350 MONTHLY CALENDAR OF WORK 



such as Mesembryanthemums, &c. ; or by pots of Thunbergia alata, 

 Schizanthus retusus, hybrid Calceolarias, &c. , which have been prepared 

 purposely for filling up blanks. A number of Grerman Stocks and Asters, 

 which have been provided in pots, may now be planted among the Pinks 

 which have done flowering, and they will produce an excellent effect. 

 The Evergreens in the shrubberies may be pruned so as to prevent them 

 from touching each other ; and those seeds that are ripe may be gathered. 

 The bulbs of Crown Imperials and Lilies are planted. The gravel walks 

 should be frequently rolled and swept, and the turf regularly mown 

 every week to render the grass fine. The dead flowers should also be 

 constantly taken off as fast as they appear. 



SEPTEMBER. 



The operations of August are continued, with the addition of begin- 

 ning to take up the greenhouse plants towards the close of the month. 

 Some are left in the ground all the winter, coverings being made for them 

 of various kinds. The seeds of the Californian annuals are sown on 

 some waste ground to stand the winter, whence they may be removed in 

 spring to beds properly prepared for them. The half-hardy plants which 

 are still in flower are lightly covered with furze branches, or worsted 

 netting at night, when frost is apprehended ; sticks being placed to sup- 

 port the netting over the plants. Some gardeners do not cut their box- 

 edgings till this month, when they clip them with shears ; but this is a 

 bad practice, as the leaves which have been injured by the shears retain 

 the marks till the following May ; and weak plants are frequently killed, 

 or the lower part of their stalks rendered bare. 



OCTOBER. 



Bulbs of Hyacinths, &c., are planted in pots. Anemones are also 

 planted in beds. The dead leaves of trees and shrubs are swe^jt up and 

 laid in heaps to decay for vegetable mould. The Dahlias which have 

 been killed by the frost, have their tubers taken up and laid to dry ; 

 after which they are packed up in boxes, or laid in saw -dust or malt- 

 dust, to preserve them from the frost. The remainder of the greenhouse 

 plants are taken in, and those that are left out are covered carefully at 

 night from the frost. The gravel walks are swept and rolled occasionally, 

 and the gutters and drains should be all opened and cleared. The turf 

 should be swept, but it need not now be mowed oftener than once a fort- 

 night or three weeks. 



NOVEMBER. 



The Dahlias, if not all killed by frost the preceding month, should 

 now have their stems cut down to the ground previously to taking up the 

 roots ; and the greenhouse plants being all removed, the ground should 

 be dug over, having previously received a good dressing of vegetable 

 mould and rotten dung. The half-hardy plants are now closely covered 



