192 



THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



DielytbA spectabilis. — A. F. E. G. sends us 

 seeds of this plant, with the remark that, "be- 

 fore the seed comes to maturity, the flowers 

 drop off, and few can be found remaining on the 

 plant. Can you tell me how to ripen them ? " 

 Many similar instances have occurred; but the 

 rule still holds good, that seed is not to be looked 

 for. All attempts at artificial fertilisation have 

 failed, owing to the peculiar construction of the 

 flower. When seeds are obtainable, there is, we 

 think, little fear of their ripening ; indeed, a por- 

 tion of those sent us appears ripe, and we pur- 

 pose putting them to the test, by sowing them in 

 a gentle heat. 



Hollyhocks.— Scrutator.— Keep them well staked, 

 allow but one stem to each plant, mulch with 

 cow dung, and give plenty of water in dry wea- 

 ther. Liquid manure, moderately strong, will 

 much improve them, to be discontinued when the 

 blooms open. Cut them down close to the 

 ground as soon as they cease to be ornamental, 

 and if the sorts are valuable, take up the roots 

 and pot them, and keep them in a cold pit all 

 the winter. But in your climate, we should 

 think any hollyhock would stand the winter 

 safely. In spring divide the roots, leaving only 

 one crown to each. 



Melon Cultube. — A. B , Whitland. — You are 

 doing right by your melons, cucumbers, &o 

 On ridges they are, of course, late in fruiting, 

 and your success now very much depends on 

 the weather. Last year, melons out of doors 

 ripened beautifully, but then, what an autumn 

 we had ! The hint3 about stopping the vines, 

 &c, given last month, apply to your method of 

 culture, as well as to culture in pits, bnt as a 

 rule, they should be allowed a rather more free 

 growth out of doors, to increase the amount of 

 ioliage. We have no doubt you will cut some 

 good fruit. 



Gas Heating.— W. Thurley. — For gas heating to 

 succeed, the flame should be enclosed and sup- 

 plied with air by means of a pipe from outside the 

 house, and there must be another pipe to carry 

 the burnt air right away. The current to and 

 from the flame should have no means of getting 

 into the house. 



The Winged Pea. — A correspondent reminds us 

 that this was figured by Curtis, in the 2nd vol. 

 of the "Botanical Magazine." He calls it a 

 native of Sicily, and says that Miller observes 

 that it was formerly cultivated as an esculent, 

 the green pods being dressed, and eaten as peas. 



AVERAGES FOR THE ENSUING MONTH. 



During sixteen years past, the average temperature of the month of August has been :— Max. 72°; 

 min., 53° ; mean, 61° ; being half a degree of Fahrenhiet below July. The average temperature of the 

 dew' point is 54, the same as July ; the average reading of the Barometer at the sea level, is 29.973, 

 and the weight of water in a cubic foot of air, is 4.7 grains. The average fall of rain during the past 

 sixteen years, has been 2.5 inches, nearly the same amount as in July. Very high and very low 

 temperatures are occasionally registered in the month of August. Thus, during thirty-one years past, 

 the highest temperature occurred on the 10th, 1842, Thermometer, 93 a ; and on the 1st, 1846, and the 

 2nd, 1856, the maximum reached 92P ; while there were three instances of the thermometer sinking as 

 low as 32°, namely, on the 13th, 1839, the 21st, 1850, and the 29th, 1850. 



PHASES OF THE MOON FOR AUGUST, 1858. 



d Last Quarter, 2nd, 2h. 2m. p.m. • New Moon, 9th, 4h. 54m. a.m. 



3) First Quarter, 16th, 11th. 42m. a.m. O Full Moon, 24th, 2h. 12m. p.m. 



Last Quarter, 31st, 8b. 16m. p.m. 



MEETINGS AND EXHIBITIONS, AUGUST, 1858. 

 Wednesday, 4th, Moira Floricultural, Ashbv-de-la-Zouch.— Thubsday, 5th, British 

 Pomological.— Wednesday, 18th, Airedale, Yorkshire.— Thubsday, 19th, British 

 Pomological.— Tuesday, 24th, Banbury, Handsworth, (Birmingham.)— Wednesday, 

 25th, Durham, Leicester, Reading.— Thubsday, 26th, Swindon. 



%* Secretaries will oblige by forwarding Announcements, Schedules t #c, of forthcoming 



Exhibitions. 



