i i W
KALENDARIAL INDEX.
T h e a lm a n a c time in this kalendar is calculated for the meridian of London; but as
a ka le n d a r o f n a tu re is given for the metropolitan district, the almanac time may, in
every part of the empire, be varied to suit the local climate and vegetation.
In general, other circumstances being alike, four days may be allowed for every degree,
or every 70 miles north or south of London; in spring, operations may be commenced
earlier in that proportion southwards, and later northwards; but in autumn the
reverse, and operations deferred as#ve advance southwards, and accelerated as we proceed
to the north : in every case allowing a due weight to local circumstances.
JANUARY.
Avora^G of
mometer.
Greatest
Variation
from tiiG
Average.
Average
ofthe
Barometer.
29 56
29 194
29 721
REMARKS.
A cold January is reckoned seasonable. The gardener,
during tills month, does not labour in the garden more
than five hours a d a y ; allowing one hour more for
early and late attendance on hothouse fires, and seven
hours for sleep, tliere remains cloven hours for i>ersonal
e of these hours r
1. Kalendar of animated nature round
London.
In the fir s t week: shelless snails (Hèlix) and
earth-worms (ium b ric u s terréstris) appear.
Second week: redbreast (Sÿlvia T^ubèciiia)
whistles, nuthatch (5 itta europæ'a) chatters, mis-
tletoe-thrush (ïMrdus viscivorus) sings, and wagtails
(ilfotacilla alba and flàva) appear.
Third week : th e common lark (ftlaúda arvénsis)
congregates.
Fourth week: snails (H èlix aspèrsa) and slugs
( i lm a x àter and hyálinus) abound in sheltered parts
ofgardens; the hedge-sparrow (Accéntormodulàris)
whistles, the large titmouse (Párus màjor) sings,
and flies appear on the windows.
2. Kalendar of vegetable nature round
London.
I n the fir s t week: some plants accidentally in
flower ; and others, as the laurustinus, continued
from December.
Secondweek : w in te ra c o n ite (E rá n th ishyemàlis),
Christmas-rose (Helléborus foe'tidus) in flower, and
hazel (Córylus ftvellâna) catkins beginning to app
e a r; common honeysuckle (Caprifòlium Periclÿ-
menum) buds begin to appear.
Third week : primrose (P rimula vulgàris) flowers
in sheltered places; daisy (Péllis perénnis) and
chickweed (Stellària mèdia) begin to flower.
Fourth week: mezereon (Dàphne Mezereum) begins
to flower; and sometimes spurrey ^ P e rg u la
arvénsis), pansy (F io la tricolor), white scented
violet (F iola odoràta), archangel (iàm ium rù brura),
and coltsfoot (7\issilàgo Petasites and fràgrans),
show blossoms.
3. Kitchen-garden. — Culinary vegetables.
Sow (3553.) early frame and Charlton peas about
the beginning," and some dwarf marrowfats about
th e end of the month. (3556.) Early mazagan and
long-pod beans in the first week (3670.) and the last.
(357ty) In the last fortnight, on a sheltered border,
sloping to th e south, the hardy green Egyptian,
early and brown D utch lettuces. (3902.) O n a sim i-
lar border, in the first and second week, early dwarf
short-topped radish ; in the last fortnight, the salmon
coloured. (3708.)
Protect (3920.), hy temporary coverings, newly
sown seeds, as lettuce, endive, celery, &c.
Transplant (3659.) strong plants of the brassica
tribe, carrots, parsneps, &c., to run for seed.
Dig (2296.) and trench (2302.) vacant ground in
dry weather.
Prepare (2399.) composts and manures. Attend
to neatness (2739.) by picking up all dead leaves,
and removiug all plants killed by th e frost, &c.
(2731. to 2738.) ^
Insects, 4-c. (2660.) Destroy slugs, set traps for
mice, and remove ail larvæ, webs, eggs, &c.
4. Hardy fruit department.
Plant (2892.) fruit trees in general, in open weather.
Protect (2895.) newly pianted trees from frost and
drought by mulching (2531.) ; fig trees by fronds or
mats, if you have neglected this business in October.
(4793.)
Pj-wrac(4323.) apples,pears, plums,cherries, gooseberries,
currrants, and raspberries, preferring mild
weather, o r oniy moderate frosts. Prune first such
trees as stand in compartments or borders that you
wish to dig or dress (2564.) ; apricots in the last fortnight,
if very mild. (4441. ) Loosen the extremities
of the shoots of such trees as it is not proper to prune
a t present, and wash them with soap-suds and
sulphur, or scalding water, if insects are suspected.
Fork over and stir th e earth round trees which
have been p ru n e d ; trench ground intended for
trees.
