A NEW OUTLOOK 



OCTOBER— First and Second Weeks 



Flowers 



Let us clear up a few odd tasks connected with the 

 flower garden, and so make room for the great study of 

 the bulbs. 



Tuberous Begonias. — Early October often sees the 

 lovely tuberous Begonias at their best. They love the 

 long, cool nights, and, 

 refreshed by the heavy 

 dews, turn brilliant lamps 

 of blossom to the midday 

 sun. But in light, dry 

 soils they do not last so 

 long ; the foliage shrinks, 

 the stems slacken, and the 

 whole bed shows a de- 

 cline. The first frost 

 finishes off the work of 

 natural decay, and the 

 erstwhile beautiful plants 

 turn black. Now is the 

 time to bring forth the 

 fork, and carefully lift the 

 tubers. It is not neces- 

 sary to scrape every 

 particle of soil from them at the moment of lifting. 

 Spread them to dry, covering them with an old sack at 

 night, and in a few days they can be cleansed and stored 

 in some dry, frost-proof place for the winter. 



Propagating Bedding Calceolarias, — Young shoots of 

 the yellow-flowered shrubby Calceolaria may be taken 

 now, and inserted firmly in sandy soil in boxes, which 

 347 



Oct. 

 I-I5 



Fig. 75.- 



-LiFTiNG Tuberous 

 Begonias. 



a. Tuber with fading leaves and stalks. 



b. Soil and roots adhering to the tuber. 



c. Tuber prepared for storing in a box. 



