1852.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 213 



HINTS FOR NOVEMBER. WA 



o The winter season should be for all things one of rest, and in eve- c 

 ^ rv department of horticulture this should now be the prevailing idea. 

 I Plants which have not ceased to grow, should be encouraged to do so, 

 by having less water given to them, and by keeping them in adrier 

 atmosphere. 



In the Hothouse, all that will be required is to maintain a regular 

 temperature of 60° for the nights, and 70 Q by day, keep the house 

 moist by pouring water over the pipes, or keeping pans of water on 

 the flues, and water only when the plants might otherwise "flag" for 

 the want of it. It is the best time to pinch back plants desired to 

 become specimens, as pinching back when plants are growing strongly 

 weakens them. Give air only when necessary to keep down the 

 temperature. Fresh air not only assists the growth of plants but 

 encourages them to grow. Plants live, but do not grow in a Wardian 

 case. This month our aim should be rest. 



In the Grefnhouse, our operations vary a little from the above. 

 New Holland plants now possess their highest interest. Epacrises 

 are coming into bloom, as are also Eriostemons, some Heaths, Cor- 

 reas, and the like. Such require their amount of water, rather in- 

 creased than diminished. Camellias, often drop their buds about 

 this period if they get too dry, or frequently from too much water, if 

 the drainage be bad. Where fine specimens are desired they ought 

 not to be allowed to produce many flowers. Growth and flowering 

 are opposite tendencies in plants, by checking one, we increase the 

 other. 



In the Flow t er Garden, whatever desirable half hardy plants 

 were there, are by this time taken up. If the beds require manure, 

 it should be laid on at the first opportunity, and after the leaves are 

 all cleared up for the season, the ground should be dug up rough, as a 

 greater surface is thus exposed to the action of the frost. In many 

 first rate English gardens hardy evergreens are kept in pots, and 

 when the half hardy plants are destroyed in the beds, they are 

 plunged in their places giving the flower garden a cheerful appear- 

 ance even in winter. In the fine keeping of our lawns we are rather 

 behind the age. In preparing the ground, it should be deep dug, and 

 the kinds of grasses selected for the purpose. If the ground intended 

 for a lawn could be cropped a season previous, so as to give the weeds 

 a good clearing out, it would be an ultimate advantage. As the 

 grass seed comes up, all weeds should be carefully kept out of it, and 

 after rains the ground should be rolled. As soon as the scythe can 

 be used to advantage mow, and sweep the litter off. Use a rake on a 

 new. made lawn as little as possible. On old ones, a birch broom does 

 the work better than a rake, besides carrying off dirt and stones 

 w T hich a rake w T ould leave. 



In the Vegetable Garden, there will be abundant interest in 



taking measures for the improvement of the soil. Those of a stiff 



texture will be benefitted by draining, turning up to the action of the 



frost, or by mixing w T ith it soil of a sandy nature. Soils which have 



become exhausted will be renovated by trenching, and those which 



are poor by liberal applications of manure. Soils which are found 



A too light may be improved by a slight dressing of salt, or by mixing 



M charcoal dust with it. Salt is recommended by most writers now-a-days 



(^ as the best manure for asparagus. If the plants are where they ought ' 



m&P^ ^?W 



