216 
OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. 
The lawn should be cleared of falling leaves, either every day, or at least two or three times 
every week. Some people leave this till all the leaves have dropped, which, besides being a 
slovenly practice, is highly injurious to the appearance of a lawn. The leaves are beaten in 
amongst the grass by every shower that falls, and so render it yellow, tender, and unsightly. 
Whatever tender plants intended to be preserved, are yet left in the out-door department, 
should be immediately transferred to some place of protection, for we must expect frosts to 
increase in severity as the season advances. Those plants also which have been merely arranged 
under temporary security, should now be arranged as they are to remain through the winter. 
Such plants as Petunias, Verbenas, &c, that require a moderate degree of moisture in the soil 
during the dull months, will be benefited by being plunged to the rim of the pot in ashes or 
saw-dust, to reduce the extent of evaporation from the soil, and the consequent necessity for 
frequent waterings. Plants of a more succulent nature should, on the contrary, be set upon a 
wooden stage or floor, and will generally be most economically preserved in a greenhouse or 
vinery, upon some dry shelf within a short distance of the glass. 
Plants which lose part, or the whole, of their branches through the severity of the frost, and 
shoot up again from the bottom in spring, should have their roots carefully covered with some pro- 
tective substance, such as dried ferns, well fastened down, dry peat-mould in places where it can 
be procured, decayed leaves, or the husks and spears of barley. The last -mentioned materials 
become so closely matted together after the first smart rain, as to be capable of throwing off 
succeeding showers, and thus keep the roots of the plants dry, and uninjured by cold. There 
is little chance of preserving delicate plants through winter, in an open border, unless the ground 
be well drained, and the soil open enough to allow any overabundance of moisture to filter away. 
Any not quite hardy plant that it may be desirable to preserve entirely, may be covered with 
canvas or matting, stretched upon some lightly-constructed framework, observing that the pro- 
tection should be kept off at all times when the temperature is not absolutely at, or below, the 
freezing point. It will be useful as a shade on a sunny morning succeeding a frosty night. 
A general re-arrangement of the plants in the greenhouse will be indispensable, in order to 
have each placed in the most favourable station for standing the winter. All the hard-wooded 
plants, such as Cape Heaths, and the generality of New Holland plants, should be placed by 
themselves, apart from those of a softer and more succulent nature. This will be found of con- 
siderable advantage to the waterer ; and the plants will be less liable to receive too much or too 
little. Deciduous plants, moreover, may be set apart in some corner, or upon a shelf, as they 
will scarcely be ornamental, or at least, appropriate, where everything is designed to speak as 
much as possible of summer gaiety ; and as they will not require much water, they are best by 
themselves. And by doing so, it will give more room for those which really need it. Each 
plant ought to have sufficient room for its branches, without interfering with those of its neigh- 
bour, so that it may enjoy light and air freely. The maturity of all growing shoots must be 
hastened by ventilating the house with some freedom, at all favourable opportunities. Instead 
of closing very early in the afternoon, a little air should always be admitted till the evening. 
The stove should undergo a similar examination and arrangement ; and as the plants in the 
lower part, both of this house and the greenhouse, should be as much exposed to light as 
possible, all shades may be thrown aside, and the climbers on the roof trimmed, so that they 
may not darken the interior. 
Many of the most showy Orchidaceous plants will now be in flower. Those that are quite at 
rest should be kept by themselves, and all should receive a diminished supply of water ; shade 
may also be dispensed with here till another season. 
In mild weather, trees, both evergreen and deciduous, may be planted ; so also beds of her- 
baceous plants may be formed, by transplanting from seed beds, or by dividing old roots that 
are grown too large. Some of the best Hyacinth bulbs should be selected now to flower in pots 
and glasses : the Hyacinth pot made by Mr. Hunt is an excellent article for this purpose. Most 
kinds of bulbs may now be planted in beds in the open air. Chrysanthemums should be 
covered. Mignonette may be sown in boxes, and a few other annuals to flower in spring. 
Everything must be kept perfectly clean in the houses. 
