351 

 GAEDEN GUIDE EOE NOVEMBER. 



It is an interesting fact, that after a season hotter than was ever known hefore, 

 and araonuting in length of continuance to the equal of at least two ordinary sum- 

 mers, the late autumnal flowers are only a few days or a week at most in advance of 

 their ordinary season of flowering. Here is now created for us a fresh interest in 

 those well known lines'—" Say what impels,' etc., etc. ; for it is quite hidden 

 from us why one flower should expand in spring, another in summer, and another 

 in autumn, though from the same sunshine they all derive their life and heauty. 

 The autumnal weather, so far, has heen all we could desire, and the prudent gar- 

 dener is making the best of it. Trees and shrubs should be planted witli all haste 

 possible, for the ground is warm and moist, and they will make fresh roots imme- 

 diately. "We look for a mild winter, and another long hot season, but the coming 

 winter may be severe, and we must be prepared for anything. Herbaceous plants 

 may still be planted, and so may hardy bulbs of all kinds, but no time should be 

 lost, for if they do not make roots before hard frost occurs, they will not thrive as 

 they should. Winter-flowering plants should have careful treatment, more espe- 

 cially as to light ; such things as cinerarias, primulas, cyclamens, etc., should be 

 kept as near the glass as possible. This is a good time to lay a thick coat of 

 manure over grass plots, to kill daisies and thicken the turf. Lawson's phospho- 

 guano is one of the best manures for grass lawns. It is also a good time to lay 

 down turf, and to make box-edgings. 



TO COEEESPONDENTS. 



Grapes xot Setting. — T>. B. Beverley. — Botli the grapes you name are shy 

 setters, and we should be inclined to advise you to take up a rod from one of the 

 other vines, and remove them as soon as the young rods are strong enough to take 

 their place. There is nothing that can be done beyond the treatment you now give 

 the whole of the other vines. It is a very good plan to fan the bunches with an ordi- 

 nary fan, or piece of cardboard, two or three times a day during the time they are in 

 bloom. "We once tried it on some muscats, that never had previously set a decent 

 bunch, with the best results. 



Growing Vines ix Greexhouse. — Aii Amateur. — Good crops of grapes may 

 he grown in pots in your greenhouse, and you would stand a better chance of a good 

 crop than you would were you to force them. Though you would stand a reasonable 

 chance of getting a good crop in pots, it is by no means the best way. We should 

 advise you to make a border outside the house at once, and turn your vines into it, 

 and bring the rods through the wall just under the surface of the soil, if you con- 

 veniently can ; it is much better than having the stem outside the house for several 

 feet in length. Make the border about three feet deep, ten feet wide, and the length 

 of your house. Place about a foot of rough pieces of brick in the bottom for 

 drainage, and then fill up with a compost of three parts loam and one part each of 

 rotten dung and lime-rubbish. Vines planted out in a border of this description will 

 grow away with but little trouble and attention beyond the pruning and training 

 required overhead. You had better cut the vines back to about a foot from the 

 point of their entering the house. In tv/o or three years you will have an abundance 

 of grapes ; but if you keep them in pots, you will have a few next summer, and then 

 the vines will be of no further use. To keep a stock of fruiting vines you must pro- 

 pagate a fresh lot every year. It requires considerable experience to grow vines in 

 pots as they should be, therefore it is scarcely likely that amateurs who have but a 

 limited knowledge of the subject will do much good. 



Taking up CHRY.sANTntMUMs. — Mrs. B. — We should not recommend you to 

 take up tlie very large plants which have been growing in the same position for 

 several years. The flowers would be all right, but the plants would probably lose 

 all the foliage, and be only suitable for placing in the centi-e and at the buck of 

 other groups. With a little care you might take up the plants Avhich were turned 

 out in the spring without their receiving any appreciable effect ; take them up without 

 knocking much of the soil from the roots, and afcer they are potted, give the roots a 

 thorough good soaking of water, and keep them rather close for a week or so. 



