OCTOBER. 



700 



OCTOBER. 



services, medlars, and other fruits that 

 ripen late. The mean temperature oi 

 the month is nearly 7 lower than that of 

 September, and frost is by no means 

 uncommon towards the end of the month. 

 The moisture in the atmosphere increases, 

 and evaporation diminishes considerably ; 

 the mean average temperature being, at 

 one foot below the surface, 51*52 ; at two 

 feet, 5278 ; and at the surface, 49-35. 



October. Conservatory, Work 

 in. 



Chinese Primroses, &>c. Chinese prim 

 roses will require the next largest supply of 

 water after chrysanthemums; then early- 

 flowering epacrises, camellias, heaths, &c. 



Chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums 

 will require a liberal supply of clear manure 

 water every day in bright weather, and 

 must never be allowed to droop from the 

 want of it. If they do, their best and 

 finest leaves will, be exacted as a penalty 

 for the neglect. 



General Arrangement of Plants This 

 structure is always dependent for three- 

 fourths of its charms upon the taste and 

 skill displayed in its arrangement. Beauti- 

 ful objects beautifully placed, lovely clim- 

 bers neatly festooned or gracefully trained, 

 and the preservation of all this beauty as 

 long as possible, are the grand desiderata 

 here. Heaths, epacrises, late pelargoniums, 

 scarlet and other fuchsias, geraniums, 

 arums, petunias, salvias, Chinese prim- 

 roses, Japan lilies, and chrysanthemums, 

 will now constitute the' chief display in 

 the conservatory. 



Light, Shading^ &c. In general terms, 

 it may be stated that the more light that 

 can be secured for the next four or, five 

 months the better. Hence, all shading 

 may now be dispensed with, and the 

 foliage of the climbers gradually reduced, 

 however beautiful they may be. They 

 should be gone over two or three times 



until they are finally cut into the smallest 

 compass by the middle of November. 

 Every ray of light at that period is alike 

 necessary for the health of the plants and 

 the colour of the flowers. 



Plants, Cleansing, &>c. When plants 

 are brought within doors for the winter 

 they should be thoroughly cleansed, the 

 pots washed, and the soil top dressed if 

 they require it, as they are introduced into 

 the houses. 



Temperature. As a cool atmosphere is 

 one of the chief means to this end in 

 summer, the mistake is sometimes made 

 of maintaining this structure at too low a 

 temperature. It should never, unless in 

 the severest weather, be lower than 45. 

 Comparatively few blossoms will expand 

 in perfection, or continue so long, at a 

 lower temperature than this. From 45 

 as a night temperature to 55 as a day, is 

 a safe range for the next four months with 

 fire heat, 50 being a safe day medium and 

 55 the maximum by artificial means. If 

 the sun is genial enough to raise the tem- 

 perature to 60 a few hours in winter, and 

 air is admitted, it will do no harm. 



Ventilation, &c. In managing the 

 louse, two things must be equally guarded 

 against a moist, stagnant atmosphere and 

 a sharp current of frosty air. Although 

 directly contrary in their nature, both are 

 almost alike destructive to flowers ; the 

 one rapidly destroys, and the other speedily 

 lasts, their beauty. The proper balancing 

 of air at rest and air in motion, and the 

 ight proportion of moisture to be sus- 

 pended in it, constitutes the true secret of 

 lUCcessful conservatory management. 



Watering^ Syringing, &C. Little or 

 no syringing or sprinkling of paths will 

 now be necessary, except a few sprinklings 

 ver chrysanthemum and camellia leaves 

 or the first week or fortnight after their 

 ntroduction from out of doors. Generally, 

 at this season, a sufficiency of vapour will 



