192 
OPERATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER. 
with the account of any peculiar treatment given, to some respectable periodical, would tend, more | 
than anything, to establish a general catalogue of the best sorts, and to diffuse a deeper pleasure j 
among the patrons of floriculture, by having their plant-houses better decorated when they are 1 
alone able to enjoy them. | 
As this is the season for saving seeds, and there are few culturists who have not to complain 
of the failure of some portion of the seeds which they annually put in their gardens, we would 
enjoin a greater carefulness in preparing and collecting the seeds than is usually evinced ; satisfied 
that it is inattention to this circumstance alone which mars success. What we mean by preparing ' 
seeds, is comprised in the treatment of the plant producing them. More generally, a plant bearing 
seed is left to go on flowering, and the seeds developed by both the early and late blossoms are 
gathered at the same time, and used indiscriminately. It is thus that the failure of at least a 
portion of the seeds sown is rendered nearly certain. The proper way to manage the plants 
intended for seed, in order to ensure the due germination and gx'owth of the latter, is to leave only 
a certain number of the earliest flowers on the plant for seeding, and scrupulously remove all the 
rest that may afterwards appear. Tn this manner, the seeds would be much finer, and they would 
nearly all ripen at the same time ; although, to prevent the loss of the first-ripened seeds, which 
are always the best, the individual capsules may be plucked as they reach maturity in most cases. 
Boys or women would readily do this ; and the increased trouble would be nothing compared with 
the excellency of the seed obtained. It is from a neglect of this plan that the seed of Mignonette 
is always so bad ; while that of most syngenesious plants commonly fails. A China Aster or a 
Rhodanthe, or any other related plant, will not ripen many heads of seed ; and it is consequently 
the wisest policy to suffer them only to retain a few. 
Where the practice of exposing greenhouse plants is at all resorted to, the present is the season 
at which it may be followed with advantage. If put out immediately, most greenhouse shrubs 
will be benefited ; while their removal gives the opportunity for cleaning and painting the houses. 
There are three points in the general routine of placing out greenhouse plants which are exceed- 
ingly injudicious. The first is, that they are taken from the houses too early, before they have 
ceased growing ; whereas, they should never be set in the open air before the end of August or 
the beginning of the present month. The second is, that they are huddled together in groups, their 
branches often touching each other ; while the chief object of their exposure is to give them free 
light and air. And the third is, that the surface on which they stand is seldom firm enough ; or, 
if it be, it presses too flatly to the bottom of the pot, to permit water to run away readily. Now, 
they ought always to be placed sufficiently far apart to leave them entirely open and unencumbered ; 
and, besides having a surface of ashes, concrete, asphalte, stone, or something which worms cannot 
get through, beneath them, they should, if possible, be elevated on two pieces of brick, so as to 
leave the holes at the bottom of the pots quite free. 
Directly the greenhouses are emptied, they should be most rigidly cleaned, the walls white- 
washed, and, if necessary, the roof, &c. painted. This must not now be delayed a day ; for, when 
painting has to be done later in the season, it is a long time in drying, and injures the plants that 
are shut up in an atmosphere impregnated with it. The same process should be carried through 
the stoves, as soon as the greenhouses are fit to receive the plants from them ; and every plant 
structure should receive a thorough purification and repair. As the new leaves of stove plants 
are now firm, they may be carefully sponged over, to remove dirt or insects, before being taken 
from the house. The temperature of the greenhouse will be amply sufficient for the majority of 
them while the stove is being cleaned ; and those which happen to be growing, or in a very tender 
state, can be placed in a close frame or pit. 
Those half-hardy plants that are required for the houses next year, and which are now out in 
the borders, may at once be propagated, that the young stock may be rendered comparatively 
strong and hardy before winter. But where plants of these kinds are only needed for the flower 
beds next season, it is better not to propagate them yet, but to put in the cuttings early next 
month, and keep them in the cutting pots all the winter. 
Seeds of all the hardier annuals may be forthwith sown in the borders. They live admirably 
through the winter, and will enliven the garden at an early period in the spring. They may be 
sown thinly in patches, or in beds. Plants raised thus, at this time, make a very handsome display 
at a season when they are much needed. 
