AUGUST. 191 



then place them a little in the shade for a few days. Those about 

 to be layered should be made rather moist, as the water they will 

 receive for some time after vvill be through a line-rosed watering-pot. 

 To ensure seed from any fine varietj^ place small bell-glasses to i)ro- 

 tect the flowers from wet, admitting all the air possible. Transplant 

 pipings when struck to make good growth before potting up in 

 autumn. Beware of thrips and earwigs. 



Cinerarias. Sow seed for a general crop ; take off suckers 

 from old stools for the same purpose. Seedlings sown and pricked 

 off last month should now be put singly into small pots, and shaded 

 from bright sunshine. Keep the lights off on all favourable oppor- 

 tunities, and constantly at night, unless there is danger of a storm. 



Dahlias. Frequently thin-out superfluous shoots, so that much 

 may not be cut off at a time. The proportion must be according to 

 the known habit and size of the flower. Hero, and such flowers, 

 should have all their wood and buds reserved for some time. Black 

 Prince, Imbricata, Mr. Seldon, &c. require a medium course of treat- 

 ment ; if very large flowers are desired, they may be cut hard, as it 

 ■will not produce them coarse. Queen of Roses, and flowers of this 

 class, must be thinned very hard to come sufficiently large to be put 

 with others disbudded in the same proportion. Keep the branches 

 securely tied. Turn up the soil about the plants, and place rotten 

 manure round them. Soak them vvell twice a-week at the root, and 

 give a little over the foliage every night. 



Epacrises. These want but little attention at present, further 

 than that recommended below for the Erica ; as it 's to be presumed 

 that each plant has received its due share of stopping, tying out, &c. 

 Should an unruly shoot have persisted in overtopping the rest, cut it 

 down to their height ; it is better so than allowed to disfigure the 

 whole plant. 



Ericas. As mildew is more apt to be generated in the autumnal 

 months than at any other period of the year, more than ordinary 

 vigilance is now necessary to detect at an early stage the presence of 

 the enemy, which, as soon as discovered, should be attacked without 

 mercy. When the summer growth has become perfectly ripened, 

 with ordinary care little danger need be apprehended. As eacii plant 

 goes out of flower, thoroughly clean it from all dead foliage, and give 

 it its annual shift. Some varieties will have perfected their summer 

 growth sooner than others ; when that process is completed, and the 

 plant is in a state of comparative rest, it is desirable to curtail the 

 supply of water. Cleanliness being indispensable to the health of 

 plants, and of gratification to the eye, frequently sweep away the 

 litter that is apt to lodge upon and around the pots ; rake over the 

 surface of the coal-ashes on which your plants stand, and replace the 

 latter according to height, &c., leaving ami)le room between each. 

 Loss of moisture by evaporation at this season is immense, conse- 

 quently eveiy plant should be examined at least once a day, and the 

 soil felt, to ascertain whether water is wanted; for be it understood, 

 that if the ball is suffered to become perfectly dry, even for an hour, 

 the plant is irretrievably lost. 



