152 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ October. 
enduring globose mass of verdure. Grown in 
a pan, tliis pretty fern is also very effective and 
distinct.” 
It was awarded first-class certificates both by 
the Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal 
Botanic Society in the early part of 1879.—T. 
Moore. 
SUBURBAN GARDENING. 
CTOBER is a busy month for gardeners. 
Its predecessor, with its dry and rain¬ 
less weather, has been of wonderful 
service alike to the horticulturist and agricul¬ 
turist—they have harvested their various crops 
in the best possible condition, though some, 
owing to the prevalence of wet at the begin¬ 
ning of the summer, are not so good as could 
have been wished for. The weather has been 
pleasant enough to make the out-door garden 
thoroughly enjoyable, and it is with the most 
agreeable sensations that the year goes down¬ 
ward to decay, with graceful step and in a 
rejoicing spirit. 
Kitchen Garden. —The gardener has been 
waiting to get his crops planted out, but it 
must be done speedily, using the watering-can 
to give the plants a fair start. Of the planted- 
out crops that have got into growth, those that 
are on dry soils will be greatly benefited by 
the free use of the hoe, for it is no secret that 
a loose soil is better at a time of drought than 
a hard, solid one. Every part of the Kitchen 
Garden ought to be clean and neat, and as 
crops go off bearing, they should be removed. 
Some Turnip seed should be sown at intervals ; 
if the soil is too dry on the surface generally 
for it to grow much, there will come a time 
when some will vegetate; but where rain has 
fallen many of the seeds will come, no doubt. 
It has been a fine season for getting up Potatos, 
and the crops are on the whole good, and not 
so much diseased as was at one time feared ; 
the tubers lift very clean, and in good condition 
for stowing away. Celery needs some attention, 
and a fine old gardener recommends that pre¬ 
vious to earthing-up, all the fading side-leaves 
should be pulled away, and search made for a 
maggot that is apt to infest the plants at this 
season of the year. The Onion crop should be 
pulled, and laid on the ground to dry before 
storing the bulbs away. Those who lay in a 
stock of Dried Herbs for winter consumption 
should now cut them when they are quite dry, 
and put them aside till a wet day affords leisure 
to tie them up and bunch them. 
Fruit Garden .— Wall Trees , owing to the 
dry weather, are not making the late summer 
growth they did in 1879, but it will be well to 
look over the trees and remove any superfluous 
shoots. Apples and Pears should be gathered 
while the weather is fine, and when the fruit 
is quite dry, and stored away for future use. 
Villa gardeners should make note of the 
Stirling Castle Apple , a very fine free-bearing 
culinary variety, that bears large fruit on quite 
small trees; Small’s Admirable and Lord 
Sujfleld are two others well deserving atten¬ 
tion when planting-time comes round. A villa 
gardener who contemplates planting Apples 
and Pears should, before doing so, take 
the advice of some good fruit cultivator who 
knows well the characters of the several varie¬ 
ties. Planting may be commenced at the end 
of the month, and in doing this the roots of 
the trees should be well spread out, and fine 
soil placed over them, but not trodden down, for 
the autumn rains will consolidate it. It is not 
too late to plant Strawberries , nor to dig about 
and clean the plants in fruiting beds. Old 
Raspberry canes should be cut away. 
Flower Garden. —Except that the beds and 
borders are suffering from the dry weather, 
which has its effect on strong-growing plants 
like Dahlias , Hollyhocks, &c., the occupants of 
the beds are very gay indeed, and autumn, with 
its time of decay, appears to be far away in the 
distance. But there is no knowing how soon 
frost may come and spoil all. Any tender 
plants that it is desirable to keep through the 
winter should be lifted and potted ; and also 
cuttings of any taken where increase is neces¬ 
sary. To keep the garden neat, and as tidy as 
possible, and so prolong the summer beauty, 
should be constantly aimed at. Any bed s 
that are cleared should be dug and got ready 
for planting with Bulbs and Spring-flowering 
plants. Cuttings in frames and under hand¬ 
glasses need a good deal of attention, giving 
air in fine weather, removing decaying leaves, 
and stirring the surface soil. 
Cold Frames. —These will now be invaluable 
for Mignonette in pots, Neapolitan Violets , Bulbs 
in pots, and many other subjects that can be 
housed here. Many things that have been 
kept in pots during the summer should be 
repotted ; in some cases top-dressing will bo 
sufficient, removing some of the sour soil on 
the top, and adding some good rich potting 
compost. Whatever plants may occupy the 
cold frame, care should be taken to get them 
as well matured as possible, keeping them 
tolerably dry, and giving them an abundance 
of air, and in this way a great variety of 
things can be wintered in safety. 
Greenhouse. —It is now time to look up all 
plants that have been placed in the open air 
for the purpose of assisting in developing the 
buds, and to house them after the pots 
have been cleaned, worms looked for and 
removed, and fresh soil placed on the 
surface. The tenderer plants should have 
the warmest and most protected parts of 
the house, the hardiest subjects the more ex- 
