272 THE GARDENER. [June 



knife raise the bark on both sides, place the bark of the bud in neatly 

 under the bark of the stock, letting it fit properly. The leaf with the 

 bud should fit exactly at the cross. Tie the bark of the stock down with 

 soft matting. Damp moss may be kept over the wound for a time to 

 help to heal up the union. Various kinds of Roses, which it may be 

 desirable to increase, can be budded on inferior kinds, or weakly kinds 

 on strong ones. All plants, such as Geraniums, Verbenas, Heliotropes, 

 Fuchsias, Stocks, Asters, tfec, planted out for decorating beds and bor- 

 ders, may require a good watering, should the weather prove very dry, 

 but the operation cannot be looked upon as anything less than a neces- 

 sary evil, and should only be done when the plants will not live with- 

 out it. A good soaking to the whole bed or border will be the most 

 effectual method of supplying the water, and follow up with the hoe, 

 stirring every surface, which will act as a mulching. It does great 

 injury to the soil to puddle in it with either hoe or rake when it is 

 wet. Peg down any Verbenas, Petunias, or such plants as are liable 

 to be injured by wind : a good old practice is to cut willows in short 

 lengths, and bend them like hair-pins. They are sure pegs, and decay 

 in the ground when done with. Beech pegs often do mischief by pro- 

 ducino- fungi in the soil. Plants in pots should be plunged when they 

 are in exposed drying positions. Good waterings at the roots and 

 overhead are necessary where plants are growing freely. Watering 

 must never be done by halves, but if rain should come heavy, and con- 

 tinue for some time, the more tender things out of doors may be laid 

 on their sides ; but where the plants are in frames, and glass can be 

 used for protection, much labour will be saved. Keep Cinerarias, 

 Primulas, and similar plants, cool, and in rather a shady position : a 

 frame turned to face the north answers well for these. Insects must 

 be kept down by fumigating with tobacco. Pooly's tobacco-powder, 

 dusted on the under sides of the leaves, acts severely on thrips and 

 green -fly. Chrysanthemums must be stopped to keep the plants 

 bushy. Shift the plants on into larger -sized pots when the roots 

 reach the sides of those they are in. All plants, such as Heaths, 

 Epacris, Cytisus, Acacias, and similar kinds, which have been cut 

 back and are now growing freely, should be shifted on into larger 

 pots if the roots have filled the soil they are in. Old soil can be re- 

 duced, and the plants replaced in pots of the same size if desirable. 

 Sprinkle newly-potted plants overhead, and shade for a time. 



M. T. 



