Horticultural Operations for October. 479 



Now is a good time to look over trees, and where there are large quanti- 

 ties which will require time to prune in the spring, considerable may be 

 done now to save time ; the young and unripe wood may be in many instances 

 cut out, and even the trees thinned out where too crowded. Some culti- 

 vators approve of autumn pruning altogether; we do not: yet we think 

 there can be no objection to proceeding with it to some extent, and finishing 

 the whole in the spring. 



Grapevines in the greenhouse will now be ripening off their wood, and 

 will require to be well aired in all good weather, as it is desirable to have 

 it matured early, that they may be pruned and laid in to give the house a 

 neat appearance. Vines in the cold houses will now have their crop fully 

 ripe, and by keeping the temperature cool and dry, the grapes may be 

 preserved in very good order till severe weather sets in. Vines in the open 

 air may be now partially pruned, cutting away all wood not wanted for next 

 season or not likely to mature. 



Strawberry Beds should be still looked after; if the weather continues 

 good, weeds will grow apace, and the ground should be kept clear of them 

 by one or more hoeings. 



Fruit Trees, of all kinds, may be safely transplanted after one or two 

 hard frosts, sufficient to take off the foliage. 



Gooseberry and Currant Bushes may be planted this month. 



Budded Trees should be looked after: peaches and cherries, growing 

 rapidly, are apt to be girdled by the matting. 



Trench and prepare ground intended to be planted with trees next month 

 or in the spring. 



FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 



The early evenings of the month are generally accompanied with frost, 

 more or less severe. No tender things can be trusted out with safety after 

 the 10th of the month ; it is always best to err on the right side, and it is 

 safer to have everything housed a week too early than a day too late. By 

 this we do not mean to say things should be housed in ; very tender plants 

 are touched, and these are what we refer to as likely to suffer : all hardy 

 kinds, such as heaths, camellias, lauristinas, &c., should be kept out as long 

 as possible, for the more they are inured to the season, the better will 

 they bear confinement during the winter. 



Camellias should now be properly arranged in the houses. If not 

 thoroughly cleaned, let it be done immediately ; wash the pots, top dress 

 the soil, and if the foliage is very dusty, give them a complete syringing ; 

 or, what is better, wash every leaf. Supply water liberally after they are 

 housed. 



Chrysanthemums should be all taken into the greenhouse, the parlor or 

 frame, before severe frosts, as the buds are often injured. Continue to 

 water liberally, occasionally using liquid guano. 



Pelargoniums will noV require but little water; place them in the 

 house, in a cool, airy situation, near the glass, where they will soon make 

 stout and healthy plants. 



Gardenias, of the different kinds, shoald be wintered in a warm situation 

 in the house, and be ratlier sparingly watered. 



