THE 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHA.N. 



Vol. XXI. 



OCTOBER, 1879. 



Number 250. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



As the planting season is upon us, it may be 

 of service to remark that few persons seem 

 aware of the great variety of the material with 

 which their gardens may be adorned. 



As we go through the country the same half- 

 dozen or dozen kinds may be seen everywhere ; 

 the same monotonous planting all through. The 

 planting is evidently the result of an unacquain- 

 tance with the immense variety which the best 

 modern nurseries offer. There could be no 

 more profitable use of time by those intending 

 to plant than a few hours at a first-class nursery. 



The Summer in the greater part of the Eastern 

 States has been peculiarly favorable to vegeta- 

 tion. When the seasons are wet or dry the 

 vital powers of the plants are lowered, and they 

 are easily injured, even by moderately severe 

 weather in Winter. It is this which often makes 

 Fall planting seem undesirable. The next Win- 

 ter, unless unusually severe, will be a very 

 favorable one on vegetation, and those who 

 plant this October and November will no doubt 

 have unusual success. Even plants which have 

 not been transplanted, but are usually regarded 

 as somewhat tender, will probably sufter but 

 little ; still, protection of such plants will be in 

 order as usual. It may be as well to remember 

 that keeping off the cold dry winds is often a suf- 



^cient protection. Many use evergreen branches, 

 and these are useful if not placed too thickly. 

 In great abundance large quantities of turpen- 

 tine are pressed out by frost, which injure the 

 plants covered by these pine branches. In like 

 manner fresh manure from stable yards is inju- 

 rious, by reason of the salt it contains. Many 

 plants are seriously injured in Winter by these 

 injudicious coverings, without the user having 

 the least idea of the cause. Wherever earth can 

 be used, as for instance in the case of small things, 

 there is nothing like it for protection. Half 

 hardy vines can easily be bent down and lightly 

 covered, and small roses can have the young 

 tops cut back and the earth drawn over them. 

 When large they may be taken up, laid on 

 their sides, and replanted in Spring. 



We have already spoken of the value of lilies 

 and other Summer flowering bulbs in gardening, 

 and that the Fall is the time to replant and care 

 for them. The hardy or Holland bulbs, as they 

 are often called, because mostly imported from 

 Holland, where they are grown extensively and 

 thrive better than in any other country, are al- 

 most the only ornament of the garden in very 

 early Spring. Commencing with the little Snow- 

 drop, in this section in March or early April, 

 followed by the Crocus, Hyacinth and Tulip, 

 they make a most interesting succession during 

 the months of April and May, when but for them 



