OCTOBER. 367 



SEEDLII^GS. 



Pansies and other plants from seeds sown in the sum- 

 mer, will be showing up well by this time. Early in the 

 month they may be pricked out into beds of fine soil, at 

 a distance of several inches apart each way, to allow 

 them to develop into strong plants by winter. These, 

 in the spring, may be set where wanted for flowering. 

 Pricking out or dibbling small plants is frequently done in 

 the garden. The dibble may be merely a smooth -pointed 

 stick for small plants, as large as a finger. In using the 

 dibble a hole is made, and in this the seedling is held, 

 while the dibble is thrust into the soil a second time, in a 

 way to crowd the earth firmly against the roots, after- 

 wards pricking a little soil into hole number two, to even 

 the ground. If a tip of a leaf will break when pulled, 

 without bringing up the plant, it is considered firmly 

 enough planted. After being thus set, the plants should 

 be well watered. 



IMPROVEMENTS. 



Usually, now is the season of the ye^ to make improve- 

 ments and alterations, in the line of grading, draining, 

 trenching, etc. The soil is often dry at this time, and 

 the air cool and bracing, a state of things under wliich 

 men and teams will do almost double the work they 

 would if land is loaded with water, and the weather dis- , 

 agreeable. 



Trees, shrubs, and hardy plants may be planted in 

 October, where everything is ready for it. The earlier it 

 is done after the tenth, the better, in order that they 

 may gather up strength before winter. If the leaves re- 

 main at planting time, they should be stripped off before 

 taking up the trees, etc. Evergreens seldom do well 

 planted in the fall. 



