GARDENING CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER. 
441 
threatens, it will be well to protect the good 
sorts that remain ungathered, but this is sel- 
dom necessary. 
Apricots. — Switch off the remaining leaves, 
and free the trees of any webs and rubbish 
collected amongst the branches ; defer nailing 
and pruning until spring. 
Cherries may be pruned and nailed as soon 
as the leaves are off ; and young, and even old 
trees, may be transplanted now. 
Currants. — The pruning and winter dress- 
ing may be proceeded with by the end of the 
month ; cuttings of the good sorts may also 
be put in now ; make them about eight inches 
long, and insert them in the soil about half- 
way, leaving three eyes at the top, and pro- 
viding about two inches or so of clear stem; 
remove all the lower buds entirely. 
Figs may be slightly protected by the end 
of the month, attempting before then to have 
the wood thoroughly ripened ; divest them 
now of all advanced green fruit. 
Filberts, when gathered, may be spread 
thinly out for a time ; after which, they will 
clean and store away the better in jars, 
amongst dry sand, where they will keep for 
a moderate period. 
Gooseberries. — Fresh plantations may now 
be made ; the established plants pruned and 
dressed ; and cuttings put in amongst a soil 
of sand and leaf mould. The plants like a 
rich and deep soil. 
Medlars should now be gathered, if not 
done ; they are used when in a state of 
decay, as are the fruits of the service-tree. 
Nectarines. — Clear the trees of all green 
leaves and wood, and still make the most of 
the sun ; defer pruning and nailing. 
Peaches. — Give the same treatment as 
nectarines ; both may now be transplanted. 
Pears. — Take equal care of the late sorts 
as of the early ones ; indeed, they must be 
more carefully gathered, as they mostly keep 
for a long time. Pruning, nailing, and trans- 
planting may be proceeded with. 
Plums may be pruned and nailed at the 
end of the month ; attend to laying in the 
young wood thinly and regularly. 
Raspberries. — Prune and tie up partially, 
as they are apt to be twisted too much. Make 
new plantations on a rich soil, and plant them 
at from four to six feet apart, according to 
the soil. 
Strawberries. — Finally dress, by cleaning 
and top-dressing them with a rich compost of 
rotten manure and loam, and slightly fork it in. 
Vines. — It may be safer to have canvas 
over these at night ; give all the light and 
sun possible during the day, and take away 
any superabundant wood that may now mani- 
fest itself; hasten as much as possible the 
ripening of the wood. 
THE FORCING GARDEN. 
General Directions. — The principal ope- 
rations will consist in giving every place and 
plant a thorough cleaning. Pruning must be 
done as early as possible. All plants to be 
forced should be taken under cover as far as 
practicable. Soils for raising salads, &c. 
must also be kept from rain. A low tem- 
perature must prevail in the whole of the 
apartments, and, as a matter of course, little 
water will be required. Late houses may 
have a little fire to ripen the wood, and the 
same with pits. 
Cucumbers. — Temperature, from 70 to 80 
degrees by day, and 60 to 70 degrees by 
night. Introduce a fresh supply of plants, 
unless those now in are young and healthful. 
For many reasons, a house is preferable to 
either pits or frames for their winter culture ; 
the structure, previous to introducing the 
plants, should be filled with sulphur fumes, 
than which there is nothing more effectual 
for destroying the eggs of insects, &c. The 
soil should contain a good portion of char- 
coal ; and, if they are grown in pots, it must 
be made very rich by watering. In every 
case, train them on a trellis ; give air freely. 
Figs. — Temperature, from 50 to 60 degrees 
by day, and 40 to 50 degrees by night. The 
chief point to see to now, is that the wood is 
thoroughly ripened, and the house may be 
kept warmed if need be, otherwise it may 
be thrown open night and day ; have the 
trees pruned and tied in, and the house 
cleaned by the end of the month. 
Kidney Beans. — Temperature, 70 degrees 
by day, and from 45 to 50 degrees at 
night. If not already done, a few of the seeds 
may be put in now. Sow three seeds in a 
nine-inch pot, or sow in boxes and transplant 
them so in pots. Frequent waterings are 
necessary to keep down the red spider. The 
advanced crops should be in the pine stove, 
and kept near the glass. The tops should be 
often stepped, and the plants must not be 
grown with too much luxuriance. 
Melons, — Temperature, from 50 to 80 de- 
grees. It is possible that the late crop is 
not quite cleaned off, to do which, give fresh 
linings, and apply a little fire heat. 
Mushrooms. — Temperature, 55 degrees. 
These are at all seasons expected. New beds 
should now be formed. The exhausted beds 
will partially recover from an application of 
tepid liquid manure. The dung for new beds 
should be well sweetened, and made up when 
in a medium state, as to warmth; attention to 
this is important. 
Musas. — Temperature, from 60 to 75 de- 
grees. The heat and moisture must be gra- 
dually decreased. Thin out the suckers to 
