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I 
OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. 
The beauty of our plant houses and flower-gardens is now beginning to 
indicate the approach of winter. The plants flowering in their greatest gaiety in 
the greenhouse, &c., have few successors for this season, and those splendid groups 
of scarlet and blue that appeared so gay and inviting in the flower-garden, and 
reflected such brilliancy under an autumnal sun, are beginning to fade, as if 
sensible of the approaching change. 
GREENHOUSE. 
Greenhouse plants that have been standing out during the summer season, 
are of course now introduced and made secure ; give them plenty of air in fine 
weather, but be careful to keep the house close or nearly so during strong cold 
bleak winds, or catching frosts ; the results of omissions in this respect very fre- 
quently injure the leaves after coming from the open air. At this season they 
should also be very carefully watered, and the stage, flue, paths, &c., should be kept dry, 
for damp in this and the three or four following months is often seriously injurious in 
plant houses. Pay especial and undeviating attention to young stock : neither let 
the soil get over dry or over wet ; both are nearly alike injurious, but rather let 
them get dry than wet, for a little moisture may be more readily communicated 
than extracted. 
Hyacinths and other bulbs may now be introduced ; water glasses may also be 
brought into requisition towards the end of this month. The bulbs should be 
brought on in a little heat, and placed in the greenhouse or drawing room to flower ; 
those intended to flower in the glasses, should be the finest and most promising. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Plant anemones and border bulbs towards the end of this month ; clean away 
decayed leaves and decaying stems of herbaceous plants, but preserve as many 
flowers as possible, and all green leaves, &c., in order that the beds may not 
appear destitute of foliage. Secure florists' flowers, such as auriculas and car- 
nations, from dashing rains and strong winds ; this may best be done by bending 
hoops with awning or mats stretched over them, or, where convenient, with small 
glass frames, &c. Collect seeds of all desirable kinds ; dry and clean them properly, 
and they will be in a secure state for keeping till spring ; to assist the memory, 
write the name legibly on the back of every packet. 
COLD FRAMES, PITS, &c. 
Tender and half-hardy annuals in pots for early spring flowering, such as the 
larkspurS) Adonis vernalis^ stocks, &c., should be introduced into the cold frame or 
pit, where a dry floor has previously been made with coal ashes, or old tan ; indeed 
old dry tan is an excellent thing to plunge them in ; give them abundance of air, 
but always keep the hghts over the plants in wet or damp weather. Mignonette 
thus treated, will stand well. All young stock for the flower-garden next spring, 
such as Verbenas, Anagallis, Salvias, Calceolarias, &c.j should be similarly kept 
and treated, observing to keep the plants rather near the glass. The various kinds 
of alpine plants should be removed to their winter quarters, and judiciously supplied 
with water and air. 
