SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MONTH 
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Garden 
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It depends very much upon where the house is situated whether 
September is a busy month or not. Mid-summer and mid-winter 
bring virtually the same duties to the Northern and Southern house¬ 
keeper, but the spring and autumn months require a shifting of the 
scale. It has become customary in many sections of the country 
to look upon September as the semi-annual cleaning season—the 
time when the house must lay aside its summer garb and don its 
winter robes. This is a mistake, however, for if the cleaning is done 
little by little, day by day, there will be no need for a semi-annual 
domestic upheaval, and it is far better to postpone the hanging of 
heavy curtains and draperies as long as possible. Warm days 
(sometimes the warmest) will come in September, and it will be 
desirable to have the windows open and free circulation of air. 
And then, too, why shut out the out-door world when it is most 
attractive and appealing ? 
Perhaps though, a little fire will be necessary night and morning 
and on rainy days, and under any conditions this is the time to 
attend to the flues, to have the chimneys swept and the furnace 
tested. During the summer the birds sometimes build their nests 
in the chimneys, storms displace bricks and pipes rust on account 
of dampness and disuse, and frequently slip from place—thus, 
much inconvenience if not danger is avoided by the pre-thought of 
early inspection. 
But, apropos of open fires, have you tried burning crushed coke 
in a grate ? Use it the same as coal and you will find that it makes 
a delightful fire, short-lived to be sure, but sufficient to take the 
chill off the air, and furnish a few hours of enjoyment. 
When the chimneys and flues are inspected have the electric 
wiring also carefully gone over by an expert in order to make sure 
that the insulation has not worn off or become impaired, or other 
damages accrued while the house has been unoccupied. 
It is well also to have an eye to the roof before equinoctial storms 
come to discover the tiny holes for you and inartistically decorate 
the wall or ceiling which was repapered or repainted during the 
summer. 
It is in September also that the awnings should be taken down 
and stored away for the winter season, as the autumnal winds 
and rains do them much injury and the sunlight is not suffi¬ 
ciently intense to make them a necessity. See that they are per¬ 
fectly dry before they are laid away and that they are carefully 
folded. 
At this same time the weather strips around the windows and 
doors should be inspected and put in perfect condition. A little 
forethought now may prevent a hard cold for some member of 
the family in the early winter. 
In some localities window and door screens can be taken out 
toward the close of the month and the glass enclosing a south 
piazza may be put in place, but in most parts of the country this 
too can be safely left until October, when the storm doors and 
windows can be put on at tbe same time. It is well to economize 
labor and let the seasons arrange the calendar as much as pos¬ 
sible. 
Though it is desirable to defer the laying of carpets and rugs as 
long as one may, it is exceedingly wise to have them got down and 
looked over some weeks beforehand, as oftentimes seams will need 
re-sewing, and not infrequently those which have presented a 
reasonably good appearance when taken up, will be found too 
shabby or worn to serve another season. Such discoveries are not 
pleasant, but it is better to make them early than late when time 
will not permit thoughtful readjustment or replacement. 
A marked additional growth will be attained by plants and 
shrubs if the ground is kept well stirred about the roots—the fall 
growth will be very material. 
If budding was neglected during last month, it should, by all 
means, now be given attention. The buds on the young growth 
are well formed and the sap flows freely in the stock. Spring 
budding is seldom successful as the buds are rarely sufficiently 
matured for the purpose. 
Sow lawn seed during the month and have a good lawn started 
before the winter months. If seed are sown now the lawn will be 
free from weeds and the grass will be up and started early in the 
spring before the weeds appear. 
September is, perhaps, the most trying month of the year on the 
lawn. It is also a month when the gardener is apt to give it less 
attention than any other. In order that it may have a rich green 
velvety appearance during all the fall, it must have plenty of water 
and frequent mowings. If rains are not ample, have recourse to 
the hose or such irrigation methods as may be convenient. 
The old-fashioned larkspur is very much neglected when its 
utility and reliability is considered. It is quite hardy and resists 
both cold and heat remarkably well. The flowers remain perfect 
on the plant so long that it seems a pity to cut them, yet they are 
almost as desirable for tall bouquets as gladiolus. Their cultivation 
would amply repay if grown only for this purpose. 
The double dwarf is a very handsome variety, but perhaps the 
favorite is the hyacinth-flowered type. 1 his latter variety produces 
great hyacinth-like spikes of large double flowers set closely to¬ 
gether. The colors are bright and rich in this variety, and, if planted 
separately, desirable masses of several shades of pink, blue, purple, 
and red will be shown. 
While the larkspur is a valuable spring-sown plant, blooming 
quickly and profusely, yet the most beautiful specimens of annual 
larkspur are grown from fall-sown seed. If the seed are sown 
in September, the plants get well started before the winter months, 
and being hardy, are ready to begin their growth early in the spring, 
and, consequently, come into bloom before the summer months. 
Pansy seed should be sown in September for early spring bloom¬ 
ing. 
The hibiscus, peachblow, makes a charming house plant for 
winter. The flowers are immense, yet beautiful and fragrant. 
If you have them bedded out, pot and take in before frost. They 
will bloom all winter. 
Perpetual-blooming carnations are highly valued for their con¬ 
stant bloom and delicate fragrance. They flower freely during the 
fall in the garden, and if taken indoors, and kept in a light, cool 
room will produce an abundance of lovely flowers during the winter 
months. Keep the buds picked off of those intended for winter bloom 
and take them in before hard frost. They are not entirely hardy. 
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