Lemons, Camellias, ect., maybe inarched or budded 

 at this season. The process of inarching is simple, 

 and consists merely in bringing the shoots of two 

 different plants together. The bark is very lightly 

 shaved for half an inch or more on each shoot, 

 which are then both tied together, and in about 

 two months the union may be examined, and if 

 found sufficiently strong, the scion may be separa- 

 ted and suffered to go for better or for worse with 

 the stock you have selected for its helpmate through 

 Kfe. 



VEGETABLE GARBEN. 



Towards the end of the month, a sowing of Spi- 

 nach may be made in rich soil, which will come in 

 use before winter. That desired for winter and early 

 spring use, is usually sown in September in this re- 

 gion. A few Turnips may be also sown for an early 

 crop, but will be hot and stringy unless the soil 

 is very rich. 



As fast as Endive is desired for salad, it should 

 be blanched. Matting thrown over is the best for 

 this purpose, as the plants are not so liable to rot 

 as when pots or boards are employed. In cold or 

 mountainous regions, Melons ar^^ hastened in the 

 ripening process and improved in flavor, by a piece 

 of tile being placed under the fruit. 



Celery will require earthing up as it grows, to 

 ^etitto bl:nch well. It is not well, however, to 

 commence too early, as earthing up tends, in a 

 slight degree, to weaken the growth of the plants. 

 Take care, also, not to let the soil get into the heart 

 in earthing, or the crown is apt to rot. 



At this season of the year, more than perhaps at 

 any other, it is important to hoe and rake between 

 rows of growing crops. A loose surface soil not 

 only admits the various gases that the roots luxuri- 

 ate in, but it also prevents evaporation and checks 

 a too great absorption of heat, and then, besides 

 all this, the weeds are kept down, and neatness and 

 order reigns. After every heavy shower, it the tiiue 

 can at all be spared, the hoe and the rake shoali 

 be freely employed. 



In another co^.umn we refer to planting Aspara- 

 gus this month. What we say there is true of 

 Rhubarb and many root plants. If put in early, so 

 as to have time to push out a few fibres before 

 winter comes they will push out very strong next 

 year, and a season of growth is saved thereby. 



227 



WINTER FLOWERS, 



BY W. C. STRONG, BRIGHTON, MASS. 



Read before the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 



No thoughtful mind can have failed to notice the 

 economy of the Creator in adapting the fruits of the 

 earth to the necessities of man. Not only do we 

 find each climate provided with its most suitable 

 fruit, but we notice also, in many instances that dif- 

 ferent varieties of fruit are so arranged, in such fit 

 succession, as clearly to indicate a wise design. In ^ 

 our temperate climate, for example, we recognize 1 ' 

 the wise adaptation of our successive fruits to their 

 own particular season, each species coming to matur- 

 ity at the precise time when its qualities will be 

 most serviceable to man. It would prove a vast 

 mistake to transpose the time of maturity of the lus- 

 cious peach, or the pear, or even the juicy and vi- 

 nous grape from autumn and make them to succeed 

 the bilious period of spring. Wisely have we re- 

 ceived instead, the brisk acid of the strawberry and 

 the cherry ; to be closely followed by the currant and 

 other similar small fruits, and afterward by the more 

 noble, high-flavored and refreshing fruits of autumn, 

 for the full enjoyment of which, the influences of 

 the season seem to prepare the physical system. 



It is indeed true that fruits out of season often 

 command an exorbitant price ; but strawberries in 

 March, at fifty cents each, and cucumbers at one 

 dollar, do not mislead any one into the belief that 

 March should have been the natural season for the 

 strawberry and the cucumber. 



To a limited degree it is desirable to hasten the 

 maturity of some fruits and it is an equally desirable 

 art to retard and preserve others for winter use. 

 Such luxuries become almost a necessity for the sick, 

 and they are regarded by many as an indispensable 

 ornament at fashionable entertainments. But our 

 fruit dealers will tell us that the demand is only for 

 very moderate quantities. They display winter 

 pears by the dozen and grapes by the single pound, 

 not because this is their whole stock in trade, but 

 rather because they know " how much 'tis best to 

 show. " The substantial apple is an exception to 

 this rule — it seems to be specially suited for winter 

 use — but of most other fruits our markets will not 

 bear anything like the same quantity in winter that 

 is demanded in autumn. The laws of our physical 

 system are in accord with the economy of Nature. 

 Fruits out of their natural season are a luxury and 

 not a necessity. 



Fruits and flowers are almost as inseparably joined 

 together as are husband and wife. Much mutual 

 advantage do they gain by their connection, and 



