Work for the Month of November 



By Henry 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



The chaotic appearance of the flower garden at this 

 lime of the year makes one ahnost despair of ever getting 

 it cleaned up. The short dark days are, however, draw- 

 ing near, and there is no time for these regretful feelings. 

 The first thing in cleaning up the garden is to start a 

 fire of dry leaves and debris that are lying around. 

 Once the fire is got going all the old rubbish from the 

 beds and borders can be piled onto it, and thus be easily 

 disposed of. When the fire is burned out the ashes mav 

 be spread on the beds and previous to digging. 



All beds and borders that are not to be planted to 

 bulbs should be manured and dug over before the winter 

 sets in. Especially is this so where the soil is of a heavy 

 clayed texture, care being taken to leave the surface as 

 rough as possible so as to allow the disintegrating influ- 

 ence of frost to penetrate as deeply as possible. 



THE VEGET.^BLE GARDEN. 



What has been said with regard to the foregoing ap- 

 plies with equal force to the vegetable garden. As fast 

 as the various crops are harvested digging or ploughing 

 should be proceeded with, and if deemed necessary 

 trenching. Trenching is a process too well known to 

 need description here, and especially to those who re- 

 ceived their early training on the other side of the water. 



Land that has been heavily manured for several ^'ears 

 past would be greatly benefited bv a good dressing of 

 lime applied now. Land such as we. ar£ speaking of _ 

 contains large quantities of valuable plant food in such 

 a form as renders it unassimilable. Lime acts as a 

 disintegrator ; that is, it breaks down or lets loose as it 

 were these chemical compounds so that they are readily 

 assimilated by the active roots of the plants. It is pos- 

 sible by frequent application of lime to break up these 

 compounds to such an extent that the soil becomes im- 

 poverished. Therefore apply lime cautiously and not 

 oftener than once in three vears. 



( In ilic other hand, land that is known to be deficient 

 in any of the chemical elements that go to make up plant 

 food should have these supplied, and there is no better 

 time to do this than the fall. 



THE FRUIT G.VRDEN. 



The suggestions given with reference to the application 

 of lime and fertilizers are also to be recommended for 

 the orchard and small fruits. Raspberries should have 

 the old canes cut away if not already done. No good 

 comes of having the raspberry patch like the impene- 

 trable undergrowth of a forest. Take the pruning 

 shears and let in some light and air about them. The\- 

 will then have a chance to get ripened up and stand the 

 winter better. 



SWEET PEAS. 



It seems a far cry from the fruit garden to sweet 

 peas, yet while on the subject of preparing for next 

 season's work it would be well not to overlook next 

 year's supply of these almost indispensable flowers. On 

 many estates they are grown almost to perfection, and no 

 doubt exists that this is only possible where thorough 

 preparation and cultivation is carried out. Sweet peas 

 delight in a deep and retentive, well enriched rooting me- 

 dium. Such a condition can only be brought about by 

 trenching and a liberal application of manure and artificial 

 fertilizers. Do the trenching now before the ground 

 freezes up. Just how much to trench depends on the 

 extent to which these flowers are to be grown, but the 



Gibson. 



trenching should not be less tl>an three feet wide and 

 two feet deep. 



THE GREENHOUSES. 

 (the ROSES.) 



Keeping the plants in perfect health should be the aim 

 ut the rose grower at this season so as to get them 

 through the winter in as good a condition as possible. 

 Overfed and overwatered plants are not the things to 

 ^tart out with, for such will undoubtedly damp the ardor 

 of the most enthusiastic grower ere spring arrives. Ex- 

 treme care should be exercised in watering, and only 

 when absolutely needed. But to have the plants too dry 

 is equally harmful. Feeding with highly concentrated 

 fertilizers should be guarded against, as a soft growth 

 is a thing to be avoided. Good liquid cow manure con- 

 tains all the necessary elements in fair proportions, and 

 is, we believe, second to none for feeding roses. 



POINSETTIAS. 



Few plants are more easily spoiled by uneven tem- 

 peratures and an excess of moisture at the roots than are 

 poinsettias. A night temperature of 60 degrees should be 

 maintained and ventilation during the day should be care- 

 fully attended to. Feeding is in order when the bracts 

 show color. Soot water greatly helps to keep the foliage 

 dark green. 



BEi;oNL\S, CI.OKE 1)E LORRAINE .\ND CINCINN.\TI. 



This type of begonia which requires shade from bright 

 sunshine during tlie summer _nK3iitiiS;-slio.uld now be ac- 

 commodated on a shelf near the roof of a warm house 

 and gradually inured to full sun. This will harden up the 

 foliage and add very materially to their keeping qualities 

 when used for decorative purposes. The removal of 

 flower buds should be discontinued now and the plants 

 will remain bright and attractive throughout the fall and 

 early winter months. The persistent manner in which 

 they keep on producing buds and flowers indicates their 

 food assimilating propensities and to keep them in per- 

 fect condition they should be supplied with regular doses 

 of liquid manure. As the roots are rather delicate strong 

 stimulants should not be given. 



CAMPANULAS. 



Thev come in very useful for making a display in 

 the spring when flowering plants are pretty much at 

 a premium. Plants raised from seeds sown in the spring 

 and planted out will have made strong crowns that will 

 stand forcing next spring. Lift these plants, if not al- 

 ready done, so that they make new roots before freezing 

 weather sets in. Give them suitable sized pots and use 

 a good compost. Three parts good fibrous loam, well 

 decayed cow manure, 1 part, and a five-inch pot of bone 

 meal to each barrow load of soil makes a fine growing 

 medium. Pot firmly, water thoroughly and place them 

 outdoors until the frosts are severe enough to make pro- 

 tection necessarv. Then place in a cold frame where they 

 can stay until wanted for forcing next January. 



LIFTING SHRUBS FOR GREE.NHOUSE CULTURE. 



.\t the present time the gardener is being constantly 

 reminded that he must keep expenses down, and he is 

 expected to get respectable results at the same time. It 

 is therefore up to the gardeners to fall back on their 

 resources and rise to the occasion. Times are hard and, 

 instead of discouraging one's employer and cause him to 

 close down, help tide over the depression by brightening 

 up the conservatory with some of the shrubs, etc., that 

 have been forced and planted out two or three years past. 



