672 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



2087. Carnations and Picotees, layered in previous months, should now bo 

 potted off, and placed in their winter quarters, protection from dampness 

 being the chief consideration : in fine weather let them be fully exposed. 

 Pinks, planted last month, only require to see that the winds do not loosen 

 them. 



«o88. Dahlias are still fresh and gay, if the weather has been tolerably 

 mild ; but should frost appear, no time should be lost in taking them up, 

 storing them away carefully labelled, stalks downwards, in some place where 

 they can be secured from damp. Seedlings that have bloomed late, and weak 

 plants, are benefitted by being potted and kept dry through the winter. 



2089. Hollyhocls. — Cut down and propagate from the old stools, and by 

 eyes from the flowering stems, as formerly directed, but without forcing. 



2090. Pansies should now be potted off as reserves for filling up vacancies, 

 for new beds in the early spring : the beds should be examined to see 



that the worms have not attacked them. 



2091. Polyanthuses in beds will be benefitted if the surface of the soil is 

 stirred, and a top-dressing of equal parts maiden loam, leaf-mould, and 

 well-decomposed cow-dung, applied. 



2092. Tzdips, not yet planted, should be got in without delay, taking care, 

 however, that the soil is not wet ; hooped over, and matting prepared against 

 ixiiny weather. 



§ 3.— The Kitchen- Garden. 



2093. Approaching winter bids vegetation prepare for a rest. In the 

 kitchen-garden the crops will make little progress for the four months fol- 

 lowing this. During that time will be apparent the amount of forethought 

 displayed in summer and autumn cropping. If a fair amount of Brussels 

 sprouts, savoys, and other winter vegetables, have been provided, this is the 

 main point ; and supposing herbs, salading, and minor crops, have been 

 attended to, then, if any ground is unoccupied, lay it up in ridges, having 

 trenched it or dug it deeply, supposing the ground to be light. I have an 

 objection to laying heavy soil in ridges, except for certain purposes, — as for 

 sowing peas, beans, &c., as described on a former occasion. For planting early 

 potatoes, the advantages of ridging are great ; but heavy clayey ground 

 does not pulverize easily : the action of frost is wanted on the surface. Of 

 course the thicker the surface acted upon the better. In digging heavy ground, 

 give the men to understand that they must lay the soil in solid spits as they 

 are cut out with the spade : the spits should not be broken, but laid roughly 

 together, with plenty of openings for the air and frost to act on them. 

 Ground managed in this way I have found easier to crop in the spring 

 time than that which has laid in ridges, because, when the ridges are levelled, 

 a new surface is turned up, and the pulverized surface is buried. Ground 

 ridges this month, therefore, should be levelled again in February, and 

 another surface exposed and pulverized. At this time it is very necessary to 



