OCTOBER 181 



OCTOBER 



WEEDS and falling leaves are the plagues of the season. It may 

 seem that they do no harm, but assuredly they are directly injurious 

 to every crop upon the ground, for they encourage damp and dirt by 

 preventing a free circulation of air amongst the crops, and the access 

 of sunshine to the land. Keep all clean and tidy, even to the removal 

 of the lower leaves of all the Cabbages, where they lie half decayed 

 upon the ground. 



The heavy rains of this month interfere in a material degree with 

 outdoor work, and are often a great impediment to the orderly manage- 

 ment that should prevail. The accumulation of rubbish anywhere, 

 even if out of sight, is to be deplored as an evil altogether. The 

 injury to the vegetation in which we have an interest is as great as 

 that inflicted on our own health when dirt poisons the air and damp 

 hastens the general dissolution. On clay soils the accumulation of 

 dead leaves and other vegetable detritus is productive of miasma. It 

 is therefore above all things necessary to keep the garden clean from 

 end to end. All decaying refuse that can be put into trenches should 

 be got out of sight as soon as possible to rot harmlessly instead of 

 infecting the air, and leaves should be often swept up into heaps, in 

 which form they cease to be injurious, although, when spread upon 

 the ground and trodden under foot, they are breeders of mischief. 

 If in want of work, ply the hoe amongst all kinds of crops, taking 

 care not to break or bruise healthy leaves, or loosen the roots of 

 anything. Dig vacant plots, and lay the land up in ridges in the 

 roughest manner possible. Heavy land may be manured now with 

 advantage, but it is well not to put manure on light land until spring. 



CABBAGES to be planted out as advised last month. 



CARDOONS. Blanching to be continued. 



CARROTS to be taken up and stored in sand. Thin and weed late- 

 sown crops. 



CAULIFLOWERS to be prepared for the winter. 



CELERIAC. Part of the crop should be lifted and stored in sand ; 

 the plants left in the ground to be protected by earthing over. 



CELERY must be earthed up, and protecting material got ready to 

 assure its safety during frost. 



CHICORY. Lift about a dozen at a time as required, cut or wrench 



