VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDEN. 109 



sharp knife, being careful to leave a bud on each 

 bulb, or else they will not grow. Gardeners also 

 raise them by cuttings. 



OCTOBER. Though the flower garden is now 

 hardly beautiful enough to lead us to meet the fogs of 

 a chilly October morning, yet in the middle of the 

 day it still looks brilliant, with its high colored, but 

 scentless flowers. The sweet Alyssum, however, 

 does not deserve the latter appellation, and that 

 may still be found by the side of the modest and 

 ever welcome Heart's-ease, which, under any of 

 its names, or of whatever species, deserves all the 

 praise of the hundred and one sonnets which have 

 been written in its honor. 



Bulbous roots may be planted this month. Holes 

 should be dug one foot and a half deep, and filled 

 with a previously prepared compost of one third 

 fine river sand, one third decayed scrapings of the 

 cowyard, and one third well rotted pasture turf. 

 Polpenthus, Narcissus, Peonies, Crown Imperials, 

 and Lilies should be planted five inches deep from 

 the^top of the bulb. Hyacinths four inches ; Tu- 

 lips, Narcissus, and Jonquils three inches, and Cro- 

 cuses and Snowdrops two inches. 



During this month it is well to dress asparagus 

 beds. This will be done by cutting down all the 

 weeds into the alleys, digging these one spade 

 deep, and spreading the earth evenly over the beds. 

 The old beds must be covered with quite rotten 

 manure, and afterward with the earth from the 

 alleys. Remember to carry away, immediately, 

 the stalks of the old plants and the weeds. In the 

 latter part of the month, (if the weather be dry,) 

 the carrots and potatoes may be dug up and carried 

 into the cellar for winter use. All the spare 

 10* 



