Work for the Month of October 



Conducted by Henry Gibson, New York. 



I III-; ri.i i\\ I K I , \Kiii_.\. 



Lifting, (li\i(lin<i- ami resetting nf hardv ])erennials 

 that have become too crowded shoulil he omnpleted as 

 soon as possible this month. 



Most hardy bnlbs are obtainable now and should be 

 ])lanted at once. Croctisses are better for early plant- 

 ing and a sunny location suits them best. .Scillas ot 

 all kinds succeed best in the shade, and for the size of 

 the bulb require to be planted comparatively deep ; 4 

 to 5 inches is not too nnich. Thev will nndti])ly rap- 

 idl_\- it allowed tn seed. ."^m iwdri ips. ( liii nii mIi i.xias. 

 Grape Hyacinths and the graceful C'amassias should 

 be covered to three or four times their de].)th, and tn 

 produce a really striking effect, thick ])lanting is 

 essential. 



Hyacinths, Tulips an<l Narcissus that are t'l take the 

 place of the summer bedding ])lants. should not be 

 left out of the grotmd tixi lung. It is generally con- 

 ceded that this work should be completed in two or 

 three weeks after the ma])le leaves begin to drop from 

 the first frost. A layer of sand beneath the bulbs is 

 always advisable, especiall}- on heavy retentive soils. 

 (Ireen animal manures slinuld iint come in contact 

 with the bulbs, but be buried at least inches beneath 

 the base of the bulbs when planted. 



This de])artment should receive a tliorough cleaning 

 up in order to maintain ;i neat appearance as long as 

 possible. Cut down all dead stalks and clean the 

 spaces between the plants in readiness for the winter 

 nndching that is to be done later on. 



r.-\w.\ A-\n cRorxns. 



Ba^- trees, H_\(lrangeas, Oleanders and similar |)lants 

 that have been used for decorative jjurposes, must now 

 be placed where they can be taken inside on frostA- 

 nights. Do not, ho\\e\er, take them inside too earl\ 

 or they will get soft and winter hadl}-. Lily jjonds 

 should be drained ofi' and protection afforded the more 

 tender plants. Wrapped in clean straw, many of the 

 tender Nj-mphaeas winter well in a cold frame. The 

 transplanting of deciduous hard-wooded trees and 

 shruljs shouhl be pushed ahead. Such trees as l)irch, 

 oak and beech are perhajjs better moved in s])ring, 

 but any of the others are as well planted now. 



Keep the lawn cropped close right up to freezing 

 weather. If a late fall growth is left, it usually dies 

 during the winter, which not only lociks unsightly, 

 but seriously ham])ers mowing ojieratious in the 

 spring. 



All loose vines should be securel}" tied before the^■ 

 are broken by being blown aljout by boisterous winds. 



THE \-i:(a:TAi'.r.i-: cvrdex. 



Onion sets for spring bunching may be planted now. 

 Killing frosts may be ex|)ected in many sections of 

 the country this month, and tender vegetaliles should 

 have some protection. 



Strings or wire attached to short stakes, run the 

 length of the rows, will prevent the jirotective material 

 from breaking down the plants in the case of string 

 beans or bush limas. Pole limas are not so easily ]jri:i- 

 tected, but by pulling u]) the poles and loosening the 

 vines they may be laid on the ground and covered. A 

 few barrels placed near the egg-plants and peppers 

 are useful for slip|)ing over these plants on a cold 



nighl. .Salt hay makes an excellent covering for let- 

 tuce and endive. Spinach may be similarly^ treated. 

 Late celer}- ma_\- still be earthed up. It reqttires a 

 good deal of ;ittention now, as it grows rapidly at 

 this time. 



New asparagus beds may be |ilanted ncjw. .Some 

 l)rotection during the winter will be necessary, but 

 asparagus starts into growth early in the spring, and 

 by fall planting one has the advantage of an earl}- 

 start. 



Carrots, beets, chickor\ and iillier root crops need to 

 be gathered and stored now. I )o not ])Ut away an\ 

 ol these vegetables whilst wet, nor do not store in a 

 damp cellar imless a raised ])latform is made to place 

 them on. 



-\11 late fruits should be picked before there is dan- 

 ger of freezing. New fruit trees other than peaches 

 may be ]:)lanted. Peaches do better wdnen S])ring 

 planted. 



\'i-:get.\1!I.ks r\i)i-;K r;i..\ss. 



The hrst crop of vegetaliles, such as cauliilower and 

 lettuce, should no^y be ready for benching. Beans may 

 also be sown in the greenhouse. Beets and carrots 

 for winter use should be sown at once. Radishes may 

 l)e sown between the cauliflower in the benches. Cu- 

 cumbers for fruiting in late winter should lie started 

 now. 



rill-: UOSI-; iioi si;. 



Now that ventilation has been reiluced, and rire heat 

 again required, a shar]! lookout must be kept for in- 

 sect pests. Red spider is a factor to be reckoned with, 

 and green fly is a common enemy. The fjlants should 

 continue to grow freely, and liberal treatment as re- 

 gards watering, feeding, heat and ventilation should 

 be given. Keep all the air ])ossible on at night except 

 in severe weather, so as to keep the i^lants as hardy- 

 as possilile. 



(innSA.NTll IC-M I' MS. 



L'hrysanthenunns will be showing color early this 

 month. Fumigate the houses thoroughly just before 

 the l)uds burst to insure the flowers not being infested 

 with l)lack fly. Stop feeding as soon as the buds show 

 color, save perhaps an ap])lication or two of soot 

 water, which will imjjrove the color. Watering should 

 l)e done with care anfl the floor dampened down only 

 earl}' in the morning so as to leave the hotise as dry 

 as possilile over night. Condensed moisture settling 

 on the petals of the expanding blooms at night soon 

 starts them to damp off. Less and less water is re- 

 quired as the blooms mature, and we find it good prac- 

 tice to do any watering that is necessary late in the 

 day with a can. A free current of air should be al- 

 lowed to circulate through the house by keeping the 

 side ventilators o]ien a few inches, setting up, as it 

 does, a stead}- U])ward movement of air through the 

 top ventilators. On damp, heavy nights a little heat 

 in the hot-water ])ii)cs will rid the atmosphere of that 

 cold, dampy feeling and ]ireyent moisttire condensing 

 on the blooms. 



I.OKKAINI-; .\.\l) CI.VC'l.VXAri liEGONI.A.S. 



These subjects are now sending up growths that will 

 make them charming jjlants at Christmas, and this is 

 the time tn attend lo the l\'ing and staking. This 



