300 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. 



d lately after to form a good suc- 

 cession : these slionkl be plnnted 

 three inches deep, and a foot from 

 the ed^p. 



Fiinry Tulips.— Let all the small 

 ofl^ets. breeders, and out-beds of 

 Tulips be planted in the course of 

 this month : plant three inches 

 below the surface, large roots six 

 inches apart every way, and small 

 offsets three inches apart in the 

 row, and the rows six inches from 

 each other. Turn the soil over 

 from the best bed, and look well 

 after grubs and wireworms ; to- 

 wards the end of the month return 

 the soil to the bed, first having 

 placed a layer of decomposed cow- 

 dung two inches thick at the 

 bottom ; when lightly thrown in 

 without pressing, and left in a 

 ridge to throw off the water, it 

 may remain to settle. 



Half-hardy plants, which it may 

 be desirable to preserve through 

 the winter, such as scai'let Gera- 

 niums, Fuchsias, some of the 

 dwarf Lobelias, Calceolarias, and 

 any other subjects of this class. 

 if the weather has permitted them 

 to remain out all this time, should 

 now at once be taken up and 

 potted into pots as small as their 

 roots can be coiled into, a few of 

 the straggling branches removed, 

 and the plants set into a frame, 

 which should be kept rather close 

 for a few days until they have 

 partially recovered. They should 

 have a thorough w^atering after 

 being potted, and daily sprinkhngs 

 afterwards for a fortnight at least, 

 or longer if they do not get esta- 

 blished. After they begin to grow 

 they must have air, gradually in- 

 creased till they are exposed in the 

 same degree as ordinary green- 

 house or frame plants. It is not 

 in general desirable to be over- 

 crowded in winter with .these 



potted-up subjects, but in tlie case 

 of some of those named, and others 

 which are more easily propagated 

 by division than by any other mode, 

 such plants often prove valuable 

 either for planting as btilky speci- 

 mens the following year, or some- 

 times for propagating purposes 

 early in spring. Scarlet Geraniums 

 should always be so preserved. 



Hollyhocks may be cut down to 

 within six inches of the ground, 

 and remove all stakes for the 

 winter. If any are to be parted 

 for propagation, shake the earth 

 out of the root, and carefully cut 

 it into as many pieces as are re- 

 quired, taking care that there is a 

 good heart to each piece of root ; 

 let these be planted in a store 

 bed a foot apart, to grow into 

 strength. 



Iris. — This extensive family 

 comprises tuberous and bulbous- 

 rooted plants, the former with 

 sword-like foliage, the latter vari- 

 ous, some almost like rushes, 

 others like grass. The tuberous- 

 rooted may be parted to increase 

 them this month ; the bulbous may 

 be planted. The English varieties 

 of the bulbous-rooted Iris are fiir 

 more beautiful than the original 

 species. When you part the tube- 

 rous-rooted you have to retain 

 one or more eyes or shoots to each 

 piece of tuber, according to the 

 size you require the plants, or the 

 numbers you want to make : plant 

 them from nine inches to a foot 

 apart every way. 



Narcissus. — This is a large and 

 varied fari.ily, all interesting and 

 beautiful, and should be planted in 

 patches of thive all of a kind; for 

 it is a bad plan to mix the colours 

 and sorts — first, on account of the 

 deterioration of the stock ; secondly, 

 because they are not so rich in ap- 

 pearance. 