S/aÆe newly planted trees. (2893.)
Clean trees from moss, mistletoe, &c. (2680.).
Guard against hare.s, by tarring or lime-whiting
th e ir stems, or tying thorns round them.
Destroy or remove insects by washes, or hot water,
applied both to walls or trellises, and to the trees.
Fruit-room and cellar. (2192.) Look over the
fruit in open boxes or shelves, and pick out decayed
or tainted ones ; b u t do not touch the casks of fruit
in th e cellar. (2194.)
5. Culinary hothouse department.
Glass case without heat. (1989.) Sow radishes
lettuce, carrots, small salads (3993.) ; and peas and
beans for transplanting. (3553.)
Hotbeds and pits. (3035.) Prepare for making up
h o tb e ¿ for early cucumbers (3225.) and melons
(3261.), if you have not begun in November. Sow
early radishes, and small salading on slight hotbeds.
(3993.) Sow carrot on a slight hotbed, to produce a
crop for drawingin A prilandMay. (3669.) Kidney-
beans, peas, potatoes (3340. 3559. 3595.), &c. may be
sown and planted on slight hotbeds in small pots to
fit them fnr trar»eT»TQnHri(» \ r-ro-____£__ ___
and 4111.)
Pinery. (30ty.) Give air and water sparingly to
pm e s ; sow kidneybeans; take in strawberries.
Forcing-houses. (3042. and 3222.) Give air and
water, and, according to the progress your trees
have made, increase your stimuli of every description.
Attend to kidneybeans and strawberries
3 2m T™ stove-room. (3336. and
6. Flower-garclen. —• Open-ground department.
Plant (2508.) dried roots of border flowers, if not
done before ; but defer planting bulbs of the finer
florists’ fiowers till February, unless th e weather is
very mild. (5181.)
Transplant (2532.) daisies,and other edgings,if the
weather is fine, and it was not done before.
Protect (2644.) choice plants by matting, litter,
cases of wickerwork, old bark, and all other proper
means, observing to do it with due attention to
neatness in this department of gardening. (2731.)
Attend to the finer sorts of tulips, which will emerge
from the ground by the end of the month ; hoop
them over, and apply m ats. (5200.) Ranunculuses
and anemones, wliich have been planted in November,
will require a similar attention. (5221.)
7. Flower-garden. — Hothouse department.
Glass case without heat. (1989.) Attend to the
alpines (3516.): they should have air every dry day,
and must, in very severe weather, be protected by
mats, and even litte r, to imitate their native snow
covering at this season. Mignonette and other
prolonged annuals, as stocks, sweetpeas, &c. will
require similar attention. (5445.) Look to choice
auriculas (5274.) and polyanthuses (5296.); keep
them plunged in frames in old tan, or, what is better,
saw-dust, or ashes. In general, never attempt to
keep a potted plant through th e winter in a cold
frame, unless it be plunged, or the pots be standing
very close together.
Hotbeds and pits. (5116.) *^egin to force roses
(5376.) and other shrubs, and hardy flowers, as
well as bulbs, if you have not begun in November :
put bulbs in blowing glasses. (5188.)
Greenhouse. (5161.) Minim, temp, for this month,
40° ; max. a t fire-heat, 44°. See th a t th e most delicate
plants be in the warmest part of the house,
in so far as is consistent with other arrangements :
give air freely in fine weather, aud water at all
times sparingly. (5162.)
D ry stove. (5164.) Min. temp, for this m onth 4.5°
with fire- heat ; water very sparingly, but give air
every fine day. (6165.)
Bark, or moist stove. (5126.) The minimum temperature
for this department, with fire-heat, may be
58°, and maximum 70° : water and give air with
discretion.
8. Pleasure-ground and shmbbery.
Plant (2510.) most sorts of deciduous trees in fine
weather, and deciduous hedges. (2619. and 2529.)
Prune (2544.) native and naturalised deciduous
shrubs and trees (2.547.) ; cut deciduous hedges
(6875.); attend to the weather: only the very hardiest
natives are to be cut duringfrosts and snows.
Digging. (2296.) Continue this operation in the
interior of masses and groups, as well as in the
shrubberies and other screen plantations. Where
the exterior abounds with flowering shrubs and
plants, it should have been dug in autumn, and
must not be deferred till next month.
Dress tu rf (5028.) and gravel (2384.) : the former
may be done in moist, but the latter only in dry
weather.
Form and repair lawns and tu rf verges, in mild
weather. (2533. and 2386.)
9. Trees. — Nurseiy department.
L ay out (5953.) ground for a nursery, if not done
in autumn ; gather all manner of tree-seeds.
