SOLUTION TO PUZZLE No. 8601:

ACROSS: 1 Foremost; 5 Knocks; 9 Rosemary; 10 Strove; 12 Greens; 13 Muscatel; 15 Bored to death; 18 At a later date; 23 Dog-roses; 24 Career; 26 Owning; 27 Set lunch; 28 Frowsy; 29 Narrator.

DOWN: 1 Forage; 2 Rushed; 3 Memento; 4 Sort; 6 Noticed; 7 Croatian; 8 Stealthy; 11 Custody; 14 Severed; 16 Hands off; 17 Hang on to; 19 Abounds; 20 Trailer; 21 Peanut; 22 Archer; 25 Lena.