1869.] SEASONABLE HINTS FOR AMATEURS. SEPTEMBER. 191) 



the better ; but it is well to be always prepared, as stormy, boisterous weather 

 sometimes comes on very suddenly in the latter part of this month, and a 

 quantity of valuable plants may soon be seriously damaged for want of a tem- 

 porary protection. As they are more likely to suffer from wind and rain than from 

 frost, any temporary protection in a sheltered corner will answer very well for 

 some weeks. Any amateur can, with a few stakes, laths, and tarpaulin, soon 

 contrive a suitable place. If ripe grapes are hanging in the greenhouses, the 

 plants should be kept out as long as they can be with safety. Pelargoniums for 

 autumn blooming, that have been grown out of doors, should towards the end of 

 the month be placed under glass ; they should have plenty of air, and not be 

 kept too wet ; if they have been well grown, they will furnish a fine display for 

 man}' weeks. As the nights begin to lengthen, the heavy dews that prevail will 

 render watering in the open air less necessary ; still, all plants, and particularly 

 hard-wooded plants, must be looked over, to see that they do not suffer for want 

 of water. As long as the weather continues mild, all the more hardy hard- 

 wooded plants will do best in the open air, the heavy dews being beneficial to them. 



With the exception of some of the summer Peas, which the hot weather 

 brought in nearly all at once, most kinds of vegetables have done well this season 

 in the kitchen garden. It is now time to take up and store all the early Potatos, 

 which should be done in dry weather. Onions should also now be taken up, 

 dried carefully, and stored ; they keep best when " strapped," and hung up in a 

 dry, cool, airy shed or outhouse. Cabbages for next spring should be planted 

 out not later than the middle of the month, so that they may get well rooted before 

 the short, cold clays set in. Bath Cos, Brown Dutch, and Hammersmith Hardy 

 Lettuces should be planted in quantities two or three times during the month, on 

 warm, sheltered borders, for autumn, winter, and spring use. The earthing-up of 

 Celery in dry weather must be regularly attended to. Late Turnips should be 

 thinned and hoed. Peas, Beans, and all other crops past bearing should be 

 •cleared off at once, and the ground dug and cropped. Every advantage should 

 be taken of dry weather to destroy weeds, which will now grow rapidly, if not 

 kept well under. 



In the Fruit Garden the gathering of all kinds of fruit as they ripen will now 

 require daily attention. When gathered, fruit should be handled as little as 

 possible. Fine fruit is oftentimes much damaged by careless handling. All stone 

 fruit, as also Pears and Apples, are improved in flavour by being laid on a shelf 

 in a dry, warm place for a few days. Apricots are very large and fine this year, 

 and the trees look well and promise well for a crop next year. Plums are a thin 

 crop, but are very fine, and are rather late in ripening. Peaches are abundant and 

 fine here, and will be ripe by the first of the month on the open wall. Pears are 

 plentiful and fine everywhere. Apples are in general thin, and will be small this 

 season. Nuts are very abundant ; I don't remember ever seeing the bushes so 

 heavily laden. All runners and all the old outside leaves should be cut clean off 



