Greenhouse Checklist for October

Order cuttings, plants and bulbs immediately so that there will be less chance of their being frozen in transit. Try some of the begonias that are not usually grown. There are new and old varieties which are seldom seen except in California, that make valuable plants for any collection.

These seeds sown in October give early spring bloom in the greenhouse: calendulas, larkspurs, stocks and sweet peas.

This is the best time of the year to take philodendron cuttings. If you have a plant that has a compact grouping of leaves at the end of a long, bare stem, the good part can be cut off and rooted, or an air-layer can be made.

Order top-size tulip, daffodil, and hyacinth bulbs for forcing. Be generous in the number you force; they will be greatly appreciated in February and March.

Wedgwood irises should be planted during late October for January and February blooms. Velthemias require the same care and should be planted now. They bloom in early spring.

Hybrid amaryllis of blooming size that have not been dried off should be put to rest. Keep them dormant for six weeks, then repot, keep moist and in a sunny, warm place. Do not let the roots become so dry that they will wither and die during the dormant period. Keep the soil moist enough to keep the roots in plump, ready-to-grow condition. T

Crinums have already finished blooming for this year, but now is a good time to buy the bulbs. Pot in rich, woodsy loam and after growth starts, fertilize regularly. Blooms come in midsummer.

A sowing of annual chrysanthemums will give April blooms. Feverfew seeds sown now start blooming in May. Both of these plants like to be cool and they will respond to artificial lighting.

Ranunculus bulbs should be planted now for February bloom. It is not too late to plant a few freesias, though they are best planted in August and September.

Tulbaghias have small, onion-like bulbs and slender 18-inch leaves like a young amaryllis. Flowers are produced in umbels on straight, slender stems well out of the foliage. They are lavender-blue, star-shaped. Tulbaghias are easy to grow and a pot of them should be in every collection.

Bring in plenty of potting soil, sand and leaf mold before bad weather.

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