October IS, 1888. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HORTIOULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



285 



glanea ; the two small circles with Sempervivum hirtum. The 

 eight centre plants are beautiful specimens of Echeveria 





liirtum. In the centre angle, front side, are three nice plants 

 of Gasteria verrucosa, and in the back angles small plants of 

 some species of Mesembryanthemum. The front edging is the 

 beautiful Somporvivum californicum, and the back edging 

 Sedum carneum varicgatum. These being the leading hues in 

 the bed, the intervening spaces are all filled with a deep mossy 

 carpet of, first, Sedum glaucum, which has a pretty silvery 

 iippi'arance, and, second, a deep green variety of Sedum ; and 

 Sedum denticulatum rubrum filling up the corners. 



metallica, which show up exceedingly well, and the circles 

 ue joined to the Echeveria by cross bands of Sempervivnm 



WORK FOR THE 'WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



As soon as we hear of the thermometer having fallen 3' or 4° 

 below freezing, we must have mats ready for covering up with. 

 Some gardeners, however, are unwilling to expose their beat 

 mats yet, for fear of these becoming saturated with wet, and 

 thus being rendered of less service when there is need for them. 

 Canlijlomers, pull up a number of those that are fit or nearly fit 

 for use, and lay them in by the heels in some moist earth in a 

 dry shed or outhouse. It is as yet too soon to put them in the 

 cellar. Choose a dry, well-sheltered border, dung and dig it as 

 well as you can, and the first mild day plant it all over in 

 patches with good Cauliflower plants, ready to be sheltered 

 when necessary with hand-glasses. Cabbages, if any failures 

 have happened in the rows ah-eady planted, the spaces should 

 now be filled up with the strongest plants you have on hand ; 

 nothing looks worse in winter than to see gaps here and there 

 in any rows or crops of plants. Plant out Endiir and Lettuce 

 for spring use. If planted on the sloping sides of wide ridges 

 they will withstand the winter better, damp being quite as de- 

 structive as frost. Take the precaution of securing a quantity 

 either in pits or in frames, or have the means of protection in 

 readiness. Remove the leaves from liliubarh and Sra-halc in- 

 tended for early forcing, and keep a look-out for slugs and 

 weeds, both of which will be troublesome after these rains. 



FKUIT GAKDEN. 



Prepare for planting all kinds of fruit trees by putting the 

 ground in good order for the difJerent kinds. The sooner the 

 trees are planted the better, as they will then make fresh roots 

 before winter. In all cases, but more especially in the case of 

 cold, stiff soils, it is advisable to plant on hillocks a foot or 

 IS inches higher than the surrounding surface. The trees will 

 not grow so fast in consequence, but will require more at- 

 tention to mulching in summer, but they will form short- 

 jointed, well-ripened, fruitful wood, which is the best pre- 

 ventive of canker, gum, itc, and will save resorting to much 

 root-pruning. Pruning may now be commenced, beginning 

 first with the Currants ; the Gooseberries and Raspberries may 

 follow, this will clear a considerable space of ground to be 

 dug in fine weather. Apple and Pear trees should follow, and 

 then look over trees against walls, and cut away useless laterals 

 and late growths on the Peach trees ; indeed, any shoot that 

 will not be wanted in spring, had better be cut out at once to 

 make more room for the others, and let in the sun and air to 

 ripen the bearing wood for next year ; the leaves of Peach 

 trees are of little use after this time, and they do much harm 

 by shading the wood. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



If there is one thing more than another which contributes 

 to the high keeping of this department, it is finely-kept and 

 perfectly smooth turf ; in truth, it is impossible to produce a 

 harmonious whole if the turf which surrounds the groups of 

 flowers is not in every respect perfect, and for this reason at 

 the present season it is advisable to replace every foot of bad 

 turf that can be found in any part of the grounds. This is the 

 best season to lay turf, except under large trees, and in such 

 situations it is better to delay it until spring, or the constant 

 drip consequent on the rains of winter would materially injure 

 it. However, fine turf will not please if it is not level, and for 

 a lawn to be beautiful it must be level, smooth, and perfectly 

 clean. At this season, also, the edgings which surround the 

 walks and borders, should be adjusted to one regular height. 

 Level turf and edgings, combined with good walks, will give a 

 garden a highly finished appearance, even though there is not 

 a flower in it. Herbaceous borders may now be regulated, re- 

 ducing the large plants considerably, and preferring rather to 

 leave the outsides than the centres of the plants. Where the 

 plants have not been regulated for some years it will be best to 

 take them all up, manure and trench the border, and replant 

 them properly. 



