226 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ OCTOBEE, 
there maybe more than enough of queens bred for next season in the way stated, 
which makes one think of the old adage, “ It is a sharp battle where none 
escape.”— J. Wighton, Cossey Parle, 
GARDEN WORK FOR OCTOBER. 
FLOWERS. 
ANY of the tender things will be the better for being got under cover 
.as soon as the least signs of frost occur. Echeverias, more especially 
E. metallica^ stand very little frost, and should be taken up and potted 
at once. Grass lawns will require no more cutting this season in most 
places, but where worm-casts are troublesome, a rolling on dry days will greatly 
improve their appearance. As fast as the tenderer kinds of bedding plants are 
taken up, the beds should be dug over and rearranged with the hardier kinds of 
spring-flowering herbaceous plants, having always an eye to the futme display, 
and to the requirements needful in spring. Bulhs should form a striking feature 
where they do well, and now that they can be bought so cheaply, a f^ hundreds 
go a long way in Hyacinths^ while a few thousands of Tulips ^ and Crocuses^re 
equally cheap ; and they amply repay the expense and trouble in spring by their 
brilliant effect. If the weather is favourable, divide and rearrange AcMlea 
umhellata^ Cerastium tomentosum,, Ajugas^ and all the rest of the hardy dwarf 
plants so much in use, and which have now-a-days become so indispensable in 
the flower-garden. All the Violas may be placed in their spring quari^ers now, 
planting the tufts two feet apart, so as to admit of bulbs being planted between 
them. Many combinations will occur to the planter as the work proceeds, the mam 
thing being to have good quantities of stuff to work upon. Betinosjwras, Hollies,^ 
and other evergreens may be introduced with good effect. 
Conservatory : A little fire may be put on in the afternoon, and especially on 
damp days, but avoid anything like the smell of artificial heat in the pipes; a 
good deal may still be done with sun-heat. Watering should, be done now in 
the forenoons, avoiding early morning and the evening for this work. Pl^ted- 
out Heliotropes, Salvias, Brugmansias, Fuchsias, and such-like plants should 
be looked to, and every encouragement given them, for they well deserve it, as 
their fine autumn flowers become invaluable after this season. 
It is a good time now to plant out Camellias in beds ; they do much better 
now than after they have done flowering. A nice loamy soil is most suited for 
them, such as one would select for vines, with a good addition of river-sand. The 
balls must be thoroughly soaked in a tub of water previous to planting. ^ Indian 
Bhododendrons, too, and Oranges are best planted out now. Not only is it the 
most suitable moment for the plants’ benefit, but it happens to be the easiest and 
most convenient for men to do it in ; if the balls are thoroughly soaked, they 
will require little or no water during the winter. Rogiera gratissima makes a 
continuous bloomer planted out as Camellias, and is a very beautiful flowering 
evergreen conservatory plant, and a most desirable one in all collections ; it is 
a plant not half as much known as it should be. ^ Like Daphne indica odorata, 
it is sweet-scented, and in a cut state is most beautiful in nosegays. 
Stove : Now is a good time to get this structure painted and cleaned and 
prepared for winter arrangements. If not in bad condition, one coat of paint is 
sufificient; in fact, for all inside painting, one coat is enough at a tinie, pro¬ 
vided it be given every other year. Heating should be judiciously done in nen- 
sunny weather, and anything tender and of a delicate nature placed at the warm 
