GARDEN HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
P 
and interesting appearance ; indeed a person who grows plants purely from the love of them, will derive 
as much pleasure from their daily and healthy progress as from their inflorescence. A man who can 
only admire a plant when in full bloom has no love for them, his taste is low and vulgar, and does not 
emanate from a refined and cultivated understanding. Such persons are pleased by the tawdry only, 
and cannot appreciate the refined and elevating study of the entire plant. To watch a plant from its 
first formation in the seed vessel, through all its changes and vicissitudes, to its ultimate and complete 
formation as the monarch of a forest or the more humble occupant of a garden pot, is an occupation 
worthy of the highly educated, and such as the most humble cannot pursue without becoming wiser 
and better men. Therefore, what is worth doing at all in a garden is worth doing well, and we should 
advise our amateur readers never to stoop to mediocrity in anything. 
Among the hard-wooded plants, some of the strongest growing Heaths, Chorozemas, Pimeleas, &c, 
may still require another shift, and, no doubt, to some of the old plants which are breaking strong, a 
shift will be indispensable. Some cultivators object to autumn shifting, but, if plants are properly 
managed afterwards, it matters but little at what time you shift them. Plants shifted at this time 
will require more care in watering through the winter than if the pots were full of roots, but an 
observant cultivator will not care for that if his plants are benefited at the same time. Lose no time 
in getting the Pelargoniums of both kinds shaken out and potted into smaller pots, and many of the 
young plants struck this season will be ready to pot singly. It will be necessary to protect and shade 
the plants in a frame until they draw fresh root, but, after that, they should be exposed to all the sun 
and air possible, merely protecting them from heavy rain. The " Fancy " kinds should never be exposed 
to drenching rains, as it is almost sure to kill them if continuous. Calceolarias should now be in a 
shaded place, where, if in good health, they will soon produce abandance of cuttings ; guard against 
green fly and thrips by occasional fumigations. Cinerarias must be divided or potted singly, using a 
rich compost and keeping a sharp look-out for mildew, which will soon play havoc with them. Seeds 
of all the foregoing plants should now be sown and got up in gentle heat. Chrysanthemums are 
looking very promising, and must have regular attention as to watering. Some of the strongest 
layers of the early blooming varieties will be fit to pot the end of the month, keeping them afterwards 
in a close but cold frame ; but, if they can be protected in the open ground, it is scarcely worth while 
to pot them until the flowers are beginning to expand. Sow Phlox, Schizanthus retusus and retusus 
albus; Clintonia pulchella, and other half hardy annuals for blooming in pots in the spring. 
Before taking the plants into the house for the winter, it is scarcely necessary to remark that every 
plant should be made perfectly clean, the walls being whitewashed, the flues or hot water pipes 
cleaned and repaired, and the stages, paint, and glass, washed with soap and water, or painted if 
necessary. Cleanliness is the main hinge of success in plant management, and too much attention 
cannot be devoted to it. 
Among florists' flowers Dahlias are now in gorgeous beauty, the mild dewy nights of autumn are 
highly conducive to their well-being, and to the development of fine flowers. Take care that they do 
not suffer for the want of water. Hollyhocks are now beginning to fail, so lose no time in taking the 
side branches for propagating. If you have a nice gentle heat, such as a half spent hot-bed, every bud 
will make a plant, even if you split some of the stronger stems into two pieces. This is a noble tribe 
of plants, and this season promises to add some fine varieties to our lists. Pinks, if the beds have 
been properly prepared, may be planted out, and some of the early piped and layered Carnations will 
now be fit to pot. Carnations and Picotees may still be layered, though the time is getting late. 
Those who have Carnation seed ripe, if they sow it immediately in gentle heat and nurse the plants in 
pots or boxes through the winter, and plant them out early in the spring, may bloom most of them 
next season, and thus save a year. Make beds of Heartsease, and do not forget to attend to the 
Tulip bed, &c., to get composts housed before the rainy season commences. Auriculas and Polyan- 
thuses must be got into their winter quarters, and be properly attended to. 
Bulbs, and other things for forcing, must not be forgotten ; but cultivators commit no greater error 
than that of crying out for very early bulbs. They think to steal a march upon time by getting them 
potted early ; but the truth is, the bulbs, to get them ready for the early market, are taken up before 
the proper time, and hence are insufficiently matured ; but those bulbs which arrive after the middle 
of September are properly ripened, and if potted at once into good soil, are quite fit for blooming in 
December. Last year we potted some bulbs of Waterloo and Grand Vainquer, into rich compost, and 
though the bulbs were by no means fine, the flowers were the finest we ever saw — Vainquer ten 
inches long, and Waterloo with four spikes, the smallest of which was equal to the best C° 
generally seen. The following compost would be found very suitable : — Rich turfy loam three 
parts, leaf mould one part, and cow dung one part, rotten stable manure one part, and gritty road 
