27§ 



THE FLORAL WORLt) AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the Leiglit of from tLrcc to nine or ten 

 feet, according to fancy, with an eje to 

 future effect, then prune them in to that 

 every winter. Amongst or .iround these 

 may be planted such hardy foliage plants 

 as would he in keeping, and in the summer 

 time Palmia Christis, Cannas, and all large 

 ornamental leaved j^lants, may go between, 

 not excluding Ileracleum giganteum and 

 other large umbellifera. These all combined 

 would give a decidedly tropical effect, and 

 would add to the many diversities of wliich 

 gardening is susceptible. I have seen large 

 plants of Fuchsia specfabilis, Eriobotrya 

 Japonica, Acacia Lopontha, mngnolias, and 

 such like plants, plunged in a broad clump, 

 and they presented a noble appearance 

 and I believe a few common trees, planted 

 and treated as above, would not only be 

 in perfect harmony, but add considerably 

 to the effect; and there are plants innumer- 

 able, both dwarf and tall, of graceful or 

 symmetrical habit, remarkable for beauty 

 or singularitj^ of foliage, having the same 

 effect as flowers as regards variation of 

 colour, without the litter of shed petals, 

 and dead flowers, and unsightly seed-pods, i 

 The suggestions above offered may be ob- | 



jected to on the score that when denuded 

 of leaves the trees will present tlie appear- 

 ance of so many bare stakes ; but what 

 are all deciduous trees and shrubs but bare 

 sticks during the winter months — in fact, 

 what are thousands of old lilacs, sj-ringas, 

 and elderberries, so dearly cherished in 

 nearly all suburban gardens, but huge 

 faggots that while away the winter in 

 affording shelter to dnst, dead leaves, litter, 

 and stray pieces of paper. For my part 

 I cannot understand how those who love 

 their garden can devote so much loom to 

 subjects that are nothing but bare masses 

 of brushwood one half the year, and filled 

 with dusty leaves the other half, with an 

 interval o"f a fortniglit in the flowering 

 season, and an annua) crop of dead wood 

 into the bargain. Such ground planted 

 with dwarf young evergreens, which are 

 cheap enough, would present a verdurous 

 appearance the whole year ; or ground left 

 bare in the winter, if frecjuentlj- stirred, is 

 by no means unsightly, and if rightly 

 planted the following year will be amply 

 remunerative to the lover of real effect. — 

 Garden Oracle, 1862. 



G-AEDEN AND GEEENHOUSE WOEK EOE DECEMBEE. 



Azaleas and Camellias claim atten- 

 tion, now that we have little else to depend 

 upon to keep the conservatory gay. A little 

 pains now bestowed in training and dis- 

 budding will repay, and camellias ax"e so 

 heavily set with buds, that generally speak- 

 ing it would be most unwise to allow all to 

 remain. We have seen lately bushels of 

 buds removed in some places where a mo- 

 derate show of fine flowers is preferred to 

 fi mass of indifferent ones, the profusion of 

 which v/ill weaken the plants. 



Bulbs not yet planted must bo got in, 

 and as they are unusually fine this season, 

 piirchases may yet be made. \Ve always 

 advise early purchasing and early plant- 

 ing ; but if we would ever excuse delay, it 

 is now, the stock being in such prime con- 

 dition tliat the bloom is sure to be satis- 

 factory, though the after .growth may be 

 weak through their remaining cut of the 

 ground too long. 



Bush fruitu should be planted, pruned, 

 and manured. Burn the prunings, and if 

 the ashes are not wanted for any particular 

 purpose, tlirow them round the roots of 

 the trees; they are powerfully fertilizing. 

 Gooseberries and currants may be lightly 

 forked between to mix the manure with 

 the soil, but raspberries should have three 

 or four inches of dung, not very rotten, laid 



on the border or piece, and not be dug or 

 disturbed at all. 



Caknations and Picotees.— The young 

 stocks look amazingly well this season. 

 They require plenty of air and very mode- 

 rate watering, and be kept clean. 



Cineeakias and C.'\lceolaeias for spe- 

 cimens may now want a shift ; they must 

 on no account get pot-bound, or they will 

 bloom prematurely. "Water on fine morn- 

 ings, and beware of green-fly and mildew. 



Climbers in greenliouses may now 

 liave special attention to reduce their di- 

 mensions, lay in wood for next summer's 

 bloom, and clear the walls and trellises. 



EvEBGREEW suEUBS planted now must 

 be heavily njulched with dung to keep 

 frost from their roots. 



Pflargoniums to be cautiously watered 

 and allowed to rest. Specimens may be 

 tied out and stock struck late may be 

 shifted and kept growing. 



Roses may be planted now during dry 

 weather ; the ground to be in good heart, 

 deep y trenched and v,-ell manured. On 

 loamy land broken up from grass, roses do 

 better than in ordinary garden soil, and 

 those wlio grow for show should either 

 use turf liberally or break up meadow 

 ground for their best plants. Get in briars 

 quickly before the best are gone. Manettis 



