October Looking Forward 



preparing the bed a little decayed manure may be dug in 

 about 12 inches deep, while soot and wood ashes are 

 suitable for mixing with the upper soil. The Carnations 

 must be planted firmly, otherwise their chances of be- 

 coming well rooted are jeopardised. They ought to be 

 placed about 18 inches apart; if arranged more closely 

 than this the work of layering will be inconvenient. 



Wood Ashes. A work of some importance at the 

 present time is that of cutting down the faded stems of 

 herbaceous plants, collecting diseased leaves and fruits 

 that have fallen, and removing dead and unhealthy 

 branches and shoots from trees, shrubs and roses. All 

 ought to be burnt. Have the garden fire blazing 

 merrily ; some of the essential plant foods may disappear 

 in the smoke wraiths, but the wood ashes are still an 

 invaluable fertiliser, and should be zealously kept. By 

 digging a pit and burying all the rubbish one may, 

 in the course of months, have manure of even greater 

 value, for none of its constituents will have been lost. 

 Nevertheless I should choose the garden fire. As at 

 the touch of a magic wand they fade away first the 

 old Pea sticks, then the dried stems of last year's flowers, 

 finally the weeds and green rubbish, and a heap of 

 wood ashes remains a cheap fertiliser ready to hand. 

 Apply it and dig it in and next year's plants will rise 

 from the ashes of their dead friends and flourish and 

 " blossom like the rose. " It is necessary to keep the 

 ashes dry, otherwise much of their value is lost. They 

 may be applied to the lawn, used in potting compost, or 

 on the borders in the flower, fruit and kitchen garden. 

 Wood ashes are valuable chiefly for the potash they 

 contain, and may well be used instead of kainit, which is 

 far more expensive. 



Digging is usually considered a soulless task, and 

 commonly falls to the lot of the working gardener. I 

 have found it exhilarating but only in October, when 

 the earth is dry and easily " worked." It is not even 



2 $ 



