THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 317 



indeed, to flower Mignonette at any period of the year; but at this season one 

 important caution must be given, unci that is, to grow the -winter stock in pots extra 

 -well drained, and never to wet the leave.,- of the plants. 



Mushroom Beds to be spawned. It -will be l<iss of time to hnrry the operation 

 by inserting the spawn -while heat is too high. The safe temperature is 60° ; if the 

 bed is a few degrees above that, wait a fe-w days without disturbing it, for any dis- 

 turbance will give a fresh start to the fermentation, and run it up again to a high 

 pitch ; and, besides, the more solid the bed the better, so long as it is not quite as 

 hard as a brick. 



EooT Crops. — In storing potatoes, be sure they are dry first: if taken up in 

 •wet weather, spread them out in a shed or i-uthouse, but do not expose them to 

 the light more the can be helped. Parsnips keep best in the ground, to be dug as 

 wanted. Beet to be taken up at once ; cut off ihe leaves an inch above the crown, 

 and avoid bruising or cutting the roots ; carrots treat the s-ame; store both in sand 

 or dry earth. Earth up (.ardoons ; talce up scorzonera and salsafy, and preserve in 

 sand. 



Stbat.'p,erkies to fruit in pots, ought now have plump crowns and be quite at 

 rest, th'^ pots full of roots and free from worms. Now lay them on their sides in 

 coal-ashes, under a fence or wall, and by meins of a few hurdles, or some other 

 rough contrivance, shelter them from rain, and there leave them till taken in to 

 force. 



Vacant Plots in kitchen and flower garden to he turned over at once, and, if 

 needful, mannred. All heavy land which is to lay unoccupied till spring should be 

 ridged up without breaking the clods. The autumn rains and wiuter frosts will 

 mellow and fertilize the soil, and in spring every clod will break down into powder 

 at a touch. 



Verbenas and Petunias from autumn cuttings are best kept with Cinerarias 

 and Primulas, as the same treatment will serve (or all, and they will require fumi- 

 gating more frequently than otiier plants. All these things should be grown, 

 very slowly now, as the worst times for them are yet to come. 



"Vines. — Where fruit is to liang some time, all decaying berries must be cut out 

 from time to t me, and the atmosphere kept dry. 



HORTICULTURAL AFFAIRS. 



ilHE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S MEETING? In 1876 

 are arranged as follows : — Spring Show of Fruit and Flowers, \^ eines- 

 day, March 15. First Great Summer Show of Fruit and Flowtrs, 

 Wednesday and TtmrsdaVi June 7 and 8. Second Great Summer Show 

 of Fruit and Flowers, Wednesday and Thursday, July 19 and 20. 

 Great Autumn Show of Fruit and Flowers. Wednesday, November 8. Fruit and 

 Floral Committees' Meetings, Wednesdays, January 19, February Ifi, March 1 and 

 15, April 5 and 19, May 3 and 17, June 7 and 21, July 5 and 19, August 2 and 16, 

 September 6, October 4, November S, and December 6. 



Alexandra Palace — Metropolitan Floral Society's Exhibition of 

 Autumn Flowers, August 2'i and 24. — The exhibition of autumn flowers held at 

 the Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, under the auspices of the Metropolitan Floral 

 Society, was most successful, and afforded ample proof of the useful work accom- 

 plished by the Society in encouragi'ng the cuilivation of florists' flowers. The 

 flowers, comprising dahlias, hollyhocks, gladioli, ast-ra, roses, and zinnias, were 

 arranged on a series of tables placed in the grand central hall. Asters and gladioli 

 constituted the two chief features of the exhibition. Of the former there was an 

 immense display of splendid blooms, and of the latter there was an exceptionally 

 large number of stands, and the magnificent spikes from Messrs. Kelway and Son, 

 the Rev. H. H. Dumbrain, and Mr. Duutilas, made a brilliant display of colour, and 

 proved a f;reat source of attraction. Hollyloi ks were good, considering the dilfi- 

 cnkies under which cultivators have laboured of late years, and of the dahllns theie 

 was a large number of stands containing blooms i>f ■ xcelient quality, The roses 

 staged by Messrs. Paul and Son, Mr. C. Turner, Mr. J. Keynes, and Mr. Prince, 

 formed by no means the least pleasing feature of the exhibition ; and especially 



Cctobfr. 



