The Editor will be glad to answer subscribers’ queries pertaining to individual problems connected with the garden and grounds. 
direct personal reply is desired please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. 
When a 
AX 7 ITH the current issue, this depart- 
* * meat falls into new hands, so with 
your permission the new editor is going 
to drop the attitude of the honored “we,” 
and for a few minutes, at least, talk right 
out in meeting. 
I want to say, to begin with, that the 
people who are getting their recreation 
from the sort of things that this magazine 
talks about are having more fun and hav¬ 
ing it more days in the year than all the 
hunters, fishers, golf-cranks, aviators, 
baseball fans, automobilists and post-card 
collectors that ever looked forward to a 
two weeks’ super-heated and mosquito- 
punctured vacation. Because they have 
ever before them that most entrancing of 
all possibilities—the possibility of creat¬ 
ing something. Even the camera fiends 
haven't as great a field of possible en¬ 
joyment. 
Therefore, to every reader of this 
magazine I am going to suggest at the 
outset, and as the one big thing not to be 
forgotten for a moment—The Making of 
an Individual Home. Have you ever 
gone along a street in a residence section 
and noticed how many houses you didn’t 
notice ? And then suddenly you would 
happen upon one that would make you 
stop short. The magic touch of individ¬ 
uality was upon it. You stared until you 
feared the police would get suspicious, 
and from the next corner turned to look 
again. It may have been but the arrange¬ 
ment of a few shrubs, or the way the 
white Clematis was trained along the 
porch, but the great thing had been 
achieved; and I can imagine how the 
owner anticipated getting sight of it every 
night as he swung off the car at his cross¬ 
ing, instead of plodding along to look up 
for his “number.” 
That is the thing to aim at—a home 
every corner of which, outside and in. 
will mean something to you, because you 
have made it. The great thing is to get 
the idea, to paint the picture in imagina¬ 
tion first. Let it be an impressionistic 
one to begin with, and soon you will find 
yourself turning every opportunity to the 
filling in of the details, the discovering 
of formerly unforseen possibilities. 
But dreaming alone, of course, will 
not put the paint on the canvas. Even at 
this dull season of the year there is much 
to be done outside. The chances are, 
too, that some things have been left un¬ 
done, from the last two months. 
Work in the Vegetable Garden 
A S freezing weather is likely to set in 
in earnest any time now, all vege¬ 
tables to be stored for winter should be 
attended to. The squashes have of course 
been taken in under cover, but should 
now be put in some place where there will 
be no possibility of the frost's getting at 
them, and where they will be perfectly 
dry. Store carrots and beets, if not al¬ 
ready attended to, after being dug and 
dried off, in boxes of clean dry sand, also 
some of the salsify and parsnips, though 
these will not be hurt by frost, and those 
not dug will be ready for use in spring. 
On a dry day, if the celery has not been 
stored for the the winter, attend to this, 
as directed in the September issue in the 
article “Grow Your Own Vegetables.'' 
An amateur gardener who doesn’t like the way 
sweet alyssum droops over the edge of a 
border upon the lawn, getting in the way 
of the mower, asks for a good substitute. 
Here it is: get a dwarf variety of Ageratum, 
such as Little Gem. It makes a trim, stiff 
edging plant and blooms all summer. 
If you can get a few wheelbarrows 
full of old manure, mulch your rhubarb 
plants and asparagus beds. This protec¬ 
tion will enable them to make an earlier 
start in the spring. Also, if you have a 
small greenhouse, or warm cellar, dig 
around a few clumps of the former with 
the spade, leaving them so that they may 
be lifted out conveniently when frozen, 
and taken in about January ist. If done 
at once, seeds of kale and spinach for 
next spring may be put in. if the weather 
permits. 
Spade up and sow to rye every bare 
spot of ground. 
In the Flower Garden 
EEDS of all annuals which may be 
wanted again should be gathered; 
and of hardy herbaceous plants, if this 
has not been attended to. See that all 
bulbs, such as gladioli, cannas and dah¬ 
lias, are cut back to within a few inches 
of the ground before frosts get them. 
Be sure to note, if you have not al¬ 
ready done so, what plants you do not 
want in the same places next year, and 
take out or transplant them now. If you 
have neglected to make a plan of your 
garden, do it now; and if there are any 
spots which can be improved upon, indi¬ 
cate where they are. Also see to it that 
any plants or vines needing winter pro¬ 
tection are not neglected too long. Many 
of the roses will do better with a manure 
mulching, and some need tying up with 
straw. If there are any garden plants 
you wish to save, that are not yet frozen 
but seem too big to take into the house, 
remember that most of them can be se¬ 
verely cut back and potted, and will bloom 
again freely upon new growth at just the 
time of year when flowers are hardest to 
get. Except where plants have been 
frozen, you may also save some by taking 
cuttings, which are rooted more easily in 
October and the first part of November 
than at any other time. Select new 
growth firm enough to snap when bent. 
About the Grounds 
F you have not yet in your possession 
a good nursery catalogue, get one at 
once, for there is undoubtedly a place for 
a few shrubs about your home; and con- 
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