288 THE FLORIST. 



Cardoons, and blanching Lettuce and Endive as they advance. 

 Tomatoes against walls should be stopped, and have a few of the leaves 

 taken from before the fruit, to assist to ripen it. The Potato crop may 

 be taken up as soon as the tops are ripened off; the disease has not 

 made so much progress with the late crop as it did with the early ones, 

 but the produce will be small. 



Orchard-houses. — Orchard houses are showing their real value this 

 season, where the garden walls present foliage only. The trees in 

 these structures are loaded with fruit — Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, 

 Plums, and Figs. As it is very desirable to keep these, let the house 

 be kept cool and dry, as the fruit ripens ; and the admission of wasps 

 and flies prevented by " Nottingham netting." These orchard-houses 

 are invaluable. 



Peach-house. — Remove the sashes from the late houses, and fully 

 expose the trees. 



Pelargoniums. — All will have been shaken out by this time ; if not, 

 it should be no longer delayed. Those first done for May blooming 

 will have filled their pots with roots, and should receive their final 

 repotting towards the end of the month. The following will be found 

 a very valuable composition : — Two- thirds maiden loam, and one-third 

 sheep or deer dung, all well decomposed ; a little silver sand, to assist 

 in keeping it porous. Let the pots be well drained, to allow the water 

 to pass freely, The first struck cuttings should be stopped to make 

 strong bushy plants, and the young stock in general will require much 

 care and attention. Let all plants be well housed and kept warm and 

 dry. Give plenty of air while the weather remains open. Geraniums, 

 to flower well, should make their principal growth before Christmas. 

 Seedlings should be repotted. 



Pinks. — Plant out into beds, towards the end of the month, for next 

 season's blooming ; should the weather be wet, defer it for a little. 

 Pinks thrive best in a good rich soil, and should be planted about six 

 inches apart. 



Pinery. — Finish potting the plants to fruit next year, as the 

 succession pits are cleared, to fill up the fruiting houses ; set the young 

 plants wider apart. Fruit swelling should be kept moderately moist, 

 and will require a little fire-heat when the night temperature falls 

 below 60°. Renew the linings to plants grown by dung-heat, so as to 

 keep the night temperature 60°, as above. The largest fruiting plants 

 required to produce fruit next March, April, and May, should now be 

 kept comparatively dry, and have a large share of air, to throw them 

 into a state of rest. 



Tulips. — The soil should now be prepared for blooming these in. 

 Look carefully after the roots, the green-fly being so apt to attack them. 

 Fumigate if necessary. Finally, arrange the roots preparatory for 

 planting. 



Vinery. — Late Muscats should at once have fire-heat applied, to 

 assist their ripening ; and this will also apply to the St. Peters, if not 

 likely to ripen without artificial assistance. Let the air of the houses 

 be kept dry, with as much air as can be admitted safely. Now is the 

 best time to prepare composts for new borders. 



