December 1857

This is very frequently one of the most severe of our winter months, and every judicious gardener will be well provided against its rigor by having all his frames lined around as directed in November, and being well supplied with the necessary mats and other covering. If this provision be neglected, he may be taken, as it were, by surprise, and in one or two nights lose a great number of valuable plants.

Should the weather prove mild, and the ground continue open in the beginning of the month, which seldom happens in the middle or eastern States, you may complete any work recommended to be done in November, and then unavoidably omitted; such as dressing asparagus and artichoke beds, taking up and putting into a state of preservation, cabbages, turnips, parsneps, carrots, beets, celery, endive, cardoons, salsafy, scorzonera, &c. But the many chances that are against your being able to accomplish this work in December, ought to induce you to double your diligence in November, and complete everything in due season.

Every mild day observe to uncover your califower plants which are under frames and glasses, that they may enjoy the free air, other Yise they will draw up and become weak: constantly pick off all de ayed leaves, which, if suffered to remain on, would be very injurious to the plants, especially if it should happen, as it frequently doe this month, that the weather should be so severe as to render it prudent to uncover the beds for several days successively; for w these decayed leaves rot, they emit a rancid vapor, which, mis with the confined air of the beds, renders it very unwholesome the plants. When it is not safe to take off the lights entirely, in the mid of the day, let then be raised upon props two or three inches at back of the frames, to let in fresh air to the plants.

The glasses must be covered every night with mats, straw, fe or some other long dry litter, and even in the day-time when i frost is very rigorous; but no opportunity ought to be missed to mit light to the plunts, and to give them air when it can be co with safety. The frame containing them must be carefully lined around the outside, as directed in November, to prevent the fr from penetrating in at the sides and ends thereof. Some will consider this rather troublesome, but it will be four much less so than to sow the seed in January or February, a nurse, and once or twico transplant the young seedlings during t remainder of the winter and spring; besides, the autumn sown plar when taken proper care of,, will produce much larger and bett heads than those sown in winter or spring, and be oarlier and mos Certain.

The early York, sugar-loaf, and other tender kinds of onbbag plants, require exactly the same treatment as the cauliflower, bu being more hardy less covering will be necossary, and more air ma with safoty he admitted. • There is nothing more injurious to either than to be kept too closely covered; therefore no opportunity, if bu for half an hour at a time, ought to be omitted to admit light and air when it can. be done with any tolerable degree of safety. The Savoy, flat Dutch, drum-head, and other late kinds, will kee! when planted in warm borders with very little protection; arobe made of old hoops, &c., should be erected over them on which to lay mats, straw, branches of evergreen trees, or shrubs, &c. further particulars, see page 536.)

The care of lettuce plants being the same now as in the ensuing month, I refer you for the necessary instruotions to page 26, and also to page 534, &c.

Where small salading, such as oresses, rape, mustard, lettuco, radish, &c., is required at this season, these seeds must be sown in hot-bed, protected with a good frame and glasses, and also sufficient covering of mats, so., or in the green-houso; but care must be taken not to cover the seede deoper with earth than what is barely sufficient to hide them. Keep the glasses constantly over them, and admit air to the plants E0. in ten for lle he ho dne ts er DEO.] every day when the weather is mild, by raising the lights a little behind, otherwise they will be apt to become mouldy and decay. It is almost unncoessary to say that the glasses must be kept well overed every night, and even in the day-time during extremely severe weather.

Particular care must now be taken to preserve the mushroom beds out of doors from frost or wet, either of which would destroy the spawn, and render the beds unproductive. They must consequently be covered with a sufficient depth of dry straw, and over this mats: after heavy rains or snow they should be examined, and if you find the overing next the earth of the beds wet, take it totally away and immediately replace it with dry straw. Where the necessary and proper care is taken, there will be a constant supply of mushrooms for the table even in the most rigorous seasons. ral directions given on page 539, &c. This necessity for covering and continual renewal shows the advantage of having the beds Where there is not a suitable house erected for the purpose, the winter beds may be made in the sheds where the heating appa.

Hot-beds may now be made for foring asparagus, to supply the table about the latter end of January; for at this season it will be full six weeks from the time of making the beds before the naparagus will be fit to cut, presuming the beds to be kept of a dae (For the method of making and managing them, see page 128, &c.)

If the weather continues open, carry dang into the quarters of the Kitchen garden, spread it, and trench the ground, laying it in high sloping ridges to be mellowed by the frost, &c. manure, and lay it down in convenient places, to have it at hand whe the frost goes off; repair the fences of the garden where necessary; I you have any seeds remaining in their pods or capsules, beat or rub out and clean them, so as to be ready for sowing when wanted; prepare all tools which may be necessary in spring e no delay when the season is favorable for commencing your earl or Provide from the woode, do., pea stok an in complete readier, size; dress and point them, that they may be in complete readiness then wanted; collect all your old sticks and poles which are yet f or uso, and lay them with the new ones under the protection of som shed, to prevent their rotting by wet, &o