216 
OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. 
the tops may be protected with a light moveable temporarily constructed frame, covered with f 
mats or canvass, placed over them in severe weather, and always removed in the day time, when 
it can be done with safety. All hardy plants in pots must also be plunged in beds of ashes to 
prevent the frost breaking the pots by expanding the soil. 
Plants against conservative walls will require to be looked over, and the shoots securely 
trained. It will be advisable now to put up canvass curtains to draw before the plants in frosty 
weather ; and a quantity of litter or dried fern should also be at hand to lay over the roots. 
Delicate plants designed to remain in the pleasure ground are most easily protected with branches 
of the Spruce Fir. 
A state of torpidity must be promoted in the plants placed in pits and frames to the fullest 
extent ; and in order to effect this, it will be expedient to avoid all unnecessary moisture, to 
water as seldom as the demands of the plants will permit, and to give air at every suitable 
opportunity to assist in carrying off moisture, and at the same time to keep the atmosphere cool. 
Should any unduly vigorous shoots be formed, cut them away immediately. 
These directions are equally applicable to the greenhouse and stove, where all plants, except 
such as naturally grow at this season, should have their wood speedily matured and indurated 
before winter. All the plants which have been brought in lately must have their branches 
regularly disposed, so that one may not interfere with another when they are arranged together. 
It will, moreover, be necessary to give each specimen sufficient room to admit light on all sides 
of it, for if they are placed together in a crowded manner, the leaves will sicken and decay, and 
greatly deteriorate the beauty of the plants. Climbers and plants of rambling growth must be 
confined within proper limits by judicious training and pruning, and every means employed to 
give room for the greatest number of specimens without interfering with the healthiness of any. 
In the Orchidaceous house, those plants in pots that have been plunged in tan-beds must now 
be raised to the surface, with a view to keep them both drier and cooler. Specimens in a state of 
inaction should be collected, and placed as much as possible by themselves, so that they may the 
more easily be kept in the necessary state of aridity. The gradual diminution of moisture in 
the atmosphere, which is so essential at this period, renders it more favourable to the multipli- 
cation of insects, which if not crushed at the outset, will speedily increase and swarm through the 
houses. The devastation they commit in so short a time, by defacing the beauty of the leaves, 
should be a sufficient incentive to an early care and assiduous perseverance in checking their 
progress. Shades need never be employed after this period till the return of spring, except in a 
few particular instances. 
Where bulbous and tuberous rooted plants, such as Hyacinths, Anemones, &c., are esteemed, 
this is the most suitable period for preparing beds for their reception ; and as they are among 
the most enlivening ornaments of the pleasure ground in spring, we would recommend them to 
be more generally introduced. By planting them tolerably early, they not only bloom sooner, 
but more vigorously. A few good Hyacinth and Narcissus bulbs may also be potted now, and 
brought into gentle heat, covering them over with leaves, old tan, or saw-dust in the usual way. 
The chief advantage of the covering is the uniformly moist condition in which it preserves the 
soil, without the necessity of frequent waterings. The bulbs put in now may be expected to 
flower about the middle of January. 
In the pleasure ground all the decayed and flowerless stems of herbaceous plants and annuals 
that have either completed their growth or been destroyed by frost, should be effectually cleared 
away. Dahlias, however, ought not to be cut down immediately, though the frost impairs their 
beauty, as the tubers will be better matured if they are allowed to stand till towards the close 
of the month ; or if the weather is pretty dry, and not too severe, November will be quite early 
enough. Clear away all the flower stakes that are no longer needed, clean them carefully, and 
store away in some dry shed. 
Any straggling growths in the choice shrubberies may now be cut away ; and cuttings of 
many hard-wooded plants taken of, and inserted in some partially sheltered border, will root 
readily. When it is desirable to form banks of dwarf Laurels, cuttings may be put in now 
where they are to remain. Such banks are very interesting when neatly managed and happily 
situated. All kinds of planting may be proceeded with. 
