DICTIONARY OF SEASONABLE GARDEN WORK. 



I. PLEASURE-GARDENING. 



Abutilons. — Take up pot-plants plunged outdoors. 

 Lift before frosty weather all border-plants that are to 

 be wintered over. 



Acacias need plenty of water. Without it loss of fo- 

 liage and flowers may occur. 



Achimcnes. — Remove them to a frame when active 

 growth ceases, and gradually reduce the supply of heat 

 and moisture. 



Agapanthus. — After the flowering season remove half 

 of the tops to prevent seeding, but continue to encourage 

 growth by good feeding and free watering all through 

 this month. 



Annuals. — Asters, petunias, portulacas, balsams, ten- 

 weeks' stocks, and many other of the more tender sorts 

 are now in their prime. Encourage free-flowering by 

 free picking of flowers, the prompt removal of faded 

 ones, watering, and good treatment generally. The mag- 

 nificent show will soon be over ; enjoy it while it lasts. 

 Especially fine specimens of asters, balsams, etc. , may 

 be lifted with care and potted for use in the house. 



Anthericums. — Repot in fresh soil as needed. 



Azaleas and other hard-wooded plants may be kept 

 safe from early fall frosts for a month or more yet in a 

 sheltered place. 



Begonias. — The tuberous sorts in the border must be 

 dug up when frost comes. Dry the bulbs thoroughly 

 and winter them in dry sand. All begonias in the green- 

 house or window now coming into bloom like a sunny 

 situation and an occasional free application of manure- 

 water. 



Bulbs. — The supply needed for this season's planting 

 of tulips, hyacinths, crocuses and other hardy bulbs 

 should be procured without delay. The sooner you 

 plant after this the better. Prepare the beds some days 

 before planting, making them rich with well-decayed 

 cow-manure. Narcissus, crocus and snowdrops are well- 

 suited for setting in close clumps by themselves. Set the 

 crocus and snowdrop bulbs 2 or 3 inches apart each way, 

 and about 4 inches deep. Tulips may be planted 5 inches 

 apart, and 6 inches deep, hyacinths 7 inches apart, and 

 6 inches deep. No home should be without a full sup- 

 ply of these bulbs. They need little room, little atten- 

 tion, and are sure to give flowers at a time when they are 

 most appreciated. 



Cactus. — Lift pot-plants in the border, and house them. 



Carnations in the open ground should be lifted 

 toward the end of the month, leaving a ball of earth on 

 the roots. In potting, this ball should be reduced to fit 

 the pot by means of a pointed stick. Try to retain all 

 roots. Firm good soil in between the ball of earth and 



the pot. Water the plants well and set them in the 

 shade for a week, sprinkling them frequently. After- 

 wards gradually accustom them to more light and sun. 



C lirysanthcmums . — The thinning of buds should go 

 on from day to day. The value of the crop depends on 

 thinning. One good flower is worth ten poor ones. The 

 plants have now branched out into leaders and laterals. 

 The leaders, of which there may be from three to five, 

 will form what is termed the crown bud, one bud on each 

 stem. The plant will branch again, forming leaders 

 known as terminals, with buds known as terminal buds, 

 or the termination of the plant's growth. As a rule the 

 crown buds form the best flowers, but if they form too 

 early, let the terminals grow and take out the crown bud. 

 Nip out all buds except those in the center of the cluster. 

 Keep show plants staked and tied up to induce shapeli- 

 ness. Give all plants plenty of water and liquid manure 

 twice a week. 



Cinerarias. — Get the seedlings into good flowering 

 shape by keeping them in a cool, airy situation. 



Cytistis. — Lift bedded plants to pots, and encourage 

 growth by generous treatment, thus insuring abundant 

 spring bloom. 



Dahlias. — Staking should be attended to, else winds 

 and storms may do serious damage to plants. 



Draccenas . — Repot now all plants in need of shifting. 



Evergreens, — If pruning is yet needed, the sooner it 

 is done the better. The idea that evergreens need no 

 manure or cultivation is firmly fixed in many people's 

 minds. Try good treatment and see the difference. 



Everlasting Eloivers. — Gather them for winter use 

 before they open, and dry them in the shade. 



Forget-me-nots. — Divide the plants without much de- 

 lay. They will then become firmly established before 

 winter. 



Fuchsias. — Take up and pot winter-blooming kinds, 

 especially speciosa. Let the summer bloomers now 

 come to a rest by gradually withholding water. 



General Grccnliouse A/atiageme7it . — Before the 

 houses are filled up again, fumigate them very thoroughly 

 with tobacco, repeating the operation once or twice each 

 week during the entire indoor season. Avoid starting fires 

 in the houses as long as this can safely be done. When 

 required, start fires up briskly, giving plenty of air. The 

 free use of tobacco-stems about the pots when stocking 

 up again, is advisable. It will tend to keep insects in 

 check If bouvardias, carnations, stevias, violets, etc., 

 lifted from the beds, have been bedded out in the plant- 

 houses, keep the apartments close and shaded. Sprinkle 

 them frequently for a week or two, then gradually give 

 them more light and air. Gather up the pot-plants 

 which were plunged outdoors last spring, and return 

 them to their winter stands before frost can injure them. 



