14 HAND-BOOK OF PRACTICAL 



full light, and by the close of the season each will present a wel :- 

 grown and bushy plant Of course they must be occasionally 

 watered. 



Evergreens, where they can be procured from a near-by 

 nursery, may be removed with almost sure success during 

 October. The trees have completed their growth, and the soil 

 being warm when removed, the broken roots will heal and form 

 new roots much more rapidly than in spring, when the earth is 

 cold. Keep the roots from even a half hour's drying ; and when 

 planting, thoroughly saturate the ground immediately in connec- 

 tion with copious watering, before completely filling in all the 

 earth. If a rainy time occur, the artificial watering may be 

 dispensed with. If but a few trees are to be removed, the 

 operator can almost always select a cloudy or drizzling, rainy 

 day, when, if it is not quite so pleasant working, there is less 

 care required to keep the roots from drying, and the application 

 of water by hand can be entirely dispensed with. 



Perennials.— October month is one of the best for transplant- 

 ing and dividing perennial plants ; and as flowering perennials 

 are among the easiest cultivated in forming a flower garden, and 

 abound in great diversity of foliage and color of flower, they 

 should be freely planted in every garden. Prepare the ground 

 by digging it fully one foot deep, and mingling — unless already 

 rich — a quantity of well decomposed manure or compost. 

 Obtain the plants from a reliable dealer — order good strong 

 roots — plant them carefully, and then spread a light covering of 

 coarse straw manure, say two inches deep, over all for winter 

 protection. 



Hollyhocks. — The production of seedling varieties of the holly- 

 hock has been very great during the past ten years, and at this 

 time they equal, if they do not surpass, in beauty the dahlia. 

 They are perfectly hardy, and can be left in the open border 

 with impunity. Seeds of choice kinds sown early in the season 

 in a hot-bed frame, and got ready for transplanting in May, will 

 flower the same season ; while divisions and cuttings from choice 

 varieties already produced may be made, and by giving them a 

 slight start in a frame, will transplant and bloom finely, forming 



