SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER IN THE SOUTH 409 



Lilies. If success is required of the St. Joseph's or 

 Virgin lily (L. candidum) , it must be planted right away. 



Perennials and biennials should be sown early this month. 

 They have two good growing months ahead of them yet to 

 make considerable progress. The seed-bed will require 

 shade during the middle of the day until the young plants 

 come up ; frequent weedings will be required, as coco has 

 not yet quit growing, and winter weeds are now putting in 

 an appearance. 



Remarks. All plants used for salad purposes can be sown 

 this month. The ground between the rows of growing 

 crops should be kept in a nice, friable condition. Vege- 

 table seeds of all kinds should always be sown on slight 

 ridges on all but very sandy soils. If the seed is sown on 

 a level bed, as practiced at the North, the ground will 

 become as hard as a turnpike road should a heavy rain 

 occur; and should this shower come along before the plants 

 are up, a crust a quarter of an inch deep will be formed, 

 and the plants will never see daylight. Sown on a ridge 

 they come all right, as the water gradually drains away, 

 leaving the top of the ridge nice and soft. 



OCTOBER 



All spring flower seeds should be sown in boxes, or trays 

 in the conservatory, and all spring bulbs should be planted. 

 The hyacinth, narcissus, tulip and anemone, ranunculus 

 and various lily bulbs, will bloom in good season planted 

 at this time. The bedding plants should be carefully 

 watched, so that any attack of aphis could be treated im- 

 mediately. Sweet peas may be planted the first of this 

 month, although they are commonly sown in September. 

 A rich spot should be selected for them. This is the time 

 to make the new lawn. The soil should be thoroughly 

 stirred and well pulverized, mixing in a good dressing 

 of commercial fertilizer, or if one prefers it, a mixture 

 which may be made at home, consisting of cotton seed 

 meal, acid phosphate and sulphate of potash, at the rate 

 of 1,000 Ibs., 300 Ibs., and 100 Ibs. respectively, per acre. 

 A rich, well -rotted compost, as a top dressing, would also 

 be highly beneficial. Roses pruned late in September or 

 early this month will produce fine winter blooms. 



In the garden this is a busy month; some of the winter 

 vegetables are growing, and others should be sown. The 



