240 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [ Octobbk, 



trees which have been trained six or seven years, in preference to younger ones ; 

 and in planting take care to spread the roots carefully out. Fiy^ : Give these 

 abundance of air in mild weather, but be careful not to expose them to much 

 frost, as the embryo Figs may get injured. Strd.whcrries : Keep all the runners 

 pinched off the plants prepared for forcing as they appear ; attend carefully to 

 the watering ; very little will be required, unless the weather be very dry ; the 

 principal point to be aimed at now is to get the ci'owns as well formed and 

 thoroughly ripened as possible, before the short dark days. Melons : A good 

 brisk heat is necessary to ripen late fruit. 



Out-Doors. — Continue to gather and store away Pears and Apples as they 

 become fit. Look carefully over those previously stored, and pick out bad ones. 

 Gather Medlars, Quinces, Filberts, and Walnuts when fit. Plant Fruit-trees of 

 all kinds, in properly prepared ground, as soon as the leaves begin falling ; never 

 lose sight of the importance of draining, and of making the holes wide enough to 

 allow the free extension of the roots horizontally. Commence pruning Guoseberrt/ 

 and Currant bushes, saving a sufficient supply of the strongest shoots for 

 propagation. — M. Saul, Stourton. 



VEGETABLES. 



The permanent crops of Carrots should now be taken out of the ground 

 without loss of time ; those who grow large quantities, and are anxious to keep 

 the later ones as fresh as possible, would do well to clamp about half of them, 

 proceeding with them precisely as in clamping the potato ; they keep remarkably 

 well so treated. Beets, which should all be got up quickly now, may be stored in 

 part, in exactly the same way, and with much benefit to such as are wanted for 

 late use ; it is always advisable to place a little straw over the roots befoi'e putting 

 on the soil, and to choose a dry situation for them. Proceed with the earthing- 

 up of the successional crops of Celer// at every favourable opportunity — which, 

 as regards the weather, is during fine periods, and when both the plants and 

 surface soil are tolerably dry. In many instances earth-worms are very injurious 

 to blanching celery, as they destroy the tender young leaves which are blanched ; 

 and such other pests as slugs, &c., often do mischief ; it is advisable therefore to 

 dust a little fresh lime or soot along the rows, as a deterrent to these and similar 

 enemies. Proceed vigorously with the necessary transplanting of seedling Lettuces and 

 Endives intended to stand the winter for early spring use ; these should be planted 

 out thickly, on the borders formed at the foot of walls facing sunny south or south- 

 east aspects. If the weather continues moist and open, as it is whilst I write, it may 

 be necessary to make another small sowing on a very much sheltered sunny aspect ; 

 such late sowings, when they stand the winter, often come in very useful just 

 preceding the spring-sown crops. Transplant Cauliflowers on to their permanent 

 winter quarters, which should be in a position where it may be convenient to 

 place a frame and lights over them during very severe frosts in winter ; dibble 

 the plants out moderately deep at this time, as an additional guarantee against 

 the onslaughts of very severe frosts. Carefully remove the decayed leaves from 

 around the crowns of Seakale, and prepare for forcing the earliest batch, placing 

 a little heap of cinder-ashes around each, as a neutraliser of too great heat, 

 should such happen to be generated in the preliminary forcing operations ; this 

 is sometimes the case, and results in severe injury to the crowns, by scalding them. 

 Make a last sowing out of doors of Radislies for mid-winter pulling and supply ; a 

 somewhat large breadth should be sown upon a somewhat elevated sunny aspect, 

 and should the weather prove mild, they will be very useful by and b)'' ; even 

 if severe weather ensues, they may be protected with light straw litter, and will 

 still produce a most acceptable crop. — William Earley, Vcilentines. 



