SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MONTH 
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Garden 
It has been said that the three hardest things for a 
woman to choose are a husband, a silk dress and a 
carpet, and perhaps it is true—certainly the home¬ 
maker is confronted by few more vexing questions 
than that of floor covering. In October this is a 
question which is uppermost, for it is then that the 
house is commonly made ready for winter occupancy. 
From the sanitary standpoint bare, hardwood floors 
and rugs are best, but if a house is not well built car¬ 
pets are sometimes essential for warmth. Of course 
if one has the capital to cover the initial cost no rugs 
are as economical as the Oriental and none as greatlv 
to be desired. But beware of imitations. Unless 
you have had much experience either take an expert 
with you when you make your purchases or else go 
to a dealer of such well established reputation that 
you may depend upon his word. It is so easy to be 
deceived and so difficult to be sure; and of course the 
stability of the colors and durability of the rug de¬ 
pend upon this. In the selection of pattern also 
have a care—even all Oriental rugs are not desirable 
—some of the designs being far preferable to others. 
Indeed in the purchase of both rugs and carpets it is 
well to remember that the covering of the floor 
should not be a predominant note in the decoration 
of the room but should be in harmony with the other 
furnishings, and with the walls serve in part as a 
background. For this reason pronounced colors and 
large patterns are usually to be avoided. It always 
pays to get the best quality but it is not essential 
to get the most expensive kind. A Hopi fibre rug is 
better than a poor moquette, and a tapestry Brussels 
than an imitation Smyrna. In fact, though it be 
out of season a word may be said in favor of the 
fibre rugs which are extremely cheap, very decora¬ 
tive, and thoroughly unpretentious. For the cottage 
home they are ideal and in the city home they are 
not out of place. If more people had the courage 
to use simple, inexpensive things we should have 
many more attractive and livable houses. 
And after all that is the secret of good furnishing, 
the house should not be a series of show rooms but 
a place to live in. But how few seem to have been 
planned with this object and how difficult it is in 
many homes to even find one comfortable chair! 
This same theory holds good in regard to the win¬ 
dows. They have a definite function which when 
they are swathed in much lace and many fabrics 
they are unable to perform. Curtain the windows 
(Continued on page 16, Advertising Section.) 
If grass seed were not sown in September there 
is yet a chance to obtain a good lawn by sowing as 
early this month as possible. 
This is an ideal time in which to plant; time is 
saved and quicker and better results are obtained. 
Where planting is done now, the early spring will 
find the plants pushing out without the check usually 
incident to the spring-planted stock. 
Bulbs can only be planted in the fall with a hope 
of satisfactory results. Plant them early. 
1 he seed of such annuals as asters, pinks, zinnias, 
marigolds, petunias, scarlet sage and verbena should 
now be sown, d hey will he dormant until the 
warmth of spring when they will germinate. Then 
they will come into rapid growth, producing flowers 
weeks in advance of spring-sown seed, and will self¬ 
sow for another year. 
Crocuses, pot culture especially, should be potted 
early. The dish crocuses are of great beauty for 
either house or garden. 
For a fine window display, the finer varieties of 
hyacinths and narcissus deserve attention. No 
flower is more appreciated than the narcissus when 
grown as a window plant. The earlier the bulbs are 
potted and the better they are rooted before being 
brought to light, the better will be their display of 
flowers. 
This is a good time to put out hardy rose plants; 
those two years old do best. While October is the 
most desirable time, they will do well planted even 
later if the weather is open and seasonable. After 
the plants have been set, the soil should be drawn up 
around each plant and a good mulch of well rotted 
stable manure applied. 
The hardy flowering shrubs can be successfully 
planted at the same time and given like treatment. 
A present investment in hardy bulbs, if given 
proper attention, will yield satisfactory results. 
Among these may be classed the tulip, hyacinth, 
narcissus and crocus, and they will withstand the 
severest winter weather. Their fragrant and bright 
flowers are among the first to appear in the spring. 
October and November are the best months in which 
to prepare and fill the beds—October is the better 
(Continued on page 17, Advertising Section.) 
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