MONTHLY CALENDAR, 45^ 



1374. FucTisiaSf Geraniums, and other plants in flower, now require regular 

 supplies of water. Hollyhocks are advancing to flower. Mulch the roots and 

 water well, and keep them neatly tied to their stakes. 



1375. Florists' Flowers. — Take up tulips whenever the weather will permit. 

 When lifted, do not separate the offsets from the parent bulb, or remove the 

 roots or skin : these had better remain till a later period. When lifted, ridge 

 up the soil of the beds for exposure to the air. In taking up seedlings, great 

 care must be used, as their bulbs will often strike down from four to six 

 inches. If possible, keep the stock of each separate ; IJhis will save an 

 immense deal of trouble hereafter. Tie carefully the spindling shoots of car- 

 nations and picotees — not too tightly ; keep the pots free from weeds, and in 

 dry weather do not let them suffer from drought. Attend to the fertilization 

 of pinks : a very little attention to this interesting operation will insure a 

 good crop of seeds, and by selecting only excellent varieties instead of trusting 

 to chance and gathering promiscuously, a much more abundant success will 

 be the result. 



1376. By the end of the month, seedling ranunculuses should be taken from 

 the pans or boxes in which they may have been grown ; but as many are so 

 minute, and so like the colour of the soil, that without great precaution, some 

 may be overlooked, the best way is to put soil and roots together in a fine 

 wire-sieve, and by holding it under a tap, or pumping into it, the soil will be 

 washed away and the roots left ; they must then be placed in the sun for an 

 hour, and afterwards removed to an airy shady place to dry gradually. The 

 large roots of named varieties must be taken up at once, if not already done ; 

 for should they start again, which they are very apt to do previous to their 

 removal, their death is inevitable. Continue to put in pink pipings ; disbud 

 carnations and picotees, giving occasional doses of liquid manure. Attend 

 sedulously to dahlias; tie as they require it, and give a good supply of 

 water. 



§ 3.— The Mixed Flower and Kitchen Garden. 



1377. The style of garden kept in view under the above head will most fre- 

 quently be found attached to middle-class houses, farm-steadings, and parson- 

 age-houses, in all of which it may be assumed that the space is limited. Where a 

 little of everything is to be produced with small means, the market-gardener's 

 maxim of " planting whatever is ready," must, to some extent, be adopted. 

 It would be well, perhaps, if the example of the market-gardeners round 

 London were to prevail on some other points of garden culture. Mr. Cuthill 

 has scattered a few remarks on the mode of culture pursued by himself and 

 his brethren, through the pages of the Gardener's Chronicle, from which we 

 glean a few remarks bearing on this subject, and more especially applicable 

 to farmhouse gardens, where they might be adopted with advantage. 



1378. Towards the end of October, a well-conducted market -garden is full 

 of cabbages just planted out, which, in November, are strong healthy plants. 



