OCTOBER

Weeds and falling leaves are the plagues of the season. It may seem that

they do no harm, but assuredly they are directly injurious to every crop

upon the ground, for they encourage damp and dirt by preventing a free

circulation of air amongst the crops, and the access of sunshine to the

land. Keep all clean and tidy, even to the removal of the lower leaves

of Cabbages, where they lie half decayed upon the ground.



The heavy rains of this month interfere in a material degree with

outdoor work, and are often a great impediment to the orderly management

that should prevail. The accumulation of rubbish anywhere, even if out

of sight, is to be deplored as an evil altogether. The injury to

vegetation is as great as that inflicted on our own health when dirt

poisons the air and damp hastens the general dissolution. It is

therefore above all things necessary to keep the garden clean from end

to end. All decaying refuse that can be put into trenches should be got

out of sight as soon as possible, to rot harmlessly instead of infecting

the air, and leaves should be often swept up into heaps, in which form

they cease to be injurious, although, when spread upon the ground and

trodden under foot, they are breeders of mischief. If in want of work,

ply the hoe amongst all kinds of crops, taking care not to break or

bruise healthy leaves, or to disturb the roots of any plant. Dig vacant

plots, and lay the land up in ridges in the roughest manner possible.

Heavy land may be manured now with advantage, but it is not desirable to

manure light land until spring.



Cabbages to be planted out as advised last month.



Cardoon.--Blanching must be continued.



Carrots.--Lift the roots and store in sand.



Cauliflowers to be prepared for the winter.



Celeriac.--Part of the crop should be lifted and stored in sand; the

plants left in the ground to be protected by earthing over.



Celery must be earthed up, and protecting material got ready to assure

its safety during frost.



Chicory.--Raise about a dozen plants at a time as required, cut or

wrench off the foliage, and pack the roots, crown upwards, in boxes with

moist leaf-mould or soil. They must be stored in absolute darkness in

some cellar or Mushroom-house which is safe from frost, but a forcing

temperature is detrimental to the flavour. Gathering may commence about

three weeks after storing. The yield is abundant, and is of especial

value for salading through the autumn and winter months.



Endive to be blanched for use as it acquires full size, but not

before, as the blanching makes an end of growth.



Lettuce.--Continue to plant as before advised, and make a final sowing

in frames not later than the middle of the month.



Parsnips may be dug all the winter as wanted. Although a slight frost

will not injure them when left in the ground, protection by rough litter

is needful in very severe weather. It often happens that they grow

freely soon after the turn of the year, and then become worthless.



Potatoes to be taken up and stored with all possible speed.



Rhubarb for forcing should be taken up and laid aside in a dry, cool

place, exposed to the weather. This gives the roots a check, and

constitutes a kind of winter, which in some degree prepares them for the

forcing pit.



Roots, such as Beet, Salsify, and Turnip, to be taken up as soon as

possible, and stored for the winter.



Winter Greens may still be transplanted, and it is often better to use

up the remainder of the seed-beds than to let the plants stand. In the

event of a severe winter, these late-planted Greens may not be of much

value; but in a mild growing winter they will make some progress, and

may prove very useful in the spring.