Now that one is drawing to the season of "sear and yellow leaf, there is nearly an end of sowing and planting for 1879;" but the present month is one in which the anxious and industrious cultivator can find plenty to keep his energies employed. The weather has for about a year kept up a topic of conversation which will not be readily forgotten. The continued drenchings and low temperature have rendered it a real difficulty in many places to secure the necessary requirements of the gardens. Weedy gardens and nurseries are more common this season than we ever remember them; hoeing has been almost impracticable; and hand-weeding has been attended with the greatest difficulties. But now that we hope to be better served with weather in the season to come, every effort should be made to facilitate all operations in the gardens which may act as aids in the future. Firstly, a thorough clearance of all useless vegetable matter should be made. Every crop, such as Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Lettuce, should be in their places, properly planted in well-prepared land. We use the word "properly," as it is seldom we meet with men of the ordinary class who can plant in a proper form.

Sticking the roots in a hole smooth and battered like pitch is a practice by no means rare, and the collars of the plants are made tight in this while the roots dangle loose in the hole. We need not wonder then why plants - "unaccountable " - look starved during winter, and bolt to seed when the season becomes warmer. Planting in wet soil is much safer when done by a trowel, and the soil properly placed to the roots. If the land is very heavy and cold, a small portion of kindly soil placed with the roots would do much to secure a crop by giving a start to the plants and preventing their becoming stunted. We have in our heavy red clay to adopt this practice with all our seeds and plants - without this precaution failure is certain. Still, on our well-trenched land we have little to complain of this untoward season. When making the clearance which we refer to, all refuse should be wheeled to a heap, where it should be covered with soil, so that it would not be offensive. If ground is ready to be trenched, a quantity of rough vegetation may be turned down; it will act as drainage and not be lost, but act as a slight dressing to the ground.

Our practice is to have a heap of garden refuse - keeping back stones and sticks - a mixture of soot, siftings of lime, burnt-wood ashes, turf, refuse from potting-sheds, etc, all put together, and when trenching is done this mixture is wheeled in quantity to the ground and turned down at least a "spit and crumb" below the surface. We are at present (middle of September) wheeling in such material along with some good manure for the main crops of Cabbage. The ground by this means is kept open during the winter, and in spring the roots run freely into this manure, and get away from drought. The Cabbage crop should be planted without delay. If the plants are, however, pricked out, and not becoming crowded, they will take no harm to remain some time as they are, when they can be lifted and carefully planted. We prefer planting doubly thick, and when the plants are large enough for use, every alternate one is cut out; and when the crop is fully grown those which were cut out early will be coming in to succeed them as greens. Thus a large quantity of vegetable produce may be had off a small space. The small Cabbage plants left from planting should be lifted and planted neatly in a sheltered space to stand the winter.

They are of great service in the spring season, especially if we have such another winter as last. We knew the use of reserve plants last March and April. Cauliflower should be planted where hand-lights and other protectors are to shelter them: a border sloping to the sun, well broken, on which place the hand-lights about 4 feet between each, and in each light place nine sturdy plants; they can be thinned out in March, and the thinnings transplanted, leaving about five in each light. Cauliflower to be wintered in frames, etc, should be carefully pricked on a border, measuring first by the size of frame which may be placed over them a mouth later, but only for protection; coddling for want of air draws them up weakly. Lettuce may be planted in quantity, also Batavian Endive: a good border or ridge in a sheltered position is very desirable: the ground should be rich and well broken. Brown (Joss, Hardy Hammersmith, and All the Year Round stand as well as any kinds we know. All young plantations should be well hoed, and dustings of soot, ashes, and lime strewn over the ground among the plants. Celery should all be gone over, and have a good earthing up; dustings of lime to keep grubs and snails in check are very necessary in some gardens.

Endive should now be blanched by placing a quantity in a frame or pit, and covering the glass to keep out light: wooden shutters answer well for such purposes, but tying may be resorted to: laying a board over the plants, or slates placed flatly on them, are often successfully used for blanching. Chicory may be lifted and trimmed for blanching; in any dark, close place it will blanch: a Mushroom-house answers well: a quantity taken in every few weeks will keep up a good supply. Spinach should have all yellow leaves taken off, weeds pulled, and the hoe put through the crop neatly: lime and fine ashes may be dusted all over the surface of the ground. Turnips must be thinned by a careful hand at this season, only separating the plants and clearing off the weeds: a finely broken surface with hoe is advantageous to growth. Broccoli growing too vigorous may be lifted and laid with the heads to the north, if checking luxuriant growth is necessary. All such crops for winter and spring supply should be gone over with hoe or fork - later it may not be suitable from wet. Ground for Peas and broad Beans may be prepared; thorough trenching is advantageous. Break the surface well, so that the seed may be sown on it, and the soil drawn over. All roots may be lifted and carefully housed, Potatoes especially.

There need be no hurry with Beet and Carrots till the end of the month. Parsnips are dug up as they may be wanted fresh from the ground: they retain their flavour and keep better when left in the earth. The forcing of French Beans may be proceeded with. To have plenty about Christmas they should be started this month in quantity, either in pots or planted in pits or frames. Asparagus, where wanted early, may be lifted and placed on a gentle hotbed as thickly as the roots can be laid out, with the crowns clear, and covered with a few inches of light soil. Seakale may also be started this month; a close heat, about 60°, will bring it forward. Keep successions of Mushrooms on the way by forming beds often.

M. T.