236 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
with fruit intended for the table; still some 
fire heat at night, with sufficient air to ripen 
them thoroughly, and a dry atmosphere to 
prevent them from decay, should be afforded. 
The temperature may be 60° by night and 
70° by day, or 80° by sun heat. The Vines 
in the earliest vinery, the leaves having 
dropped, may be pruned and the house pre¬ 
pared for commencing gradual heating next 
month, if very early Grapes are desired. 
Pine Apples. —Place fruiting plants at the 
warmest end of the house; temperature 
70° at night, and 85° by day. Succession 
plants 60° at night, not exceeding 70° by day. 
Figs. — Water sparingly at the root, but 
keep the air of the house dry. Peaches and 
Nectarines. —When all the leaves are cleaned 
off, the trees may be pruned. Cucumbers and 
Melons. —For the former maintain a bottom 
heat of about 85°, and a moist atmospheric tem¬ 
perature of about 65° to 70°; keep the sashes 
clean, and the plants near the glass. Mush¬ 
rooms. —A close moist atmosphere is required, 
and a temperature of 60°. Keep up mois¬ 
ture by vapour, but do not apply water 
directly to the beds. A little fresh air for a 
short time every day is considered beneficial. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Take up Potatos , but expose them to the 
light for as short a time as possible; they 
should be immediately stored in narrow ridges. 
Plant Garlic and Shallots in shallow drills a 
foot apart. On wet days, inspect Onions that 
have been stored, and remove any that are 
likely to spoil. Gather Tomatos; they will 
improve in colour and ripening by placing 
them on wickerwork in a frame or vinery. 
Plant Lettuces from an autumn sowing, on to 
a warm border. 
ERE IT GARDEN. 
Apples and Pears will be fit for gathering 
in this month. There are some kinds that 
may be seen hanging, even when the leaves 
have nearly dropped; for instance, the Glou 
Morceau on walls, and sometimes the Marie 
Louise from late blossoms, will acquire a large 
size, and then come into use long past their 
usual season, and prove consequently more 
valuable. Late Pears, more especially, should 
be gathered with the greatest care, taking 
hold of them by the stalk. Fruit keeps best 
in fruit-rooms that are maintained at a steady 
temperature, not much colder than the external 
air at one time and at another much warmer. 
When the fruit is cold and the air compara¬ 
tively warm, the moisture in the latter is 
condensed on the colder fruit, and this be¬ 
comes wet, and continues to be so till it be¬ 
comes as warm as the air, when the deposition 
of moisture is evaporated, and the fruit is 
again dry till a change of temperature renders 
the air warmer than the fruit, when condensa¬ 
tion again takes place. This alternate wetting 
and drying greatly affects the keeping of the 
fruit; and it is not to be wondered at, for 
similar vicissitudes will tell on the hardest 
timber. Coe’s Golden Drop and Ickworth 
Imperatrice Plums may be laid in a dry place 
for a week, and then wrapped in tissue paper 
and placed in shallow boxes in a dry airy 
room, where they will keep for weeks or 
months. Collect soil for fruit-tree borders. 
The planting of fruit trees may be commenced 
as soon as the leaves have fallen. Make fresh 
plantations of Raspberries. 
ELOWER GARDEN. 
Whilst there is still sufficient heat in the 
ground to start fresh roots before winter, 
plant Evergreens , and also, as soon as their 
leaves have dropped, deciduous trees and 
shrubs. Plant Bulbs, Wallflowers and other 
Biennial and Perennial plants, except some 
fibrous-rooted kinds that are apt to be thrown 
out of ground in winter, in the case of which it 
is better to defer planting till early spring. 
Whilst it can be well recollected what plants 
were grown in the various spots throughout 
the grounds, note them down in order that the 
same kinds of plants may not be planted in 
succession, unless for some special reason, and 
in that case fresh soil had better be intro¬ 
duced, or otherwise recourse should be had to 
trenching and manure, so that if6 plant may 
be put in soil previously exhausted of the 
elements which it specially appropriates. 
The approach of winter will render it vain to 
hope for floral beauty in this department, but 
the ground may be maintained in good keep¬ 
ing, the lawn may be kept smooth, the edg¬ 
ings neat, and the walks well rolled, so that 
at all times in fair weather they may be 
walked upon with pleasure; whilst the 
smooth green turf, verdant frequently through¬ 
out the winter, affords a pleasing prospect* 
The walks should be kept with a regular but 
gentle curve just sufficient to throw off the 
water as it falls, and thus to ensure a dry 
footing immediately the rain is over. This 
will be the ca*se if the walk is curved, so that 
its middle is higher than the sides by about 
one-sixtietb. of the breadth of the walk. 
florists’ flowers. 
Auriculas. —Keep in a cool aspect for some 
time ; give plenty of air but water sparingly. 
Carnations and Picotees. —Finish potting by 
the 20th, expose those first potted, but not to 
heavy rains. Dahlias .—Gather seed if re¬ 
quired, when it can be procured ripe. Hollg- 
hocks. —Of these seed can now be had in 
abundance; strike cuttings; pot the stools of 
choice varieties for a supply of cuttings. 
Pansies. —Cuttings put in now will soon make 
excellent plants; pot for filling beds in March ; 
watch for the least symptom of mildew and 
apply the best known remedy, sulphur; give 
plenty of air, but water sparingly. Pinks .— 
Finish planting, and pot a considerable num¬ 
ber for planting out in February or early in 
March. Tulips .—Planting should be done 
the beginning of next month, therefore make 
due preparations for the proceeding, by the 
end of the present one. 
