DECEMBER. If all was not done as directed last month, there is now no time to be lost. Every thing that needs protection should now be 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. Collect from heaths and rocks such kinds of earth as are suitable for different kinds of exotic plants, and gather leaves of trees of all sorts, and lay them in heaps. 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. 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. Prune Apple, Pear, Quince, and other hardy fruit trees; cut out rotten and decaying branches. If not done last month, dress your Artichoke beds, and cover them as recommended page 17. 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, he should devise the most suitable means to accomplish such a desideratum. In order to aid him in such pursuit, I would suggest first, that he take a retrospective 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. Perhaps the next important point to be attended to, is the most proper rotation of crops. Virgil, who was a philosopher as well as a poet, very justly observes, that, THE TRUE 66 REPOSE OF THE EARTH IS A CHANGE OF ITS PRODUCTIONS. It is a curious fact, that a plant may be killed by the poison which it has itself secreted, as a viper may be stung to death by its own venom. Hence it has been very generally noticed, that the soil in which some particular vegetables have grown, and into which they have discharged the excretions of their roots, is rendered noxious to the prosperity of plants of the same or allied species, though it be quite adapted to the growth and support of other distinct species of vegetables. It is proved by experience, that Fall Spinach is an excellent preparative for Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Salsify, and all other tap as well as tuberous-rooted vegetables. Celery, or Potatoes, constitute a suitable preparative for Cabbage, Cauliflower, and all other plants of the Brassica tribe; also Artichokes, Asparagus, Lettuce, and Onions, provided that such ground be well situated, which is a circumstance always to be duly considered in laying out a garden. Lands that have long lain in pasture are for the first three or four years after being tilled, superior for Cabbage, Turnips, Potatoes, &c. and afterwards for culinary vegetables in general. The following rules are subjoined for further government: Fibrous-rooted plants may be alternated with tap, or Tuberous-rooted, and vice versa. Plants which produce luxuriant tops, so as to shade the land, to be succeeded by such as yield small tops or narrow leaves. Plants which during their growth require the operations of stirring the earth, to precede such as do not admit of such culture. Manure should be applied to the most profitable and exhausting crops; and the succession of crops should be so arranged, that the ground be kept occupied by plants either valuable in themselves, or which may contribute to the increased value of those which are to follow; and the value of the labour required to mature vegetables, and prepare them for market, should be always taken into consideration. Annual, Biennial, and Perennial Plants, defined, Aspect, Situation, &c. Blank Book, recommended, Definition of the term HILL, Drilling beneficial,. Durability of the Vegetative qualities of Seeds Forcing Vegetables, Observations on, General Observations on the Kitchen Garden, Herbs, Pot and Sweet, Culture of Herbs, Medicinal, Culture of Herbs, to Preserve. Page 85 79 113 & 118 80 & 113 80, 81, & 115 Hoeing and Weeding, of importance in dry weather, 38, 114, 115 & 117 Hot-beds, Management of Insects, to destroy Laying out the Ground, Manure Compost, Method of cultivating and curing Hops, Monthly Calendar, Observations on the Rotation of Crops, Precision in small matters, important, Soils, Management of Sowing Season, Summer Complaint, a remedy for Tables of Estimates, Thermometer recommended, Transplanting Vegetables, Vegetables, to preserve, 84, 86, & 110 6, 12, & 122 109 to 122 121 & 122 5, 14, 49 & 77 5, 10, & 11 12 & 124 87 12, 22, 32 & 116 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. This summary view of estimates is annexed in order to aid the Seedsman Beans, Kidney Dwarf; one quart of seed will plant from 350 to 400 Beet; one ounce may be allotted for every perch, pole, or rod, Carrot; half an ounce of good seed may be allotted for every pole, perch, Celery; every ounce of good seed will produce 10,000 plants Corn Salad, or Fetticus; one ounce of seed, will sow about two poles Cucumber; one ounce of good seed is sufficient for 200 hills, Egg Plant; one ounce of seed will with care produce 4,000 plants, care, Page. 44 45 48 52 Melon; one ounce of good seed will plant from 120 to 150 hills, . Squash; an ounce of seed will plant from 50 to 100 hills, according to Tomatoe; one ounce of seed will produce 4,000 plants and upwards, . 72 |