§24 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
Lilies. — If success is required of the St. Joseph’s or Virgin lily 
(L. candidum), it must be planted right away. 
Perennials and biennials should be sown early this month. They 
have two good growing months ahead of them yet to make considerable 
progress. The seed-bed will require shade during the middle of the 
day until the young plants come up; frequent weedings will be re- 
quired, as coco has not yet quit growing, and winter weeds are now 
putting in an appearance. 
Remarks. — All plants used for salad purposes may be sown this 
month. The ground between the rows of growing crops should be 
kept in a fine, friable condition. Vegetable seeds of all kinds should 
always be sown on slight ridges on all but very sandy soils. If the 
seed is sown on a level bed, as practiced at the North, the ground will 
become as hard as a turnpike road should a heavy rain occur; and 
should this shower come along before the plants are up, a crust a 
quarter of an inch deep will be formed, and the plants will never see 
daylight. Sown on a ridge they come all right, as the water gradually 
drains away, leaving the top of the ridge loose and soft. 
OCTOBER 
All spring flower seeds should be sown in boxes or trays in the con- 
servatory, and all spring bulbs should be planted. The hyacinth, 
narcissus, tulip and anemone, ranunculus and various lily bulbs, 
will bloom in good season planted at this time. The bedding plants 
should be carefully watched, so that any attack of aphis may be 
treated immediately. Sweet peas may be planted the first of this 
month, although they are commonly sown in September. A rich 
spot should be selected for them. This is the time to make the new 
lawn. The soil should be thoroughly stirred and well pulverized, 
mixing in a good dressing of commercial fertilizer, or, if one prefers it, 
a mixture which may be made at home, consisting of cotton-seed 
meal, acid phosphate, and sulfate of potash, at the rate of 1000 Ib., 
300 Ib., and 100 lb. respectively, per acre. A rich, well-rotted com- 
post, as a top dressing, would also be highly beneficial. Roses pruned 
late in September or early this month will produce fine winter blooms. 
In the garden this is a busy month; some of the winter vegetables 
