402 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



few days, then stripped of the greater part of their tops, tied to sticks, 

 say, 2 or 3 feet long, and hung up in a dry shed where the air can 

 play freely at all times. Laying them on floors in lofts is a bad 

 practice, except the air can circulate from all sides. Injury from frost 

 need not be feared if the bulbs can be kept thoroughly dry. 



Cucumbers and Melons will require careful attention, now that 

 nights are becoming colder. Keep up a regular heat by linings 

 or otherwise. Water, Avhen required, should be given in the morn- 

 ings. Sprinkling the plants where dung is used will not be neces- 

 sary now. Air must be given on every favourable opportunity. 

 Keep Strawberries free from runners, so that the crowns may have 

 all the benefit of the plant. Some have faith in cutting off the entire 

 foliage from the plant ; but we never tried the experiment, and to those 

 who tell us of their success by this practice, we only (in reply) say 

 that success would have been much greater if the leaves had been pre- 

 served. Thinning overgrown crowns is quite another thing ; we have 

 often to do this, our ground being very deep and rich. Where young 

 plants are scarce, it is a useful practice to save the best of the crowns 

 when rooting out old plants, and plant them in well-prepared ground, 

 on a large brake of Sir Harry and British Queen. Treated thus, we 

 had this year a splendid crop of very large fruit. The divisions were 

 planted last October. Protecting fruit from birds must not be neglected. 

 When the grain from the fields is housed, many birds return in flocks 

 to gardens. Gather fruit as it ripens j bruised or fallen ones should be 

 kept separate for using up. As the store-rooms get filled, air should 

 be kept on, and for a few weeks after the crops are all in j then a 

 close, dark, and dry room is most suitable for long keeping. Fruit- 

 rooms, before they are filled, should be fumigated several times with 

 sulphur, and thoroughly washed and dried. Cleanliness is of great im- 

 portance to fruit-keeping ; damp is a great evil. No growths should be 

 allowed to grow on fruit-trees now ; everything should be done to ex- 

 pose the wood (for next year's fruiting) to sun and air. A good washing 

 with a syringe or engine should be given to Peaches, Nectarines, Apri- 

 cots, &c., to clear off dust and insects. If mildew appears, let a good 

 dusting of sulphur be given. Trees are too often neglected with water 

 at the roots after the fruit is gathered ; premature ripening takes place, 

 and perhaps accompanied with mildew; the wood looks hard and fruit- 

 ful, and opens great clusters of flowers in spring ; but as the season 

 advances the greater part drops and the cry is, "Severe weather," 

 "Wet," and everything but the right thing, when the whole evil might 

 have been prevented by careful autumn treatment. Keeping the shoots 

 long off the walls in autumn is another evil to be guarded against. 

 Unripened wood is an evil on the opposite side. While some advise 



