The Garden Magazine 



COMPILED 

 THE TEN 



OCTOBER is a month of 

 real opportunities for 

 the gardener. As active 

 growth ceases, there are 

 heaven born chances for planting 

 shrubs, trees (both fruit and orna- 

 mental), and herbaceous plants gen- 

 erally. Most bulbs may be put 

 out for next spring's flowers. Added 

 to this are the closing activities of 

 the year in all departments out- 

 doors and the beginnings in real 

 earnest of work in the greenhouse, 

 on the plants outdoors, now is an excellent time to take up any 

 changes that you contemplate in or around the flower garden or 

 lawn. The present opportunity to do any transplanting of de- 

 ciduous hard wooded trees or shrubs should not be lost. There 

 are some trees that should not be moved in fall, such as the birch, 

 oak, and beech, but most of the others can be moved even better 

 now than later. If spring opens up with a rush, the plants suffer 

 a severe shock. Fall planting gets work off our hands that would 

 only hamper the rush of things that simply must be done in the 

 spring. It surely is wisdom to do now whatever can be done. The 

 nurserymen are also well prepared to handle your orders now. You 

 don't have to wait until the winter comes. Act now as soon as 

 the leaves show signs of being mature. 



THE MONTH'S J 

 REMINDER 



WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE HOME GARDEN, FROM 

 YEARS' DIARIES OF A PRACTICAL EXPERT CARDENER 



Flower 

 Garden 



For reckoning dates, the latitude of New York City is generally taken as a 



standard. In applying the directions to other localities, allow six 



days' difference for every hundred miles of latitude 



Because the growth is still 



Lawns and 

 Grounds 



1Z"EEP the lawn cropped close right 



Some folks are very attentive 

 to their lawn until this season of 

 the year and then neglect it en- 

 tirely. There is a 

 late fall growth 

 which should be 

 mowed off, as it leaves a long strag- 

 gling growth which is harmful in 

 spring and becomes very unsightly 

 since it usually dies back during the 

 winter. 



Start gathering leaves the latter 

 part of the month; resolve not to 

 burn them but to cart them to some 

 out-of-the-way corner and make a 

 pile of leafmold. 



Before hard weather sets in, tie 

 up all loose vines to prevent serious 

 damage later on. 



Covering for all plants that are 

 to be protected over the winter and 

 all mulching materials should now 

 be got ready to use when needed. 



Remember, too, to shut off water 

 from all exposed pipes, draining 

 them off before freezing weather 

 comes. 



up to 



freezing weather. 



UST as soon as the frost cuts 

 the dahlias, cut off the tops, 

 dig up the roots and store in a dry, 

 cool cellar. Some sand covering 

 the roots will keep 

 them from shriveling 

 up in a very dry cellar, 

 and remember that frost must never 

 touch them. A good plan, when 

 digging the roots, is to lay them on 

 their side for several hours in the 

 sun. This dries them sufficiently 

 before they are ready for storing. 



Carinas are handled in the same manner as dahlias, but they may 

 be stored without covering. Under the bench in a cool greenhouse 

 is an ideal place but they can also be kept in a house cellar. 



All tender plants of a bulbous nature which cannot endure the 

 hardships of winter (i.e., caladiums, tritomas, gladiolus and in 

 some cases montbretia) had best be lifted and stored in cellars. In 

 some localities montbretia seems perfectly hardy if deeply planted. 

 Pansies may be set out and covered with salt hay or like ma- 

 terial when severe weather arrives. 



For extra fine sweet peas next summer, sow now; of course, 

 they must be properly protected over the winter, but they are 

 worth the effort. Protect by boards placed edgewise and covered 

 with glass frames, which in turn must be covered with mats or 

 salt hay during very severe weather, opening the frame on 

 bright days. 



ONIONS and spinach for winter- 

 ing over can be sown early this 

 month. 

 If not 



Crops for 

 Winter 



may be 



Everybody's opportunity: Plant all the trees and shrubs possible this fall 



77 



already done dry and 

 store the potatoes at 

 once. Any that have 

 been stored for any time 

 looked over as a safe- 

 guard against rot. 



If the rhubarb is thin and poor 

 it probably needs resetting. Dig up, 

 divide in four pieces by cutting 

 through with a spade and set again 

 in a well enriched bed. 



Don't neglect to brush the peas 

 sown earlier in the season. Some 

 should be ready for picking this 

 month. 



Keep right on hilling late celery, 

 it requires a lot of attention now 

 as growth is very rapid. Early 

 celery should be of capital quality 

 now; keep blanching with boards. 

 Clean the asparagus bed, removing 

 all weed growth preparatory to the 

 final clean-up which comes next 

 month. 



