Gardening for Amateurs 



689 



Round the Year in the Garden; What to do 

 early in October 



AMONG THE FLOWERS 



PLANTING Spring Flowers. The 

 numerous summer - flowering plants 

 which have occupied various beds 

 and borders since May or June are now 

 past their best and should be cleared off 

 without delay. In favourable weather the 

 plants continue to flower until November 

 if left alone ; but then the spring flowers 

 which are to succeed them have little 

 chance of becoming established before 

 winter, and suffer accordingly. See that 

 plenty of cuttings are secured for next 

 season's stock before discarding the old 

 plants ; if this appears doubtful save some 

 of the old plants by putting them in boxes 

 of light soil. Dig the beds over a day or two 

 before planting bulbs, Wallflowers, Poly- 

 anthus, etc., but do not add manure at 

 this season, as it will do far more harm 

 than good. 



Anemones. Tuberous-rooted Anemones 

 may be planted now if the ground is not 

 heavy. Plant early in the New Year on 

 such soil. The site must be well prepared by 

 deep digging and fairly liberal manuring. 

 If some prepared compost is placed in the 

 drills for the roots to rest upon it is an ad- 

 vantage. Plant 3 inches deep and 6 inches 

 apart. 



Lifting and Potting Plants. Plants 

 such as Salvias, Fuchsias, Heliotropes, and 

 others which are grown as specimen plants 

 and put in beds and borders for the summer 

 should be lifted and potted without delay. 

 Use the smallest pots possible and do not 

 place the plants in a high temperature. 

 The ordinary cool greenhouse from which 

 frost is excluded will suit them admirably 

 for the winter. 



Pentstemon and Calceolaria Cuttings. 

 Cuttings of Pentstemons and shrubby 

 Calceolarias should be taken now, and after 

 trimming them in the usual way insert them 

 in boxes of sandy soil, and place in a cold 

 frame. Where large quantities are needed 

 make up a bed of light soil under a frame, 

 44 



and insert the cuttings firmly at a distance 

 of 2 inches apart each way. 



Lifting Gladioli. Gladioli should be 

 lifted in October even if the leaves are still 

 green. Lay them out in an airy shed to 

 dry off, and then clean them, and store in 

 a cool, dry place until March. Montbretias 

 also do better if lifted annually and treated 

 in precisely the same manner. 



Fallen Leaves. Fallen leaves cause a 

 good deal of work now, as they must be 

 gathered up regularly if the garden is to be 

 kept tidy. Store them in a pit, or in a heap 

 in a sheltered corner ; they make valuable 

 material when decayed. Keep them as 

 free from sticks and other rubbish as pos- 

 sible. 



IN THE GREENHOUSE 



Herbaceous Calceolarias. If they 

 have been properly grown these plants are 

 now ready for repotting in 5-inch pots, in 

 which they will pass the winter. The com- 

 post used should be moderately rich and 

 open. A good position for the plants 

 through the winter months is on a shelf near 

 the glass, only sufficient warmth to keep 

 out frost is necessary, too much heat en- 

 courages greenfly, which is usually very 

 troublesome on Calceolarias. 



Chrysanthemums. All Chrysanthemums 

 should now be placed under glass, as, 

 in the absence of frost, damp is injurious 

 to the blooms. Arrange the plants as thinly 

 as possible and ventilate freely. Water 

 with care and keep the house dry or the 

 opening buds are liable to damp off. Should 

 mildew appear spray the plants, especially 

 the undersides of the leaves, with a solution 

 of sulphide of potassium, 1 ounce being dis- 

 solved in 3 gallons of water. For black fly 

 dust the affected parts with tobacco powder, 

 and syringe off later in the day. Continue 

 tying up growths as necessary. 



Bulbs. Continue potting Narcissi, Hya- 

 cinths, Tulips, and other bulbs, and plunge 

 them all under ashes. It is advisable to 

 examine those that were first potted, so 



