524 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



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 re- 

 quired, as coco has not yet quit growing, and winter weeds are now 

 putting in an appearance. 



Remarks. — All plants used for salad purposes may be sown this 

 month. The ground between the rows of growing crops should be 

 kept in a fine, friable condition. Vegetable 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 loose and soft. 



OCTOBER 



All spring flower seeds should be sown in boxes or trays in the con- 

 servatory, 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 may be 

 treated immediately. 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 sulfate of potash, at the rate of 1000 lb., 

 300 lb., and 100 lb. respectively, per acre. A rich, well-rotted com- 

 post, 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 



