_Flower Garden and Greenhouse._--In northern sections of the United
States, tender plants that are still outside should be got under cover
as early as possible. Delay using fire heat as long as possible,
unless the nights become so cold as to chill the plants inside the
house. Roses, carnations, camellias, azaleas, pelargoniums and the
hardier sorts of plants will do better if placed in a cold frame or
pit until the middle of November than they would in an ordinary
greenhouse. Look out for insects. Fall bulbs of all kinds may be
planted. Take up summer-flowering bulbs and tubers, such as dahlias,
tuberoses, gladioli, cannas, caladiums, tigridias, and dry them off
thoroughly, stowing them away afterwards in some place free from frost
and moisture during the winter. Before winter sets in see that the
lawn is freely top-dressed. Be careful not to mow the grass too short
in fall.
_Fruit Garden._--Strawberries that have been grown from pot-grown
layers may yet be planted in southern states; keep the runners trimmed
off. Fruit trees and shrubs may be set out; but, if planting is
deferred to the last of the month, the ground around the roots should
be mulched to the thickness of 3 or 4 in. with straw, leaves or rough
manure, as a protection against frost. The fruit garden must be
protected from the ravages of mice in winter. Mice will nest about the
plants if there is straw or other litter around them. Before winter,
all tall grass and loose litter should be taken away; if this is not
done, then the first snow should be tramped heavily around the plants,
in order to destroy any nesting-places.
_Vegetable Garden._--Celery will now be in full growth, and will
require close attention to earthing up, and during the last part of
the month the first lot may be stored away in trenches for winter. All
vegetable roots not designed to be left in the ground during the
winter should be dug up, such as beets, carrots, parsnips, sweet
potatoes, &c. The cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce plants grown from
seed sown last month should be pricked out in cold frames. If lettuce
is wanted for winter use, it may now be planted in the greenhouse or
cold frame, and will be ready for use about Christmas. If asparagus or
rhubarb is wanted for winter use, it should be taken up and stowed
away in pit, frame, shed or cellar for a month or two. It may then be
taken into the greenhouse and packed closely together under the stage,
and will be fit for use from January to March, according to the
temperature of the house. Vegetable gardens often become infested with
diseases that are carried over from year to year in the old plants and
litter; this is specially true of water-melons and of some diseases of
tomatoes. It is well, therefore, to burn the tops of the plants in the
fall, rather than to plough them under or to throw them on the compost
heap.