October, 1915. 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



235 



Garden Suggestions for October 



Henry Gibson 



IF the perennial border and flower 

 beds have not been cleaned up after 

 the frost has blackened the plants 

 that bit of work ought to be attended 

 to at once. Cut off all the dead flower 

 stalks and burn them. Clear the space 

 between the plants of all weed growth, 

 and then when the surface is nicely 

 frozen over a mulch of good quality 

 manure can be applied. Perennial 

 grasses, when dry, are very inflam- 

 mable, and any that are growing near 

 buildings should be cut off and burned. 

 Safety first is a world-wide slogan, and 

 the only reason for removing these 

 grasses is fire precaution. Remote 

 from buildings they may be left alone, 

 as they produce a good winter effect. 

 It is also advisable to remove leaves 

 away from buildings. The Rhododen- 

 dron beds may be filled Avith leaves, 

 which afford the plants the finest of 

 protection, and in time decay into a 

 soil that is ideal for them. Surplus 

 leaves can be stored in an out of the 

 way corner to rot. 



Just as soon as the frost has cut 

 down the tops of the dahlias, dig up 

 the roots and store them in a dry, cool 

 cellar. Sand, placed about the roots, 

 will prevent them shrivelling up in a 

 very dry cellar. When only a few 

 roots are to be stored, it is a good plan 

 to wrap them separately in sheets of 

 newspapers and place them in a bar- 

 rel, in the cellar. Frost must never 



reach them during the winter. Wlien 

 digging the roots let them lie on their 

 sides for several hours in the sun t ) 

 dry them previous to storing. 



Cannas are handled in the same 

 manner as dahlias, save that they may 

 be stored without covering. Beneath 

 the bench of a cool greenhouse is an 

 ideal place for them, but they may 

 also be kept in' the house cellar. 



Pansies set out last month for early 

 spring flowering must be covered with 

 leaves before heavy freezing weather 

 sets in. The mulch can be applied as 

 soon as the plants have been slightly 

 frosted and hardened. Follow this in 

 a few days with a light covering of 

 hay. 



Bay trees and hydrangeas should be 

 placed where they can be taken inside 

 on frosty nights. It is not advisable, 

 however, to take them in too early as 

 they are apt to get soft and not winter 

 welh A cold, yet frost-proof, cellar, 

 where the air is quite stationary, makes 

 an ideal place for hydrangeas. Keep 

 them on the dry side when resting, 

 which means, don't give enough water 

 to make the tree wet. Bay trees win- 

 ter best in a cool greenhouse, where 

 a temperature of from 40 to 45 degrees 

 is maintained. Water only sparingl.y. 

 Too warm a temperature and too much 

 water, which promotes a soft, sappy 

 growth is the cause of many bay. trees 

 not being long lived. 



Keep the lawn mowed right up till 

 frost comes. Many amateurs are very 

 attentive to their lawns until it gets 

 to this time of the year, when they 

 neglect them. The late fall growth 

 should be mowed off, as it dies back 

 during the winter, and not only looks 

 unsightly, but is troublesome when the 

 grass is to be cut again in the spring. 

 The Vegetable Garden. 



All root crops, such as beets, carrots, 

 chickory, salsify, turnip, rutabaya, 

 and sea kale should now be lifted and 

 stored for the winter. Many people 

 store them in the cellar, but outside 

 trenches are quite satisfactory. Bury 

 some old packing eases in Avhich the 

 roots can be placed. The top is cov- 

 ered with boai"ds and then some salt 

 hay, with a covering of earth, is placed 

 on top of this. When real hard freez- 

 ing sets in an additional covering of 

 leaves and litter can be used to keep 

 out the frost. Vents should be made 

 through the earth so that they may be 

 opened up in mild weather. High 

 ground should be chosen for storing, 

 and trenches should be dug about six 

 feet from the boxes on each side and 

 the soil thrown towards the cases to 

 keep the water away.' 



Watch Your Celery. 



Celery will need to be put into win- 

 ter quarters. Where only small quan- 

 tities are grown, hilling it up well, 

 and covering it with leaves, or other 



Ferns In the wild garden of A. W. Child, HamUton, Ont. They grow In all their natural beauty. 



