THE GARDENERS’ AND NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER. 
103 
/VWWVA/WV/WV 
be covered with Hexagon netting, to preserve the fruit 
from birds and wasps. The Imperatrice will hang on 
the tree very late, and is a most delicious fruit, even 
when shrivelled. The Morello Cherry tree is fre¬ 
quently much injured when the fruit is gathered, long 
strings of the bark being plucked from the branches 
with the fruit. To obviate this, the fruit should be cut 
off with a pair of scissors. 
Strawberry .—The Alpines should now he in full 
hearing, if proper attention has been paid to the plants. 
If seedlings are preferred for planting, a few of the finest 
fruit, fully ripened, should be saved for seed. They 
may he rubbed on a piece of slate or glass, so that the 
pulp may dry up, when the seeds can be rubbed off, 
and preserved until the time of sowing. If runners are 
preferred, which is the only mode of having the plants 
true, a sufficient quantity should be allowed to grow, 
but no more, as the fruit is largest and best where the 
runners are kept trimmed off. J. C. 0. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
As the principal part of the cropping is over for this 
season, every attention should be given to all kinds of 
vegetables, and their growth encouraged as much as 
possible, by hoeing and stirring the soil between them; 
and, where slugs are plentiful, a sowing of lime and soot 
should be made, which will effectually counteract any 
further injuries. The earthing up of Celery, and the 
various kinds of Brassica will now demand attention. 
The Spinach sown last month should be thinned out at 
proper distances, not less than six inches apart; where 
not sown last month, a piece may still be got in on any 
warm, richly manured spot. Early sown Cabbage, 
and Cauliflowers will require to be pricked out as they 
advance, the former in nursery beds, the latter under 
hand-glasses and in frames, or even at the foot of a 
south wall they 'will do very well, providing they are 
not wet at the root. Sow Mustard and Cress every 
week, and Radishes on a south border every fortnight 
till the middle of October. Tie up Endive to blanch, 
and transplant another piece for a late supply. A small 
batch of Lettuces similarly treated would be of great 
use if a slight protection could be afforded throughout 
the winter. The harvesting of the general crop of 
Onions will take place this month. Should the weather 
prove wet, let them he carried at once to open sheds, as 
they will be found to keep better than if allowed to re¬ 
main a few days on the groimd. Towards the end of 
the month prepare Mushroom beds. I have found 
them to answer well in several ways ; but I believe the 
best way is to collect a quantity of cow-dung, an equal 
quantity of horse-droppings, and some old litter that 
has been taken off the outside of a hotbed. Mix 
these well together, and turn frequently to prevent a 
too violent fermentation before making up and spawn¬ 
ing. I have always earthed the surface of the beds 
when the thermometer stood at 80 deg. Fah. J. C. S. 
WILD FLOWERS OF SEPTEMBER., 
The chief glories of the flowering tribes are now 
departing, and only here and there a straggler from the 
main body heralds the approach of the rough, blus¬ 
tering months of autumn, soon following on to tinge 
the face of vegetation with brown and yellow hues, sure 
sign of the cessation of active vitality; the buds in the 
axils of the leaves, now no longer push forth into bran¬ 
ches in the perennial plants, but become encased in the 
various non-conducting coverings destined to protect 
them through the winter. It is true that vegetable life 
is still tolerably active through September, but gener¬ 
ally speaking the signs of decadence, to be more strongly 
marked in October, are already to be clearly detected. 
It is fully worth while for the young botanist to 
direct his attention in this month to the forms of the 
fruits of the various tribes, to trace the nature of the 
changes which the germen has undergone, and to ex¬ 
amine the forms of dehiscence. The dry and withering 
stems now so abundant in every hedge will in this way 
still yield material for the active observer, and many 
very interesting points may be met with, and verified by 
actual inspection. 
Attention should be paid also to the modes of per¬ 
sistence of the herbaceous perennials, whether the next 
year’s growth is axillary or terminal on the old 
stem, &c. &c. 
A few plants are perhaps to be considered peculiar 
to this month, such as the Colchicum autumnale, Crocus 
nudiflorus, the Ivy, and one or two others.—A. H. 
ANIMAL KINGDOM. 
Ornithology.— How swiftly time glides by. It 
appears bat as yesterday since we were welcoming to 
our shores those little beings which are now bidding us 
farewell, many never to return; and who amongst us 
can say that he will again hail with delight the Cuckoo’s 
gladsome note, or listen in sileht rapture to the rich 
melody of the Nightingale? For life is but leased to 
man, it is not his freehold. A feeling of melancholy is 
apt to weigh upon the spirits when, wandering amongst 
well-known spots, we miss the sweet notes that have 
cheered our daily walks, and look in vain for a glimpse 
of those fairy forms which have so often delighted us 
with their lively actions. In imagination we may 
track them on their weary journey, now hr a An g the 
rolling billows of the briny ocean, now battling with the 
mountain’s blast; but still holding on their course, sur¬ 
mounting every obstacle, for the hand that guides and 
directs them is Divine. 
This month makes a sad gap amongst our summer 
friends, indeed it leaves us but a few solitary stragglers, 
who, either from accident or disease, are unwilling 
dwellers with us; for, with the exception of some of the 
Swallow tribe, it is rarely that any of our summer birds 
are either seen or heard after this month. I have, how¬ 
ever, a note made imder date of the 8th of Decem¬ 
ber, 1846, of a male Black Cap (Curruca atracapillaJ 
being brought me on that day. It had been captured 
in a common trap cage, the bird was in beautiful plu¬ 
mage, and showed no signs of being in any way 
diseased, or that it had been a caged bird ; the weather 
up to that time had been mild and open, but on the 10th 
frost set in, attended with snow, in which no doubt the 
poor bird would have perished had it been at large. It 
is certainly a puzzle to account for these occasional 
stragglers remaining so long after all their friends and 
relations have departed. I suppose we must consider 
them in the light of outcasts; and no doubt it was this 
occasional appearance amongst the Swallow tribe, that 
wrapped the immortal White so strongly in his opinion 
of their hibernation. 
Towards the end of the month the Swallows ( Hirun - 
do rusticaJ , and Martins ( Hirundo urbica J, congregate in 
large numbers, as if to consult upon their migration. 
They generally select the roof of some tall building, 
choosing that side which is exposed to the morning sun; 
for, until warmed by his genial rays, they appear in a 
half dormant state, almost incapable of either flight or 
motion. That these large assemblies collect during the 
night I am convinced, for buildings around which not 
a Swallow was to be seen the evening before, and hardly 
one in the neighbourhood, I have found swarming with 
them by daybreak the next morning. They generally 
remain for two or three hours after sunrise, when they 
gradually disperse in small parties, rarely moving off all 
at the same time. I have seen them thus congregated 
also upon the branches of a decayed tree. 
About this time the Robins (JErythcea rubecula) leave 
their woodland haunts and approach nearer the dwellings 
of man; fierce conflicts now often take place amongst 
them for the possession of certain districts, and when 
