OCTOBER. 319 



It is to be hoped he will spare us for some time yet, the late blcom 

 being much finer than the early, through the unlavourable weather 

 during the early part of the season. Mark any promising seedlings for 

 trial in 1855. 



Forcing Houses. The period during which these houses have been at 

 rest will have been employed in putting the roofs, &c., in a state of 

 good repair, and seeing that the heating apparatus is in working order. 

 The first house, of both Vines and Peaches, may be pruned at once. 

 The sashes may be put on the early Vinery towards the end of the 

 month, if very early Grapes are wanted. Keep late Grapes dry, by 

 giving air night and day, putting on a little fire when the days are 

 wet, to dry up damp. Vines and fruit trees in pots should now be 

 placed to winter behind a north wall. 



Flower Garden and Shrubberi/. Pay a little extra attention to the 

 la^vn walks at this season ; now that the beauty of the flower garden is 

 on the wane, dead blooms and decayed leaves should be removed, 

 and every means taken to keep up a gay appearance as long as possible. 

 As most kinds of horse-shoe leaved Geraniums bloom better from plants 

 preserved through the winter, all the best plants should be lifted on the 

 approach of frost, their roots slightly cut in, and potted in small pots ; 

 keep them rather dry, and they will soon make fresh roots, and may 

 then be wintered in a spare house or pit. The same may be done 

 w^th any choice plants desirable to save for stock, or for planting out 

 next season ; these, as well as the scarlet Geraniums, should be put in 

 a close house for a fortnight after potting, to start them at the root. 



Hardy Fruits. Golden Drop and Imperatrice Plums on walls should 

 be kept dry, to preserve them, or they may be gathered and kept for 

 a long time, by laying them singly in a dry room. As soon as the 

 leaves begin to fall, fruit trees of all kinds may be transplanted either 

 to walls, espaliers, or orchard grounds, this being the best time for the 

 purpose, besides giving you the pick of the nurseries ; secure from high 

 wands when planted, and mulch the surface. Pruning may take place 

 towards the end of the month, with hardy and orchard fruits, particularly 

 if summer pruning has been neglected. 



Hollyhocks. Seed can now be procured in abundance, which should 

 be gathered before the rains of autumn have damaged it. Continue to 

 put in cuttings as they can be procured, and pot up the old stools of 

 choice varieties for the purpose of propagation during the winter months. 



Kitchen Garden. Attend to former directions; tie up Endive for 

 blanching. Cauliflowers coming in the same, the leaves will protect the 

 head from frost. Cauhflowers and Lettuces, plant out in a warm 

 situation, on rich soil, for covering with hand-glasses or cloches. These 

 latter are useful things for enabling you to have good salads throuo-h 

 the winter ; therefore place some over well established Lettuce [Jants 

 towards the end of the month. Let the kitchen garden have a good 

 cleaning before winter, removing everything which will give harbour 

 to slugs and vermin. Still continue to hoe between advancing crops. 

 Where Broccoli is growing too strong take it up and lay it in with the 

 heads to the north ; this will check its growth and preserve the heads 

 from frost. 



