142 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGHST. 
[ September, 
also occasional syringings over-head, to keep 
them growing vigorously. Tlie pretty purple 
Globe Amaranthus , Celosia pyramidalis, Lantci- 
nas in variety, Rochea falccita , Agapanthus 
umbellatus , Begonia iveltoniensis, and some of 
the commoner tuberous-rooted Begonias , with 
others too numerous to mention, are very use¬ 
ful and appropriate for mingling with other 
things to assist the floral effect in the green¬ 
house. A few Show and Zonal Pelargoniums 
kept in reserve for flowering in September, 
should now be allowed to grow on as fast and 
vigorously as possible. If the roots are getting 
a little pot-bound, a slight shift may be given 
to the plants, taking care to break the balls as 
little as possible. We have treated a batch of 
plants in this way, and they are doing remark¬ 
ably well. Little attentions to plants are now 
of great value. The removal of dead blossoms, 
and the picking off of dead leaves, with occa¬ 
sional syringings overhead, give the plants a 
fresh and bright appearance, and greatly help 
the gay appearance of a house. Let the floor 
be kept swept, and sprinkled in hot weather, to 
keep it cool; all these matters are valuable aids. 
The earliest cut-back Show Pelargoniums 
will soon be ready for shifting. This is best 
done when the young shoots from the old cut¬ 
back branches have shot about three-quarters 
of an inch. Loam, sand, leaf-mould, and well- 
decayed manure suits the Pelargonium best; 
and in repotting, shake nearly the whole of the 
soil from the roots, cut away the old long roots, 
and repot in a smaller pot. The plants may 
then be returned to the shady side of the green¬ 
house. Cinerarias , Calceolarias , and Primulas , 
raised from seed, sown recently, will need to be 
pricked off into store pots or pans, or the 
largest put singly in pots, to grow on into size 
for early blooming. Cyclamen seed should be 
sown without delay, sowing in a good light rich 
soil in pots or pans, and if possible raising by 
means of a gentle bottonr-heat. 
Flower Garden. —Many villa gardeners are 
complaining that their bedding and border 
plants are growing out of all proportion, and 
quite spoiling the effectiveness of their summer 
arrangement. It cannot be helped, for it is the 
result of rain, and no human power can pre¬ 
vent its falling on the plants. Rank-growing 
Zonal Pelargoniums may be kept in check by 
pinching out the leading shoots just above a 
truss of bloom. Some others may be similarly 
treated. If a dry late summer should follow 
after the rain and the vigorous growth it pro¬ 
motes, a good head of flower may be anticipated 
till late in the season. 
Now is the time to prepare for a stock of 
plants for next season. Guttings of anything 
it is desirable to keep should be put in without 
delay, placing them in pots of sandy soil, or in 
shallow boxes filled with the same, and getting 
the shelter of a frame for a time. What is 
propagated depends mainly on the means for 
keeping the plants during the winter, for it is 
useless to propagate tender things that will die 
amid the cold and wet of autumn. Cuttings of 
Pelargoniums , Calceolarias , Verbenas , Fuchsias , 
Lobelias , and plants of such hardy character, 
can be kept during the winter without much 
trouble; Alternantheras , Coleus , Ileliotropes^ndi 
such as are tender, cannot be kept except 
in heat. Succulent plants, such as Secluins , 
Sempervivums , Saxifragas , Echeverias , &c., 
propagate themselves by means of offsets and 
side-shoots, which if taken off and put into 
pots, pans, or boxes, can be kept safely through 
the winter : as may many indeed of a tender 
character, if they be kept warm and dry. A 
supply of Wallflowers , Canterbury Bells , Fox¬ 
gloves , Forget-me-nots , Pansies and Violas , 
Daisies , Polyanthus , &c., should be got together 
for spring, and if none have been raised from 
seed, they can be bought during the month at 
moderate prices. Such useful things as the 
foregoing furnish the garden when something 
cheerful is most needed. 
Kitchen Garden. —Last month a sowing of 
Caulifloiver seed was recommended. In some 
very sheltered gardens the plants will stand all 
the winter without any protection further than 
what a south wall affords, but as a rule the 
plants should have the protection of a frame or 
hand-lights; but, in any case, they must be 
transplanted from the seed beds. Greens for 
autumn and winter use are making rapid pro¬ 
gress. Such things as Savoys, Broccoli, Borecole, 
and Brussels’ Sprouts should be kept clear of 
weeds, and a little of the earth drawn up about 
the stems. The Onion crop will soon be ripen¬ 
ing off, and will need storing ; it is a good plan 
to spread them out on a mat for two or three 
days, till they become dry and hard. The best 
way to store onions is to rope the largest, making 
use of the small ones for culinary purposes first. 
Fruit Garden. —Fruit should be gathered 
as it ripens; bruised or fallen apples should be 
used without delay. Cleanliness is of great im¬ 
portance to keeping fruit, and wherever it is 
stored, the place should be airy and cool. 
“No growths,” remarks a good fruit gardener, 
“ should be allowed to grow on fruit-trees now; 
everything should be done to expose the wood 
(for next year’s fruiting) to sun and air. A 
good washing with a syringe or engine should 
be given to Peaches , Nectarines , Apricots , &c., 
to clear off all deposits and insects. If mildew 
appears, let a good dusting with sulphur be 
given. Trees are too often neglected as to 
watering at the roots after the fruit is gathered ; 
premature ripening then takes place, perhaps ac-* 
companied with mildew, and the rvood looks hard 
and fruitful, but seldom carries a crop of fruit in 
spring.” Villa gardeners will find in these re¬ 
marks suggestions worth careful consideration. 
—Suburbanus. 
