1873.] GARDEN WORK FOR OCTOBER. 239 



Balsams, Celosias, Cockscombs, &c., are very useful for the same purpose. 

 Attend carefully to Chrysanthemums, late - flowering Salvia splendens, and 

 others, and shift into their final pots early Chinese Primroses, Cinerarias, and 

 winter-flowering Mignonette. All bulbs of Ilyacintlis., Narcissus, Tulips, and 

 Crocuses, &c., should have been potted last month, and plunged out of doors in 

 old tan or cocoa fibre ; under such circumstances, the roots are excited to action, 

 and get the start of the tops to such an extent that before the latter start half 

 an inch the roots have filled the pots. Upon this early and strong root-growth 

 the future size and sweetness of the flowers depend. During the mouth early- 

 rooted Pinks (pipings or plants) and perpetual Carnations should be potted for 

 forcing or winter flowering ; also a few dozens of early Neapolitan and other 

 Violets ; if placed under glass at once, they will bloom on the conservatory shelf 

 right into and through the winter. 



Out of doors the great object is to preserve the beauty of the scene as long as 

 possible, and provide a succession of plants for next year. All the early cuttings 

 should be looked over, failures, if any, noted and made good, and late propaga- 

 tion prosecuted to completion. In making up losses it is better to insert by 

 themselves fresh batches, for if a few cuttings are put in among early ones, the 

 earlier will rob the later, and prevent them from rooting or growing. Many flower- 

 garden plants, notably Petunias, Ageratums, Verbenas, and Calceolarias, root 

 and keep best when put in late ; the wood can hardly be too soft, nor 

 the cutting too short of these and similar plants. Alternantheras must 

 have more heat than most flower-garden stock, and the store pots of these 

 and Iresines form a nice fringe to a stove shelf, while the plants do remarkably 

 well in such positions. The beauty of flowers is best preserved by frequently 

 picking off the dead blooms and leaves, and making a dead set against all seed- 

 bearing. After the first touch of frost, or before, if possible, clear the ground, 

 manure it well, and plant the beds and borders with Hyacinths, Narcissus, Tulips, 

 Crocuses, Snowdrops, and other bulbs and spring flowers or early-blooming 

 annuals. Mixed borders may also be manured and dug, large plants reduced, and 

 vacant spaces filled with spring flowers. Continue to mow the short grass 

 weekly, till its growth is arrested by the frost. Sweep, roll, and mend walks, 

 and make up by neatness and cleanliness, as far as that can be done, for the lack 

 of the beauty that must inevitably be passing away for a season. — D. T. Fish. 



FRUITS. 



In-Doors. — Pine-Apples : Watch that the heat does not become too violent 

 in any of the beds which have been renewed, as loss of roots and injurious con- 

 sequences may ensue. In arranging plants for the winter, endeavour to keep 

 them as near the glass as possible, that they may have the full benefit of light. 

 The plants that are intended to show fruit early should now be kept moderately 

 dry, with a minimum night temperature of about 60'^. For fruiting plants, tho 

 instructions given last month may be followed. Give air whenever practicable, 

 if for ever so short a period. Vines : Prune and dress those in the early houses. 

 Attend well to the preservation of ripe grapes, by keeping a dry, cool atmosphere, 

 and removing all berries the moment they show signs of mouldiness or decay. 

 Peaches and Nectarines : Prune the trees in the early houses, and then give them 

 a dressing of the following mixture : — Lime, sulphur, soft soap, clay, and tobacco- 

 water, reduced to the consistency of paint with warm water ; the shoots should 

 afterwards be neatly tied down to the trellis. Give successional houses abundant 

 air in dry weather, but keep them closed in dull, wet weather, and give late 

 houses a little fire-heat to ripen the wood. Prune all trees as soon as the leaves 

 are off. Thia ia a good seaaon for exchanging exhausted trees; choose those 



