16 



CALENDAR FOR THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 



Violets for winter flowering must be put 

 into their permanent positions not later than 

 the middle of the month. This will ensure 

 their getting firmly established while there 

 remains sufficient heat in the soil to induce the 

 formation of young roots. Herbaceous Calceo- 

 larias sown last month will now be large enough 

 for pricking out. The sooner this is done the 

 better, to prevent the plants from damping. 

 Tuberoses which have been reared in pits or 

 frames in the summer should be taken into the 

 greenhouse as their flower-spikes appear. Cycla- 

 men should be potted on for a succession, and 

 towards the end of the month another sowing 

 may be made. 



Flower-garden and Pleasure Ground. 



Proceed with the propagation of hardy border 

 plants such as Iberis, Helianthemums, Litho- 

 spermums, Dianthus, Phloxes, &c, by taking 

 the young side-growths and inserting them in 

 sandy soil in a cold frame. Where not already 

 done take cuttings of Violas for spring flowering, 

 also Pentstemons, Antirrhinums, &c, for the 

 sooner these are rooted the more surely will 

 they withstand the winter. 



Pay attention to tying and staking plants in 

 the herbaceous border that still keep in bloom 

 or have not yet flowered, as the strong winds 

 generally prevalent are apt to break them down. 

 Bulbs of all kinds may be planted when the 

 ground is vacant, but as most beds will still be 

 occupied this may be deferred till next month. 

 Grass on lawns usually grows luxuriantly this 

 month, weeds accumulate rapidly, and leaves are 

 also troublesome; but for the sake of appear- 

 ances all must be so attended to that the garden 

 may be kept neat and orderly, and thus give 

 rise to a sense of pleasure. 



OCTOBER. 



Plant-houses. 



Orchid Houses. — As the sun is on the 

 wane, and the outside temperature becomes 

 daily cooler, greater care must be exercised in 

 supplying water to most of the inmates of these 

 houses. A great number of Cattleyas will be 

 at rest, and those which have not yet com- 

 pleted their growth will not, owing to the 

 reduced temperature, require so much water as 

 those growing during the height of summer. 

 All Dendrobes which have made their year's 



growth should have a drier temperature, but 

 such kinds as densiflorum, Farmeri, thyrsiflorum, 

 Hillii, and others with persistent foliage should 

 not be subjected to a lower temperature than 

 50° to 55° Fahr.; while such as JVardianum, 

 Findlayanum, nobile, Ainsworthii, and other mem- 

 bers of that section may be wintered in a house 

 whose atmosphere sometimes falls as low as 

 45° Fahr. There are not many Orchids in 

 flower in October, but Dendrobium Phakmojms, 

 D. P. Schroederianum, and a few more will be 

 developing their flower-spikes, and will require 

 special attention. Vanda Amesiana, Oncidium 

 tigrinum, and some few others will still be in 

 bloom. Zygopetalums should be examined for 

 thrips, which are very fond of the flower-buds 

 that will shortly be expanding. Calanthes must 

 be watered sparingly, and the air of the house 

 in which they are growing should be kej)t rather 

 dry. The present is a favourable opportunity 

 for giving the Orchid houses a thorough wash 

 down before winter, as many of the Dendrobes 

 and other species are dormant in cooler houses. 

 Remove all shingle, gravel, shell, or whatever 

 the stages may be covered with, and wash it in 

 boiling water. This process will destroy any 

 insects which may be lurking in it, and also 

 remove any soil which may have been washed 

 out from the pots. 



The temperature of the East Indian houses 

 may be reduced to 65° at night, with a propor- 

 tionate reduction in the daytime. That of the 

 intermediate house should be 60°, and the cool 

 house 50° to 55°, according to the weather. 

 With this reduction of heat there should be a 

 corresponding diminution in the amount of 

 moisture. 



Hothouse. — Cuttings of Croton and other 

 hard-wooded, fine-foliaged plants may still be 

 propagated where a good deal of heat is avail- 

 able. Those rooted now will make nice plants 

 for early spring use. Towards the end of the 

 month cut back Allamandas to within three or 

 four eyes of the preceding year's growth. We 

 do not recommend drying off, but rather the 

 reverse. Various other stove climbers and de- 

 ciduous plants should now be gradually ripened 

 off, so that they may have a rest for the following 

 two months. Hothouse plants in flower are not 

 numerous. There are, however, a few with 

 brightly-coloured flowers wbich will be expand- 

 ing their blooms, including Poinsettias, Plumba- 

 gos, and Lasiandras. These should be afforded 

 a little more heat, and fully exposed to sunlight. 

 As the days decline the heat of these houses 

 should be gradually lessened to 65° by night, 



