NOTES ON THE MONTH.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 157, 4 December 1847, Page 2

NOTES ON THE MONTH.

December it our firit month of summer. The tern. pwatura of the air, which, during the spring, gradually increase! from mouth to month varied and uncertain as it may be for shorter periods,now rapidly attains its maximum. The greatest heat during the lait mm. mer was from the 14th Dec. inclusive j when the thermomeier at noon in the shade ranged from 81 ° to 85 ° . That Mason was, however, very different from the present one, for the thermometer having attained 70° on the 15th of November comtmtly kept above that range of temperature until March. Our present spring has beeu of late windy and cold. Frequent light showers occurring at short intervals have caused vegetation to be fresh and vigorous: little heavy rain having fallen for the last two months, the ground is too dry to endure anything like a summer's drought. The grasshoppers are now nearly half grown , but have not appeared in such numbers as in their lait summer's visitation. The quantities of flax blossoms is really enormous ; the flax swamps exhibiting quite a forest of flower stalks. It would appear that the flax only blossoms in such profusion periodically. As each flower contains a quantity of liquid honey, there will be a fine harvest for the bees this year, The burden of meadow hay will be very heavy every whtre. Do not allow it to ripen too much before cutting. What with meadow hay, oaten hay, and "green stuff," there will be no lack of food for horses this year. Prepare for the wheat harvest. It is a good plan to white- wash the interior of barns, ke. The harvest will apparently be late this year. Potatoes now receive their last hoeing. Hops should also be earthed up, not more than three maners or vines should be left to each pole. Sweed. turnips may be sown. Vines will now blossom. After blossoming, nip off the point of the bearing shoot, a little beyond the last buncb. Shoots not wanted for next year's bearing wood m»y be broken off ; and those left should be secured from being blown nTjout. Commence the summer pruning of fruit trees, thinning our nil unnecessary shoots. It is not to* late to put in melons in the open ground. With reipect to bees, honey may be taken from their- hives that begin swarming early ; but the next month or February, is the best season for the honey harvest.