GARDENING CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER.

Otago Witness, Issue 134, 10 December 1853, Page 2

GARDENING CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER.

Fruit Trees, &c— Peach and Nectarine trees trained against houses are liable, in very dry weather, to be infested with red spider, which proves injurious to the trees unless proper means are adopted early to check its progress. Those unacquainted with this little pest may detect its presence by the foliage changing to a light colour, with a web-like substance on the under side of the leaves, which often drop off. Syringe x>r otherwise wet the trees infested every morning before the sun reach at them. If many of the leaves drop off, some flour of sulphur mixed with cow manure and clay to the consistency of paint, and laid on the spaces between the branches with a painter's brush, will destroy them. Attend carefully to the fastening of the young shoots of trained trees as they advance, for on this depends, in great measure, the success of next year's crop. Encourage the formation of fruit bnds on Apple, Pear, Plum, and Cherry trees by pincing the tops off all the principal shoots as re_ commended in the Calendar for last month. To insure vigorous and uniform growth on light and poor soils, a good mulching of manure or short grass is indispensable ; and water should be applied occasionally over the mulching, not in little drops, but in bucketfuls, extending to a considerable distance from the stems, Keep a sharp look-out for caterpillars, especially in the vicinity of grass. Apply liquid manure liberally over the roots of Grape' Vines, and allow only one of the strongest shoots to remain on young and weakly plants. Stronger Vines -may be thinned to about 12 inches apart, and carefully fastened to whatever they are trained upon. Examine grafts put on last spring, and cut or rub off all suckers springing from the stocks. Vegetables. — Get in the last sowing for the season of Peas and Kidney Beans eajly in the month. Broad Beans are now rather late, unless the autumn prove very favourable. Attend to the striking of Peas early, and put supports to Turnip and Cabbage seed ripening. Plant Cauliflower on well-manured

ground, and get plenty of Cabbage, Savoys, &c, in for winter use. It will be well to bear in mind that none of the Cabbage tribe will succeed well unless the land be worked to a considerable depth, and highly manured. Continue to sow a little garden Turnip seed about once in three weeks, as early sowings are liable to run to seed. Early Horn Carrots may still be sown, as they and some other varieties continue growing, through most of the winter. Thin former sowings to i inches apart, and Turnips to the same distance, loosening the earth well round the roots of the latter, to allow them room to swell. Loosen the soil with a strong knife between the rows of Shallots, taking care not to go very deep to injure their roots. Dig between the rows of Potatoes, and land them up soon after they appear above ground or not at all, as their fibres are liable to be disturbed too much if deferred till their tops attain a considerable size.

Flowering Shhubs, &c— -Tender plants will giow better for ha\ing a little moss or manure placed round them to prevent evaporation and keep the ground moist about their roots. Plants that may have been under glass may now be planted out in carefully prepared soil, and let them have a good soaking of water immediately after planting. Put in cuttings of rare and choice shrubs, &c, under glass, or in some shaded place, in fine soft soil prepared for the purpose. Cuttings of most plants succeed best if taken off when the plants are done flowering. As soon as the flower on Thyme edgings begin to fade, let them have a good dressing with the hedge shears ; and whilst the weather continues dry destroy weeds by every possible means ; that pest, British chickweed, can only be kept under by deep digging, and repeated hoeings in dry weather.