TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR— VIII. 



'HE shortening- hours of sunlight and 

 the g^radual, but surely lessening" 

 power and genial warmth of the 



^p^J autumn sun will cause the enthu- 

 siastic plant-lover to watch with mingled 

 f^eelings of regret and sorrow the fast fading- 

 freshness and beauty of many summer 

 favorites of the garden. 



Autumn frosts may, however, be lenient 

 in their usually destructive visitations and 

 allow a few stray blossoms or bright leaves 

 to lend their more than welcome appear- 

 ance to aid in brightening- up the lawn and 

 garden during the chilly days of autumn. 

 The pleasure that these bright and cheerful 

 reminders of past summer-tide beauty 

 bring with them may be considerably en- 

 hanced and prolonged, perhaps until early 

 winter, if due care and attention is still 

 devoted to autumn work in the garden. 



The grass and walks should be kept trim 

 and neat, all weeds, decayed foliage and 

 blossom removed regularly and often, so 

 that the cheerful and bright appearance of 

 lawn and garden may harmonize and be 

 somewhat in keeping with the glowing 

 beauty and brilliancy of autumn foliage on 

 surrounding tree and shrub. The removal 

 of all dead and decayed foUage will not only 



add greatly to the pleasant and cheerful 

 appearance of lawn and garden, but will 

 also materially assist those plants that are 

 still struggling to maintain their bright 

 summer-like aspect, despite the fast de- 

 creasing brightness and warmth of the 

 haze-dimmed autumn sun. 



The peaceful quiet days of October, when 

 all nature seems to be in a restful mood — 

 preparatory to the more turbulent and 

 trying- winter season — is a suitable time for 

 the horticulturist to look back and take 

 note of success or of non-success in matters 

 pertaining to the garden that have occurred 

 during the past summer season. This can 

 be more easily done now, while there is 

 still sufficient evidence of success or failure 

 visible, than later, when all vestige of 

 summer blossom or foliage is either black- 

 ened by winter frosts or buried beneath 

 nature's protecting blanket of winter snow. 



Many ideas of changes and improvements 

 will doubtless suggest themselves to the 

 observant and reflective plant-lover, many 

 of which perhaps can be carried into effect 

 much better during autumn and early 

 winter than if left until the hurry and rush 

 of spring work commences. All alterations 

 in walks, flower beds or borders, or the 



