THE GARDENERS’ AND NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER. 
WWUW' 
the wood is ripe, the plants may be removed to a north 
wall, to rest them for a time before starting. J. S. 
Figs .—Not a shoot more than will he required next 
season should now he allowed to remain on these trees, 
and in order that these he as well ripened as possible, 
this being the principal point to be regarded, our pre¬ 
vious directions must be attended to. 
Peaches .—Before the lights are put on the early 
houses, any pruning that is requisite should be done; 
but, if our former directions have been attended to, there 
will be but little wood to be removed at this season. 
Bemove all the old ligatures of the past season, and 
thoroughly cleanse the trees of everything likely to har¬ 
bour the eggs or larvae of insects. If any old worn-out 
trees require to be replaced with younger and better 
ones, this is the most proper season to do it; and the 
best trees for the purpose are those that have been 
trained for from live to seven years. These are preferable 
for several reasons—they will come into bearing at 
once, and the sort will be known, which cannot be 
always the case with young trees, however carefully 
attended to in naming. By removing them carefully 
without injury to the roots, and by planting them, not 
too deep, in a border of good turfy loam, a light crop 
may, without harm to the trees, be taken off the first 
season. The wood on the trees in the late houses, 
ought to be ripe by this time ; the leaves will, therefore, 
be falling, and as soon as they are off take advantage of 
fine weather to remove the lights off the house for a few 
days, and Avhile off do what pruning may be required 
to them. 
Strawberries. —These should now have but very little 
water given to them; the principal point to be aimed 
at, is to get the crowns as well formed and ripened as 
possible before the short dark days. Pinch off all 
runners as they appear, and attend to previous direc¬ 
tions. M. S. 
Cucumber House .—If the plants are still in a thriving 
condition they will require slight fires by night, which 
will be more favourable to the increase of green fly, 
which must be kept in check by fumigating with 
tobacco. Where the plants have been allowed to get 
past recovery, they had better at once be cleared out, 
and every part of the house be thoroughly cleansed. 
The walls should have two coats of hotlimewash put on 
them ; and see that the hot-water pipes, &c., are in a 
condition to insure a proper command of heat when 
most needed. If fresh turfy loam can be obtained this 
will be a good time to collect it, as it will be dry and 
sweet; and if packed in a heap it will be ready for use at 
any time through the winter, and will not require any 
turning or pulverizing previous to using, but may be 
chopped down with a spade, and used rough as required. 
If the foregoing has been already done, and the plants 
planted out, strict attention must now be paid to keep 
the atmosphere of the house constantly moist by frequent 
syringing, as the small thrip is sure to make its appear¬ 
ance, and will commit sad depredation on the young 
plants. Allow the plants to grow freely without 
stopping, until they reach the top of the house ; this 
will induce a more robust growth, and the roots will 
become strong. By admitting abundance of air in the 
early part of the day, and not too high a temperature 
by night, the stems will become comparatively woody 
and firm, before the dull short days set in ; for they 
need an unimpaired constitution to get through De¬ 
cember and January in a fruitful condition. 
Melons .—Where hot-water is not applied to their 
forcing, there will be some difficulty in getting them 
well ripened after this time, without they are in a very 
forward state ; endeavour to keep the foliage as healthy 
as possible, and keep up a brisk heat by either hot- 
water or dung linings. If they require any water at 
the roots, let it be given warm, and in the early part of 
the day, so that they may get thoroughly dry before 
they are shut up in the afternoon. W. T. 
FRUIT-GARDEN.—OUT-DOOR DEPART¬ 
MENT. 
The planting of fruit-trees should now be proceeded 
with, if the necessary preparations have been made for 
th m ; if not, do not plant because the present time is 
recommended, as upon the proper preparation of the 
soil, more particularly as regards draining, the well¬ 
doing of the trees chiefly depends. In planting keep 
the collar of the stem at the surface of the soil as near 
as possible, spread the roots carefully, put fine soil over 
them, and neither lift them up and down, or tread 
heavily upon them. The rains of autumn will settle 
the soil about the roots much better than could be done 
by any other means. This is a good time for root- 
pruning luxuriant fruit-trees. I prefer lifting them 
altogether to digging a trench round them, as by so 
doing I can then better ascertain if there are any per¬ 
pendicular roots. 
Apples and Pears .—Take advantage of fine days 
to gather the fruit as it becomes ripe. By the end of 
the month most of it should be got in. Great care is 
required in gathering it, more particularly Pears, as 
they are very susceptible of rough usage, and soon show 
the slightest bruise. After the fruit has been laid in 
the fruit room a week or two, it should be very care¬ 
fully looked over, for within more fruit decays the first 
few weeks of its being gathered than for many weeks 
afterwards, which, if not removed, will extend to the 
fruit which would have otherwise remained good. 
Peach and Nectarine .—Every available means should 
be employed to accelerate the ripening of the young 
wood, as, upon this most important process being pro¬ 
perly accomplished, chiefly depends the well-doing of 
the trees. All superfluous shoots must at once be re¬ 
moved, and as soon as the leaves will separate from the 
branches freely, they may be struck off with a new 
birch broom. Those trees trained against a flued wall 
will be greatly benefitted by a little fire heat. I am an 
advocate for early pruning, and I believe much good 
would result by adopting this course with fruit trees 
generally. 
Fig .—The only winter pruning required is thinning 
the main branches and taking out long naked ones, 
which should be done immediately. I believe much 
mischief is done to this tree by the means frequently 
used to protect them during the winter. I am of 
opinion that in the Midland and Southern counties of 
England, the Fig will flourish and bear fruit without 
protection. The mode of pruning generally adopted I 
believe to be altogether wrong : instead of cutting out 
a portion of the young shoots, and nailing the rest of 
them close to the wall, they should be aUowed to ex¬ 
tend from eighteen inches to two feet from it. By 
adopting this plan I have invariably secured a good 
crop of fruit. 
Plum. —If the weather should prove cold and wet, 
the remaining fruit of late sorts, such as the Ickworth, 
Imperatrice, Coe’s Late Bed, and Golden Drop, should 
be gathered, with their stalks attached, and suspended 
by them in the fruit-room; or they may be wrapt in 
thin paper, and will, thus treated, keep good several 
weeks. When the Imperatrice is shrivelled, it is 
exceedingly rich and sugary. 
Grape. —Immediately the fruit is cut, prune the 
Vines. Let the leaves remain on the young wood left 
for bearing next year, as long as they will do so. 
Early pruning is of much greater importance in the 
cultivation of ont-door Grapes than is usually attached 
to it. 
