^COW THAT SEPTEAkCEMR IS HEE^E 
“ When ripe fruits drop to earth ” 
Herein are listed the seasonal activities for the complete garden. Details of how to do each item may be found in the current or back issues of The Garden 
Magazine —it is manifestly impossible to make each number of the magazine a complete manual of practice. References to back numbers may be looked up in the 
index to each completed volume (sent gratis upon request). The Service Department will also be glad to cite references to any special topic, if asked for by mail, 
and also to send personal replies to specific questions; a stamped, addressed envelope being enclosed. 
When referring to the time for outdoor work of any sort New York City (latitude 40) at sea level in a normal season is taken as standard; but at best 
dates can only be approximate. Roughly, the season advances northward fifteen miles a day. Thus Albany, which is one hundred and fifty miles from New York, 
would be about ten days later, and Philadelphia, which is ninety miles southwest, about a week earlier. Also allow jour days for each degree of latitude, for each five 
degrees of longitude, and for each four hundred feet of altitude. 
Copyright, 1923, Doubleday, Page & Co. 
■.;/ 'vALL has gradually come to share the honors with spring, and 
1 many gardeners nowadays actually prefer to do as much 
M P' ant ' n f? as possible in the autumn, thus leaving hands and 
mind free for the activities that belong specifically to spring. 
September affords ideal opportunity to make or remodel the 
hardy border, for repairing the lawn, setting out many hard-wood plants 
such as Roses; and, of course, for getting the indoor winter garden 
well started. 
Improving the Hardy Border 
Peonies, Iris, Phlox, in particular; and in general most herbaceous 
plants are best shifted or planted at this time. 
Peonies to be planted as soon as the roots can be secured, shortening to 
six or seven inches any long tap-roots. Strong divisions do not 
make as good a showing the first year after planting as do two- or 
three-year old roots, but they are ultimately superior. Good varie¬ 
ties are now available at a nominal cost; there is no excuse for 
purchasing poor things just because they are cheap. 
Iris offer a widely different range of colors and even a greater variety 
of type and season of flowering than Peonies. Many new and 
beautiful varieties are now offered. Get the best of such things. 
Daffodils, and other bulbs that had perforce to be lifted early, to be 
planted before the new purchases arrive. 
Prepare plans for actual planting in October and November of shrubs, 
trees, fruit trees; and for any changes in existing groups. 
Encouraging Full Autumn Bloom 
Hybrid-tea Roses are now producing plenty of bloom, with color richer 
than that of June. Unless the beds have been well fed during the 
last two months give now manure water or some other form of 
quick-acting plant food. 
Tall flowers such as Dahlias, Cosmos, etc., to be kept staked, and the 
flowers cut freely as they develop. 
Anemones will be greatly benefited by liquid manure or other con¬ 
centrated fertilizer when the buds show. 
Still Time to Sow Some Vegetables 
Lettuce is the big possibility of September. Sow any of the heading 
types: e. g., Big Boston, May King. In localities liable to early 
frost have grass, straw, etc., on hand for use as protective material. 
Globe Artichoke may be sown early in the month to winter in a cold- 
frame. (See last month’s Reminder.) 
Peas may be sown in many sections, using early kinds (the term 
“early” applies to time required to mature). 
Attention to Growing Crops 
Look for cabbage worm on the late crop. This is about the last of the 
insects for the season. Spray small plants with poison; when 
the plants are large hand-picking is essential. 
Leeks to be given the final hilling; for large size feed freely. 
Rhubarb appearing crowded with a tendency to seed freely needs 
resetting. Late this month dig up the old plants, cut into four 
pieces with a spade and reset, working some fertilizer into the 
ground at the same time. 
Tomatoes to be kept tied up and fruits picked, as they keep better off 
the vines. 
Parsley roots to be transferred from the garden to the greenhouse or 
frame; give rich soil, and strip off the foliage when transplanting. 
Winter crops (i. e. crops, intended for winter use) to be kept well cul¬ 
tivated. September is usually a good growing month. 
Making or Re-making the Lawn 
Lawns needing renovation to be topdressed with some good approved 
fertilizer, thoroughly raked with an iron rake, and seed sown; bear¬ 
ing in mind that the more the existing grass appears to be ruined, 
short of actually tearing it out of the ground, the better will be the 
results. The surface must be loose in order that the roots of the 
young grass seed may penetrate. After seeding roll lightly in 
both directions. 
An over-rolled or hide-bound lawn can often be cured by taking 
a digging fork and thrusting it into the turf six or eight inches 
and depressing it so that the turf is lifted and loosened, allowing 
the treated area to remain in this condition for a few weeks; then 
treat or roll down. Such lifting is best done during a wet period. 
Still time to sow new lawns with every assurance of success if the work 
is done early. 
Fall Planting of Fruits 
Now is the time to study what is needed in the way of fruit to be 
planted this fall. With the exception of stone fruits (and these 
are better planned for now, and ordered, in readiness for spring 
planting), all kinds of fruits are best planted in the fall. 
Transplant fruit trees or bushes as soon as circumstances permit; it is 
not necessary to wait until all the leaves are off. If the roots are 
badly mutilated, reduce the head proportionately, cutting away 
whatever wood is not likely to mature. See that the earth is 
packed thoroughly about the roots. Old Blackberry and Rasp¬ 
berry canes not cut out last month to be attended to at once. 
Strawberries planted out last month to have runners taken off to 
throw the energy into a single crown for next seaicn’c fruiting. 
With an Eye to Next Season 
Take cuttings of all bedding plants as soon as possible. TIL: will not 
mar the appearance of the beds by leaving holes or bad spots if the 
cuttings be taken at intervals. Geranium, Co' :s, Heliotrope, 
Alyssum, Ageratum, Verbena, etc., are ! best raised from cuttings. 
Fallen leaves to be collected and composte:’ as when rotted they make 
the finest fertilizer. Start by preparing a nook where they can 
be stored without being whipped all over the place by the wind. 
More mulching must be done in the average garden if ever we are to 
come through properly into spring. All trees and shrubberies 
are benefited by it. While it is too soon to apply any now, yet 
this is the time to get the manure or other material on hand. 
Especially mulch any plants set out at any time during this year. 
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