September. 



The Month's Work 



The Flower Garden. 



By J. H. ClM.MINi;, Ovorsoer, Roy.tl Dublin Society, 

 Ball's Brid.ye. 



LIGHT AND AIR.— With a plentiful supply of suii- 

 j light, a hisfh enougfh temperature, and a 

 sufficieney of moisture, we g"0 a long \va\' 

 toward.s success in plant cultivation, but the absence 

 or insufficiency of any one of these will militate against 

 it. Practically every plant must ha\'e air, and it is onh* 

 when properly given that healthiness can be maintained. 

 In plant-houses a circulation of air is often rig-idly 

 excluded, especially during the night. Except on cold, 

 wind)' nights, and for stove houses where a high tem- 

 perature is imperative, the ventilators left a little open 

 during the night will tend to the good of the occupants. 

 With the waning light it i.s now necessary to remove all 

 sh.iding material that has been on the glass during the 

 summer. Where time can at all be spared it is also a 

 good plan to wash the glass inside, and so get the full 

 benefit of all the light possible during the shortening 

 days. 



Cycl.\mf,NS. — Like many other garden plants, the 

 cyclamen has been greatly improved within recent 

 years. There is a difference of opinion as to when the 

 seed should be sown. Some cultivators prefer to sow 

 it in August or September, others again in January. 

 The best plants I have seen were those from seed sown 

 in the autumn, and grown on and flowered within 

 fourteen months. If sown in autumn the voinig plants 

 have a longer period of growth between the seedling 

 and flowering stages, and if carefully attended to and 

 kept near the glass during the dull winter months it is 

 wonderful how quickly they push on after the turn of 

 the year. Sow the seed in well-drained pans in a soil 

 consisting of two parts of good loam and one part of 

 leaf-mould, with some sand added. Place the pans in 

 a gentle heat, covered with a piece of glass, and keep 

 shaded. When the seedlings appear give more air, 

 and when one leaf is made remove to a shelf near the 

 glass. The temperature of the house may range from 

 55 deg. to 65 deg. during the day. When the plants 

 have made three leaves they may be potted into three-inch 

 pots, and in these they will grow on till the end of next 

 January, when the next potting will be necessary. 

 From the time the seed germinates the plants should 

 never be allowed to become dry. 



Chrysanthemums. — If dull, wet weather is likely to 

 continue the housing of chrysanthemums should begin 



ill good time, and this work spread over se\eral weeks, 

 taking in the most forward plants first. In arranging 

 them see that they are not overcrowded, as if so mildew 

 in the foliage and damping of the blooms are sure to 

 follow. In fact, though many plants may be grown, it 

 is better to only house those that are Hkeh' to give a 

 good return, and discard all th.it are doubtful. Before 

 the plants are taken indoors as a preventative against 

 mildew — a formidable enemy of the Mum — mix up a 

 quantity of soft soap and flowers of sulphur. Take a 

 piece the size of a hen's egg and dissolve in three gallons 

 of soft water, and s\'ringe the plants all over with it. 

 After such an application, with due attention to 

 ventilation, and keeping the floor of the house drv, mil- 

 dew will be kept in check. 



Seed Sowing. — .\part from any pecuniary benefit it 

 is always interesting to save seed of choice things. 

 With a good, dr}' autumn many annuals of herbaceous 

 plants produce an abundance of seed, and when care- 

 fully saved the reproduction is often better than the 

 stock. In harvesting flower seeds, gather only during 

 the middle of the da)', when there is no dew or damp- 

 ness about, and place in a dry room on sheets of paper, 

 where they can be cleaned at will. Carefully label each 

 lot and any notes — such as when sown, datij when 

 best in flower, and when seed was gathered. Such 

 references help in future work. 



Lawns. — Where new lawns require to be made now 

 is a good time to begin the work. In laying turf one 

 has to contend with a good many weeds, but where 

 sown the preparation of the soil and the selection of 

 good seed from a reliable firm go far to ensure success. 

 The ground should be trenched two feet deep, and. 

 thoroughly cleaned of all weeds. If poor a good coating 

 of cow-dung should be worked in near the surface. If 

 at all possible the ground should then be left all winter, 

 when the frosts will pulverise the soil and make it in 

 fine working order the following spring. April is a 

 good month to sow the seed, and then at that lime there, 

 is no risk of the young grasses being injured by frost. 

 September is favoured by many, when the ground is 

 cooler, but it must be well prepared and levelled and 

 rolled. Choose a calm day to sow the seed, ami rake 

 it in out of the sight of birds, and a final rolling 

 will complete the operation for the time. A pound of 

 seed to fifty square yards is the usual quantity 

 allowed. 



Asters or Starworts. — As a cut flower from early 

 autumn till cut down by frost these very handsome and 

 most useful species are unexcelled, the flowers lasting a 



