252 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



house, while making the new gi-owtb, and afterwards the cool house 

 is the best place for them. 



Vandas. — V. cosrulea, with its fine spikes of lilac flowers, pro- 

 duced in October; V. siiacis, creamy white flowers, spotted with 

 crimson, and V. tricolor, are all good. These are best grown in 

 sphagnum, with plenty of small crocks mixed with it ; plenty of 

 water when growing, a moderate supply when at rest, and kept in 

 the stove, excepting V. ccerulea, which does best in an intermediate 

 house. 



THE GAEDEN GUIDE EOR AUGUST. 



*' The sixt was August, being rich arrayd 

 In garment all of gold downe to the ground : 

 Yet rode he not, but led a lovely mayd 

 Forth by the lilly hands, the which was cround 

 With eares of corne, aud full her hand was found : 

 That was the righteous Virgin, which of old 

 Liv'd here on earth, and plenty made abound ; 

 But, after Wrong was lov'd and Justice solde, 

 She left th' unrighteous world, and was to heaven extold." 



Spensee. 



I^HE more showy and attractive of the flowers usually at 

 their best during the month are the Alstraemerias, the 

 Alpine Thrift, Starworts, Campanulas, Mule Pinks, Lilies, 

 Lychnis, Pentstemons, Phloxes and Statices. The gar- 

 den work of August comprises the propagation of bedders 

 for nest year's display, the shortening of the young shoots of the 

 pyramidal and other fruit-trees, making new strawberry beds, the 

 painting and cleaning of plant structures, and the housing of JS^ew 

 Holland and other specimen plants. 



EiowER GARDEif. — It is essential that Dahlias, Gladioli, and 

 Hollyhocks should be staked without delay. Eemove the flower- 

 spikes from all perennials immediately the beauty of the flowers is 

 past, if the seed is not required. This is a capital time for sowing 

 seed of these things, as there is plenty of time to obtain strong- 

 plants by the end of autumn, if the seed is sown early th s month. 

 Propagate the stock of bedding-plants at once, excepting the Cal- 

 ceolarias, which are' best left until the end of September. All the 

 bedding Geraniums strike better on a warm, sunny border than in 

 pots and frames. Prick up the border, and, after making it firm on 

 the surface, insert the cuttings, and, in ordinary seasons, all the 

 attention necessary until they are rooted will be simply to give 

 them one good watering to settle the soil, aud remove all decayed 

 foliage, to prevent its injuring the other. The Verbenas, Cupheas, 

 Heliotropes, and Lobelias require more care. The cuttings should 

 be inserted in pots properly drained, and filled with light sandy soil, 

 and then placed in a cold frame, and kept close and shaded until rooted. 

 Greenhouse. — This structure must have a thorough cleansing 

 at once, so as to be in readiness for the reception of tlie hard- wooded 

 stuff" when required. There is no danger of I'rost yet, but if we 

 have much wet weather during the month, delicate-rooted plants, 

 like Leschenaultias, Heaths, Genetyllis, etc., must be removed in- 



