There will be a few outdoor flowers in December if winter-blooming plants have been put in. In heated houses there will be a plentiful supply if previous advice has been followed.

The planting of bulbs, Roses, trees, and shrubs ought to be completed as early as possible. Evergreens may be pruned to yield material for the festive season.

Hedges may be planted, lawns made by levelling the ground and laying turf, and paths made. All heavy carting and wheeling should be done in frosty weather if possible, in order to avoid cutting up the ground. The worst time for carting is during a thaw, as the road material "picks up" on the wheels.

The planting and pruning of fruit trees should be completed. Late Vines and Peaches may be pruned, and the houses cleaned. Fruit trees attacked by canker should be cleaned and fed. If American Blight, scale, moss, or lichen is troublesome the trees may be sprayed with Woburn Wash.

The forcing of Asparagus, Seakale, and Rhubarb may continue. Artichokes may be cut down. Endive that is large enough may be blanched. Late Cauliflowers may be stored in a shed. Cabbages should be hoed, and Broccoli bent over. Early Cucumbers and Tomatoes may be sown. French Beans may be sown also. Celery should be protected and store Potatoes examined. Vacant ground should be dug, trenched, and manured. Rubbish should be burned.

A Last Look Round

The Christmas holidays afford an opportunity for a general retrospect of the garden during the year: its work, its pleasure, its disappointments, and its rewards. The happiness that arose out of past successes is felt again, the sadness that springs from failure is remembered only as a warning. Errors made in the past are errors avoided in the future, if they are viewed in the right light - that is, as salutary lessons.

We look back on summer days spent under our own "Vine and Fig trees." We see concrete examples of good work done in the form of arches, Rose gardens, and shrubberies, all half-hidden now, perhaps, under a mantle of snow, but full of life and meaning to us, their makers.

We see the flowers in our greenhouses, the fruit trees on our walls, the vegetables in our stores. We feel the glow of health on our faces.

We take a last look round before drawing the curtains and turning to the Christmas fire.

And we say: Gardening is good for us, body and soul.