THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 285 



pseudo-bulbs ; and unless that is done, few flowers next season must be expected. 

 Withhold the syringe after the beginning of the month, unless in exceptional cases, 

 and maintain the necessary atmospheric humidity by sprinkling the floors. 



Kitchen Garden.— Thin the winter crop of turnips to the proper distance 

 apart, and the spinach slightly, if too thick. Hoe the ground between the rows to 

 destroy every vestige of weed before it has time to seed, and thus render it unneces- 

 sary to tread the ground when in a soft state from the autumn rains. Plant out a 

 good breadth of the Green, Curled, and Broad-leaved Batavian Endive, and Brown 

 Cos and Drumhead Cabbage Lettuce for the winter. Tie up for blanching those 

 sufficiently advanced. Take up and store Potatoes, and the Onions not sufficiently 

 matured for taking up last month. Make an elevated bed for the reception of a 

 frame to receive the Cauliflower plants to stand over the winter. Hand-lights and 

 ground vineries are invaluable adjuncts to the kitchen garden for protecting young 

 plants of various crops, and for preserving Lettuce, Endive, and many other things 

 after they have reached maturity. Plant out the main crop of Cabbage for spring 

 use at a distance of two feet apart, and insert a strong Colewort plant between 

 each four, to draw during the winter. Sow Chervil, Corn Salad, and Radishes for a 

 late supply. Earth up Celery and Leeks, selecting a dry day for that purpose. 



Fruit Garden. — Expose the fruit on wall-trees to the light by removing the 

 leaves -which overshadow it. Early Apples and Pears must be gathered as soon as 

 the stalk parts readily from the tree, and placed in the fruit-room until fit for the 

 table ; for, when allowed to remain on the trees until ready for consumption they 

 lose their fine brisk flavour, and eat flat. Some of the Pear trees will have pushed 

 again ; cut the shoots recently made back to within three leaves of their base. 

 Pyramidal and cordon trees that are making a strong growth require root-prunin"- ; 

 the end of this month, or as soon as the crop is gathered, is the best time for per- 

 forming that operation. When done early, they make fresh roots, and get 

 re-established before the winter. Fresh plantations of Strawberries may still be 

 made with a considerable chance of success, but such heavy crops of fruit must not 

 be expected as from those planted early last month. 



Pits and Frames. — Pot off intermediate stocks in good turfy loam, mixed with 

 a liberal proportion of rotten manure and leaf-mould. Sow Mignonette for late 

 work, and thin that already up to about five plants to each five or six-inch pot. 

 Give abundance of air to cuttings of bedding plants that are rooted, aud draw the 

 lights off altogether when thoroughly established. 



Forcing. — Pines swelling their fruit must have liberal encouragement ; the 

 temperature should range from 80° to 90°, with a bottom-heat of 8o°. Reduce the 

 temperature, and ventilate somewhat liberally, even if extra fire-heat becomes 

 necessary. Give all the air possible to Vines from which the crop has been 

 gathered, and keep the atmosphere dry in houses in which the grapes are hano-mcr. 

 Those just colouring also require plenty of air, even if artificial warmth is required 

 to maintain the proper temperature. Young Cucumber plants must be raised at 

 once, where a supply is required throughout the winter. Melons ripening require 

 extra warmth to finish them off quickly, or they will be insipid and flavourless. 



The Soap Beret. — The nuts of the soap berry, Sapindus saponaria, 

 were at one time brought to England, and used for waistcoat button^, and were 

 highly esteemed for that purpose on account of their dm ability. The skin and 

 pulp which surround the nuts were also used for washing linen, but they are too 

 acrid, and soon destroy it. The seed-vessels form a lather freely in water, and the 

 water in which the tops of the branches and the leaves have been boiled or steeped 

 has powerful cleansing properties. The whole plant, when crushed and thrown 

 into ponds or rivers, will intoxicate and kill the fish therein. The seeds are round 

 and hard, and have a fine polish. They are even now sometimes used by the 

 Spaniards for buttons. 



Sciiizanthus Culture in Pots. — The Schizanthus, if sown soon in five- 

 inch pots, and thinned out to four plants in each pot, will make charming subjects 

 for conservatory decoration in early spring. Use any good loamy soil, and prutect 

 from frost at all times, and guard against a damp atmosphere, or a large proportion 

 will " damp off." S. Grahamii, S. returns, and S. retusus albus, are the best for 

 pot culture. 



