216 
OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER, 
that each individual should, at this time, be strictly examined, in order to determine 
whether the soil around its roots has acquired that hardness and solidity Avhich 
will prevent the percolation of fluids, or is so sodden, owing to inadequate drainage, 
as to retain all the liquid that is applied. Both of these states are particularly 
dangerous ; and the latter is attended with a nearly certain fatality. The plant 
about whose roots water is thus allowed to accumulate, is not only rendered more 
than doubly liable to destruction by frost ; but, by remaining for a long time 
turgid and supersaturated, will speedily become the victim of disease. 
To provide a remedy for these consequences, the species that are found to be . ■ 
in such a plight must be taken from the pot, their roots thoroughly cleaned, or, if 
they will bear it, carefully washed, and repotted into the smallest pot which will 
contain them, with a soil as light and porous as can be readily obtained. It is not 
difficult to discover, by the appearance of the plant, where the drainage is imperfect ; 
since its leaves have usually a sickly hue, which results from no other cause. The 
surface of the soil, however, will at once show to what amount the obstruction has 
proceeded, by its blackness, and the quantity of moss that has been generated. 
The operation is particularly essential to succulents, and all which have stems, 
branches, or leaves, of a fleshy texture ; because moisture is more prejudicial to 
plants of that description, seeing that it can more readily permeate them, and they 
are far likelier to perish from decomposition by dampness. 
Little water and an abundance of air are now the great desiderata for plants in 
houses. Consistently with safety, these instructions can hardly be carried to too 
extreme a point. It is of course assumed that the atmosphere admitted shall be 
dry, otherwise one of the above principles will be completely contravened. All the 
tender species that have been placed out for the summer must be forthwith housed, 
and care taken to let the water, which may have settled in their pots while exposed 
to rains, steadily evaporate. It should also be seen that the holes at the bottoms 
of the pots are not clogged up with soil, or the escape of fluids in any way impeded. 
Climbing plants in greenhouses and stoves are to be trimmed towards the 
latter part of the month, and their branches trained into the narrowest compass, 
that they may not intercept the light that would reach the plants beneath them. 
Where they are planted in beds or boxes under the stage, or otherwise shut out from 
light and air, water must be supplied very cautiously and only in limited quantities. 
Seeds should still be gathered from the plants producing them, after the manner 
noted in the September number. Those of annuals may likewise yet be sown in 
the open border, and in pots for the greenhouse. It will be advisable to expose 
daily all the young tender exotics that have been struck for filling the flower- 
garden beds in the following spring ; as the importance of such a proceeding will 
be strongly apparent on the arrival of cold weather. Dahlias can be lifted and 
stored at the end of the month. On no account should they be sufi'ered to stay in 
the ground all the winter. Marvel of Peru, Tropceolum tuheromm^ and other 
similar species, should be taken from the soil at the same time. Like the potato, 
they would degenerate if not annually taken up and dried. 
