366 ORKAMEKTAL GARDEKIN^G. 



BORDERS AlTD FLOWER BEDS. 



Bead the directions on Bulb Planting and Hardy Plants 

 for last month. Take up Tuberoses, Dahlias, Gladiolus, 

 Cannas, Caladiums, Tigridias, Madeira Vines, Erythrinas, 

 a few days after the frosts have blackened the plants. 

 All of these, excepting Erythrinas, should be dried off in 

 the shade, and when perfectly dry, stored until spring. 

 The best place for them is one that is cool and dry, and 

 there is nothing better to pack them in than dry sand. 

 Gladiolus and Tigridias may go into paper bags. 



As soon as the flower-beds become disfigured by frosts, 

 clear them, coat the surface with manure, and dig them 

 over for the winter, leaving the clods of earth from the 

 spade or digging fork unbroken during this oj^eration, 

 so that the air and frost may have full effect on the soil 

 during winter. The freezing of the water, held by the 

 earth in this shape, causes its small particles to be 

 rent asunder, just as the freezing of sap in plants lacer- 

 ates the vessels, and makes the texture of the soil more 

 friable th^ next year. In borders, where shrubs and 

 hardy plants are growing, the digging should not be 

 done near to them so deeply as to injure the roots. 



AUTUMIS^ SEED SOWING. 



Early in October, seeds of Sweet Alyssum, Callirrhoe, 

 Candytuft, Centaurea, Clarkia, Larkspur, Lujoines, Mig- 

 nonette, ISTemoiDhila, Portulaca, and lawn grasses, may 

 be sown wherever the soil is well drained and not heavy. 

 Then they will start up early in the spring, and in the 

 case of the annuals, will flower freely, much earlier than 

 will spring sown ones. In the South and on the Pacific 

 Coast, all hardy and half-hardy annuals may be sown in 

 the fall, and Gladiolus be planted. 



