_Flower Garden and Greenhouse._--Little is to be done in either. In
the greenhouse care must be used to protect against frost. Ventilate
but little, and with care; raise the ventilating sash only high enough
to let the heated air from the greenhouse drive back the outer air so
as not to chill the plants. To destroy the red spider, syringe the
plants copiously at night, and splash the paths with water. The aphis,
or "green fly," must also be destroyed; tobacco may be used. Various
new preparations are coming on the market for the destruction of
greenhouse pests. Several new effective preparations of tobacco have
been brought into use. The white-fly is now a common pest in
greenhouses, the nymphs being greenish scale-like objects on the under
sides of the leaves, and adults very small white flies. The remedy is
to spray with kerosene emulsion or whale-oil soap; or if on cucumbers
or tomatoes, it is best to fumigate with hydrocyanic acid gas, using
one ounce of potassium cyanide to each 1000 cubic ft. of space. (This
material is very poisonous.) Many greenhouse insects can be kept more
or less in check by careful and effective hosing of the plants at
proper times. At this season roses, grape vines and other plants are
often affected by mildew; an effectual remedy is to paint the
hot-water pipes with a mixture of sulphur and lime, put on as thick as
ordinary whitewash, once each week until it is checked; but care must
be taken not to apply it on any surface at a higher temperature than
212 deg. Hyacinths and other bulbs that have been kept in a cellar or
other dark cool place may now be brought into the light of the
greenhouse or sitting-room, provided they have filled the pots with
roots. If they are not well rooted, leave them until they are, or
select such of them as are best, leaving the others. In the outside
flower garden little can be done except that shrubs may be pruned, or
new work, such as making walks or grading, performed, if weather
permits. See that the ornamental plants and trees are not injured by
heavy weights of ice or snow.
_Fruit Garden._--Pruning, staking up or mulching can be done if the
weather is such that the workmen can stand out. In all warm or
comfortable days the fruit trees may be pruned.
_Grapery._--Graperies used for the forcing of foreign grapes may be
started, beginning at a temperature of 50 deg. at night, with 10 deg.
or 15 deg. higher during the day. The borders must be covered
sufficiently deep with leaves or manure to prevent the soil from
freezing, as it would be destruction to the vines to start the shoots
if the roots were frozen; hence, when forcing is begun in January, the
covering should be put on in November, before severe frosts begin.
_Vegetable Garden._--But little can be done in the northern states
except to prepare manure, and get sashes, tools, &c., in working
order; but in sections of the country where there is little or no
frost the hardier kinds of seeds and plants may be sown and planted,
such as asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, leek, lettuce, onion,
parsnip, peas, spinach, turnip, &c. In any section where these seeds
can be sown in open ground, it is an indication that hotbeds may be
started for the sowing of such tender vegetables as tomatoes, egg and
pepper plants, &c.; though, unless in the extreme southern states,
hotbeds should not be started before the beginning or middle of
February. Make orders for the spring seeds.