158 
THE FLORIST AND FOMOLOGIST. 
[ OC'TOBEK, 
bound. Early Cyclamem^ and especially 
Clunese Primulas^ should be coming on into 
bloom, and need every encouragement. The 
flower-trusses of the earhest should be allowed 
to remain to give some early bloom. They 
should be picked off from others to provide a 
succession. A syringing or two between the 
hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. will be of great 
advantage, wdiile the weather is sunny and 
growing ; when it is dull and cold, syringings 
should be dispensed with. 
Cold Frames. —The free growth made by 
Auricidas, Polya}iihuses, and Primidas of 
various kinds is inducing them to send up 
autumn trusses. It is best to pinch out the 
trusses of bloom from any good varieties of the 
former, that they be not weakened in their 
summer blooming. Some late seedling plants 
of Primula cashneriana that were too small to 
flower last spring are now throwing up fine 
trusses of bloom, and will be very pretty and 
useful for some time to come. From all 
these decaying leaves should be removed, and 
the surface-soil stirred. Ciuerarias require 
attention, the leading plants need repotting, 
and should be treated to a good compost. They 
must also be w^ell watered, kept near the glass, 
and have plenty of air. In a warm green¬ 
house, Cinerarias can be had in bloom in No¬ 
vember and December, and very pretty they 
are. In dull weather aphis and mildew are apt 
to affect the plants ; the former can be got 
under by smoking, the latter, by dusting the 
undersides of the leaves with powdered sul¬ 
phur. Calceolarias also require attention ; 
they should be well established in 21-sized 
pots by the autumn; they also want room and 
plenty of air and water. Some Ili/aciiiths, 
Tulips., Crocus., Narcissi, &c., should be potted 
in a rich compost, ready for blooming in early 
spring. They are so pretty as to be indis¬ 
pensable. The Villa G-ardener should add to 
his spring-flowering bulbs some Ixias, Sparaxis, 
early Tritonias, and Bahianas. These are 
very pretty Cape bulbs, that can be grown 
without much difficulty, putting 9 or 12 bulbs 
of each in a good-sized pot thoroughly well 
drained, and using a fine, light compost, made 
of sandy loam, a little peat, leaf-mould, and 
sand ; standing the pot in a cold frame till 
they have grown several inches, and then 
taking them to the greenhouse. The varieties 
of Primula cortusoides amo?na should now be 
repotted in a light, rich soil; they do not re- 
cjuire large pots as they root near the surface, 
and it is very important that the pots should be 
well drained. Anything should be repotted that 
requires it, the plants kept neat and clean, and 
everything in good order. 
Flower Garden. —Just now we are getting a 
good deal of enjoyment out of the Flower 
Garden, and all are hoping that summer will 
linger yet a little longer ere its flame deepens 
to autumn’s crimson. Those who propagate 
the ordinary bedding-plants should have their 
cuttings in ere this ; if not, it should be pro¬ 
ceeded wuth at once. If put into stoi'e-pots 
and boxes, and kept shaded while the weather 
is bright, they will root during the autumn, 
and be ready for potting in March. Many 
things are now in full bloom, such as Mari¬ 
golds, both French and African ; spring-sown 
Pentstemons onA. Antirrhinums, Petunias, Phlox 
Prummondii, Zinnias, Dahlias, &c., that we 
may well desire a prolongation of the fine 
weather. Double and single Primroses, Poly¬ 
anthuses, Alpine Auriculas, double Daisies, &c., 
should be divided and replanted, giving them 
some good, free soil about the roots, and they 
will make a fine growth dui’ing the autumn. 
Plantations of Canterbury Bells, Bweet Williams, 
Foxgloves, Lychnis, &c., should be planted out 
also in rich soil, so that they may get well 
established. Bedding Violas and Pansies 
should be divided and planted in store beds 
for furnishing the flower-beds for spring. 
Kitchen Garden. —Whenever the weather is 
dry, the hoe should be kept going among all 
growing crops, in the hope thereby to loosen 
the hard ground somewhat. If dug over 
lightly with a fork, taking care not to loosen 
the roots of the plants, so much the better. 
All decaying vegetable matter should bo 
got rid of on the rubbish-heap, and burnt 
when it can be done. Gardening work 
having got into arrear, advantage should be 
taken of the fine weather to clip box-edgings, 
weed walks, &c., also to dig and manure any 
spare pieces of ground. Potatos should be lifted 
without delay, and kept carefully looked over; 
the disease is working much among the lifted 
crops, and many put away apparently sound 
have rotted. A few Cauliflower plants can be 
put out under hand-glasses; and some hardy 
Cabbage and Cos Lettuces, pricked out on a 
warm sheltered border. Celery should be 
finally earthed-up. The Onion crop should 
be left as long in the ground as possible ; they 
will grow while open weather lasts, and then, 
when that is over, be harvested. 
Fruit Garden. —Alas ! there is but little 
fruit in many gardens to gather, and some of 
it cannot ripen. We have seen Peaches and 
Nectarines that were as hard as bullets and 
green as grass. Many Pears cannot become 
matured, and Apples are dropping before they 
have ripened. If the fine open weather lasts, 
the hardy fruit crops will be helped thereby, 
and may be left to enjoy the advantage of it. 
Strawberry beds should be cleared out, the 
runners removed, the ground forked, and 
mulched w'ith dung and leaves. It is not too 
late to make new Strawberry beds, provided 
the runners be strong. x\.ll kinds of fruit-trees 
may be planted as soon as the leaves are off or 
partially dropped.— Sdbuebands. 
