also of the Grape vines and other tender plants, shrubs, &c., 167.

Before the Winter sets in severely, let such Chrysanthe-. mums as have been cultivated in pots be planted in the garden, or as soon as they have done blossoming, 220.

Plant Gladioluses in pots, 199; also such other bulbous. roots as may be required to be kept in rooms, page 212.

Mignonette, and other tender seedling plants under protection, will require attention at this season; they should. not be over watered, or the plants will perish with mildew.

Camellias should be frequently syringed while in bud, or. watered over the foliage with a rose attached to the watering pot, as should all other shrubs.

FRUIT DEPARTMENT.

Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Chestnut, Mulberry, Quince, Walnut and other hardy fruit trees may now be planted; use caution not to injure them in taking up, or removing them; let holes be dug somewhat larger than is sufficient to admit the roots in their natural position, and of sufficient depth to allow of some good rich compost or pulverized earth to be thrown in before the trees are planted, see pages 241, 311, and 337, and read the article headed "observations on the choice of fruit trees in the nursery," page 259.

Finish gathering late varieties of Apples, Pears, Grapes, &c; do it in dry weather, and stow them away out of the reach of frost, as recommended last month.

Currant, Filbert, Gooseberry and Raspberry shrubs may be planted this month; at the same time cut out all crowded branches, superfluous suckers, worn-out bearers and decayed wood, 273, 284, 287, 291, and 346.

Strawberry beds made in August and September, as well as those of greater age, may be covered up with leaves, light manure, salt hay, or other litter.

Protect the beds where fruit seeds and cuttings were planted last month, by a covering of light manure, compost, or leaves of trees.

Winter pruning may be performed this month on some species of hardy trees, shrubs, vines, &c. and continued at all opportunities throughout the next month, 253.

DECEMBER.

"A wet sultry Summer, prognostics affirm,
A boist'rous Autumn will bring in its turn;
A cold sour Autumn and Summer portend
A Winter severe from beginning to end."

VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT.

If all was not done as directed last month, there is now no time to be lost. Every thing that needs protection should be timely attended to, and if the weather continues open, some of the ground may be ploughed or trenched, to receive the benefit of Winter frosts. Collect all your pea sticks and bean poles together, and place them under cover to prevent their rotting. Turn over compost heaps, and provide manure for another year.

Those who are desirous of having Cucumbers or Melons, early in the ensuing Spring, and that have not the convenience for forcing them in the ordinary way, may dig a few grass sods or turfs, before it freezes hard, and stow them away out of the reach of frost, through the Winter. These being placed on the top of a hot-bed, in March or early in April, with the grass downwards; and Cucumber or Melon seeds, planted in the earthy part thereof, early plants may be produced which can be removed with the turfs without disturbing their growth, and cultivated either on the ridge system, as recommended in page 119, or in the open ground, provided they can be kept growing in frames until settled warm weather. This is also an excellent plan in early forcing, as it saves trouble as well as risk, in transplanting seedling plants into the fruiting beds.

If not done last month, dress your Artichoke beds, and cover them as recommended page 25. Defend Mushroom beds with dry straw, or long stable litter, and cover such as

may be exposed, with mats, as security against cold. In all moderate weather through the Winter, give air to Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, and such other plants as may be in frames, being careful to cover them every night with mats, boards, litter, &c. as necessity may require.

As the year is drawing to a close, I would solicit the gardener to review the results of his practice throughout the past season, that he may be able to judge how to act for the future.

In sketching a plan of his garden for the next year, he ought to make provision for a full supply of such vegetables as are best calculated to sell, and yield a fair profit; with this object in view, I would suggest that he take a retro. spective view of his previous management, and also of the directions given in the preceding chapters relative to the preparation of the soil; by ploughing, trenching, pulverizing, manuring, &c. as circumstances may require; bearing in mind, that although clayey soils may be benefitted by Fall ridging, light sandy ground should lay flat through the Winter.

FLOWER DEPARTMENT.

If all was not done as directed last month, there is now no time to be lost. All kinds of tender plants in pots, should be set into frames or pits, and plunged in old tan or light mould; and in the event of severe frosts, coverings of mats, straw, &c. must be laid over them.

Greenhouse plants will need constant care and attention. When water is necessary, let it be given in mild weather, 217. In case of accidents happening from frost, I would remark, that the sudden transition from cold to heat, is often more destructive to plants than frost itself. If, therefore, plants get frozen, and cannot be screened from the rays of the Sun, they should be watered as the air gets warm, and before they begin to thaw. If sufficient attention be paid, so as to have the temperature of the house gradually rising, as the water is sprinkled over the leaves, it may be a means of preserving plants that would otherwise be destroyed.

See that the greenhouse, or room in which plants are kept, is so secure as to prevent the intrusion of cold air, or the departure of warm air in the night season.

Collect from heaths and rocks, such kinds of earth as are suited to the different species of exotic plants, and gather up leaves of trees. If you intend to make hot-beds of them, they should be put together dry; but if you intend them for compost, they may be laid together as wet as possible, in order that they may rot, for use in succeeding years.

FRUIT DEPARTMENT.

If any of the work recommended to be done in the last month was not accomplished, let it be done with all possible dispatch this month, as we know not what a day may bring forth.

Protect the stems of newly-planted trees. Cover with litter the roots of Grape Vines and Figs against walls, and cover the branches with mats, &c. In temperate climates prune Apple, Pear, Quince, and other hardy fruit trees; cut out rotten and decaying branches, 253.

To destroy insects on the fruit trees, and prevent them from creeping up and breeding on them, do as follows:

Take a strong knife with a sharp point, and a sharp hooklike iron made for the purpose; with these scrape clean off all the moss and outside rough bark, and with the knife pick out or cut away cankered parts of the bark and of the wood, in such a slanting manner that water cannot lodge in the sides of the stems of the trees. Having cleared the trees in this way, make up a mixture of lime, soot and sulphur; put these ingredients into a pot or tub, pour boiling water upon them, and with a stick stir and mix them well together. When this strong mixture becomes cold, and about the thickness of white-wash, take a brush, dip it in the mixture, and apply it to the stems and large branches of the trees, dabbing it well into the hollow parts of the bark.

The pruning of hardy fruit trees and hardy shrubs may be performed at all favourable opportunities through the Winter, 251 to 254.

For further information on the Winter management of Fruit Trees, the reader is referred to the articles commencing pages 239, 244, 251 and 259.

INDEX

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VEGETABLES, HERBS, FLOWERS & FRUITS.

Artichoke
Asparagus