OCTOBER. 
319 
Dahlias. —Take every opportunity of gathering seed on a dry day; 
likewise of marking promising seedlings, such as are thought worthy of 
a trial the second season. These should be of a new colour, dissimilar 
in character from existing varieties, or of a much improved form; 
never save a seedling of a bad habit, or that appears inconstant, for with 
either fault, however fine an individual bloom may be, they would be but 
short-lived. Pot roots may be stored towards the end of the month, if 
in a dry state. Next month will be time enough for taking up roots 
from the ground. 
Flower Garden. —If from any cause plenty of cuttings of the different 
“ bedding ” plants have not been got in, not a single moment should be 
lost in doing so. Take up and pot all plants that you want to keep over 
the winter. Gather seeds of all kinds. Unless very severe frosts set 
in the flower beds may, with constantly going over them, be kept in 
tolerable condition to the end of the month. As the beauty of the beds 
fade, and they become objectionable, they should be dug and planted 
with the following for spring flowering :—Crocuses, Snowdrops, Dogs- 
tooth Violet, Anemones, Narcissus, Jonquils, Fritillarias, Crown 
Imperials, Primroses, Hyacinths, Pansies, Cowslips, Wallflowers, &c. 
Forcing House. —Van Thol Tulips, Double Roman Narcissus, and 
a few Hyacinths may be introduced for the first lot of bloom. 
Forcing Ground. —Make beds for Salads, collect together a good 
heap of fermenting material, to be in readiness when wanted for forcing. 
Sow French Beans; sow Mustard and Cress once a week. 
Fruit ( 'hardy ).—Gather and store what Apples and Pears are yet 
out, but few if any should remain out much longer, as owing to the 
heat of the past summer all fruits are ripe unusually early; when 
stored, the following matters should be attended to, namely—the house 
to be kept cool and as dry and possible. With a total exclusion of 
light, the old canes of Raspberry plants should be cut away, and new 
plantations made if necessary. The runners of Strawberry plants 
should be removed away, if not previously done. 
Greenhouse ( hard-wooded ).—No tender plant should remain out of 
doors any longer ; when housed they should have all the air it is pos¬ 
sible to give them in fine weather, but they must be carefully guarded 
against cold winds and frosts. Attend carefully to the watering, and 
keep everything dry and clean. Soft-wooded Plants. —Get cuttings 
potted off and hardened as quickly as possible. Give all the air possible 
in fine weather. All should now be safely housed; those in flower 
will, with care and attention, continue gay for a long time. 
Kitchen Garden. —Taking up and storing away the root crops is one 
of the principal operations to be attended to in this department; take 
advantage of fine weather for the work. The Potatoes in this neigh¬ 
bourhood have suffered to a great extent from disease ; the stores 
should be occasionally looked over. In taking up Beet be careful not to 
break off the end of the root, or to injure the skin ; the roots should be 
carefully stacked in dry sand or soil. Earth up Celery when dry. 
Hollyhocks. —Gather seed as often as it can be obtained ripe. 
Cuttings may still be put in. Choice varieties should be preserved by 
potting up the roots; they will produce cuttings during the winter, 
which strike readily in gentle heat. 