Dig (2296.) and trench (59.55.) vacant ground between
the rows of plants, which are to stand a year
longer : fill up any vacancies as you go along. (5857.)
L ijt (2514.) plants fit for planting out.
Prune (5860.) nursery plants before planting: do
this in sheds, and keep the roots covered with matting
or moss.
Gather (5966.) cones of the larch and other firs,
and of the pine tribe. (5971.)
Protect (2646.) beds of germinating seeds with
straw or litte r ; put other tender seedlings in pots
under frames, or mats and hoops, from birds, mice,
snails, and other vermin. (2650.)
Rotting-ground (5959.) : tu rn over tlie different
layers frequently, and see th a t none of them are
soaked with water.
Seed-loft and cellar (2194.) : look to all th e sorts
of seeds in these departments ; whether buried in
sand, or in heaps, layers, baskets, drawers, or bags.
Destroy (2657.) vermin, and, in bad weather, cut
and paint tallies and prepare parchment labels,
number-sticks, hooks for laying, &c.
10. Trees. — Permanent plantations and
park sceneiy.
Prepare (5955.) ground for grove or screen plantations;
for useful strip s; for detached, and for
hedgerow trees ; and planting in general.
Plant (5987.), in dry weather, deciduous trees,
Scotch pine, and larch fir. (5977.)
Prune (5867.) deciduous trees, and also larch fir
and Scotch pine groves (5866.), hedgerow trees,
and, indeed, deciduous forest trees, in every form
(5876.) ; cut and plash, repair and renovate, and
complete hedges of deciduous plants or trees. (5895.)
Enclose and fence (5788.) ground intended to be
planted (5848.) by posts and rails in all weathers
(5849.) ; but by m ortar walls, in mild weather only.
Fell (5933.) timber trees, where the bark is no
object.
Thin (5889.) crowded plantations, distinguishing
between such as consist of sorts fit for barking, or
transplanting, and sorts for consumption in any of
the usual forms of young trees, or coppices (5917-
and 5977.), and otherwise prepare for planting the
more extensive sites.
Excavate and remove ground for forming pieces
o fw a te r, &c.
FEBRUARY.
Weather
at
Average of
the Tiier-
moiucter.
Greatest
Variation
from the
Average.
Average
of the
Barometer.
Quantity
of llaln.
1 REMARKS.
This month (thcsprini? orsproulkaie month ofthe Saxons)
is usually subject to much rain, or snow: either is accounted
seasonable; the old proverb being, “ February
fill dike with either black or white.” Eariy forced articles,
and especially cucumbers and peaches, require great
care during this montli: when the sun docs uot appe.ar
for scveral days, danger is to bo apprehended from
damps, and at other times from chills.
London -
Edinbui'ph
Dublin -
42 5
5(3 6
45 78
5 29 94
29 566
50 001
0-875 inch.
1-269
2-24
1. Kalcndai* of animated natiu-c round
London.
I n the fir s t week : bees (ft'p is mellifera) come out
o fth e ir hives, gnats (Cùlex) play about, insects (In-
séctæ) swarm under sunny hedges, and the earthworm
(ium b ric u s terréstris) lies o u t; hen-chaf-
finches (F ringllla) flock, and the song-thrush, or
throstle (7'U rdus mùsicus), and common lark
( /la u d a arvénsis), sing.
Second week: the buntings (Emberiza M lià rìa )
and linnets (Linària L inòta) appear in flocks ; sheep
(O'vis / 'r i e s ) drop their lambs; geese ( / 'n a s
/ 'n s e r ) begin to lay.
Third week: rooks (Córvus frugilegus) begin to
pair, and resort to their nest-trees ; house-sparrows
( Fringllla domèstica) chirp, and begin to build ; the
chaffinch (FVingllla coeTebs) sings.
Fourth week : the partridge (P é rd ix cinèrea) begins
to pair.theblackbird Í 7úrdus Mcrula) whistles,
and the field and wood larks ( / la d d a arvénsis and
arbòrea) sing; the hen (Phasiànus Gállus) sits.
2. Kalendar of vegetable natm-e round
London.
I n the firs t week: th e snowdrop (Galànthus nivàlis),
whin ( î/'le x europæ'a), white deadnettle (/.à -
mium álbum),polyanthus (P rímuia vèris) flower ;
and the elder (Sambùcus nlgra), and some roses and
honeysuckles, begin to expand their leaves.
Second week: commou crowfoot (Panúnculus)
rèpens),dandelion'(Léontodon7’aráxacum),and the
female flowers of hazel ( Córylus/v e liàn a ), appear.
Third week : Verónica agréstis in flower ; many
of the poplar and willow tribe show their catkins ;