258 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
the night comes more quickly upon them, and does them greater injury. 
Hence the cold to which we have alluded was not unfavourable to the indivi¬ 
dual growth of the later bed and border plants; but it retarded the flowers, 
and injured such seeds as were in the progress of filling and ripening. On 
this account, corn, and other field plants which are cultivated for the seeds, and 
were then in progress toward ripening, must be expected to have the seeds 
deficient in farina, and shrivelled when they are dry. The same, of course, 
happened to the seeds of garden plants which were in like progress, and there¬ 
fore such seeds, if sown, will produce poor plants, and many of them will not 
come up at all ; consequently, it will be very injudicious to use, for next year’s 
sowing, home seed of those annuals which were ripening at this time. On the 
late flowering plant, however, the effect will be rather beneficial, because the 
retardation of the flowering has enabled the plants to acquire more strength, 
and the flowers will on this account be finer, though probably not so numerous. 
Much, however, will depend upon the character of October; for if that month 
be rainy, many of the late flowers will not open; and if there comes frost they 
will be destroyed. 
In the middle part of the month, the temperature was higher, and there was 
a good deal of sun, and little rain, except a sprinkling of occasional light 
showers. This was highly favourable to vegetation, and especially to the 
bringing forward of the later blooms; and had the same weather continued 
till far into October, the autumnal show would have been very fine. But as the 
equinox drew near, heavy rains set in, with a diminution of temperature, 
though not so great as that at the be. inning of the month. This again 
retarded the flowering, and injured such flowers as had blown, or were about to 
blow, and thus the more advanced part of the season acquired still greater 
interest. This unsettled weather still continues while we write ; and therefore 
we must wait till at least the next month, before we can sum up the characters 
of the weather for the floral season. In greenhouses and stoves, the weather 
has little effect on flowering plants, compared with what it has on out-door 
ones; but still it has some, especially on those in the green-house, because 
there is deficiency of light, and of every description of solar action. 
CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER. 
Stove. —The repotting and arrangement of the plants should be completed 
as soon as possible. The temperature of the house should be kept rather 
lower than usual, and water sparingly. In order to remove all causes of 
excitement, give a full supply of air on every fine day. . That the plants may 
be prepared for their winter rest, towards the end of the month, as it becomes 
necessary to use more fire heat, the syringe may be used occasionally, so as 
to avoid falling into the opposite extreme. 
All luxuriant growths should be pruned back. Tie up climbers. Small 
