THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 315 



THE GARDEN GUIDE FOR OCTOBER. 



Elower Garden. — After the middle of the month the summer 

 bedders have such a wretched appearance, that the sooner they are 

 cleared off after that time the better. Where spring gardening is 

 carried out, the beds ought to be cleared soon, and then filled with 

 the plants for spring flowering. This is necessary to enable them 

 to make a fresh growth, and get established in their new quarters 

 before the weather gets too cold, and stops their progress. A good 

 display of spring flowers can be got up for such a trifling amount 

 of skill and labour, that no flower-garden ought to be bare of flower- 

 ing plants during April and May. The best things for spring 

 bedding are Silene, Wallflowers, Forget-me-nots, Arabis, Alyssum, 

 Aubrietias, Pansies, and Iberis, and spring bulbs. Good selections 

 of the cheapest and best bulbs for the open border are given 

 on another page, therefore nothing further need be said about 

 them here. The late Tulips must not be planted until next 

 month, and the Anemones and Rauunculuses are as well out of the 

 ground until next February. Both these subjects prefer well- 

 pulverized soil, and the beds which they are intended to occupy 

 ought to be dug over at once, and the surface left rough, to give 

 the weather greater power to act upon it. Plant every kind of 

 hardy herbaceous plant from the cutting-pot or seed-bed. Take up 

 and pot all zonate and variegated geraniums which are intended to 

 be preserved during the winter, for they seldom do much good after 

 exposure to several sharp frosts. The dead foliage can be removed ; 

 but avoid breaking or cutting the branches, as spring is the best 

 time for pruning them. Place under shelter, and protect from frost; 

 but at all other times ventilate freely, and give little water until the 

 turn of the winter, when they will be established in the soil. 

 Securely stake Chrysanthemums both in pots and the open borders, 

 to prevent injury from winds. Tie out in a natural manner, and 

 avoid the wretched system of using one stake, and tying all the 

 growth into a bundle round it. Take up Dahlia tubers as soon as 

 the tops are dead, and spread them out separately in a cool dry place 

 to get thoroughly dry before storing for the winter. This important 

 point is frequently lost sight of, and a mass of rotten pulp in the 

 spring is the consequent result. It is also necessary to protect from 

 frost, by covering them with dry hay or litter in severe weather. 

 The planting of deciduous trees and shrubs must be pushed on 

 vigorously, and if done carefully, all moderate-sized specimens will 

 scarcely feel the shift. This is also a good time for transplanting 

 evergreens, if not done as advised early in the autumn. 



Kitchen Garden. — Much anxiety and disappointment might 

 be avoided during the summer, if proper care and attention were 

 paid to this department at this season. Trench and ridge up all 

 vacant quarters that are not to be occupied during the winter. This 

 will give the soil, brought up from the bottom of the trench, ample 

 opportunities to be thoroughly pulverized. Where the second spit 

 is unfit for bringing to the top, open out a trench in the ordinary 



