THE FLORAL WOULD AKD GARDEN GUIDE. 219 



THE GAKDEN GUIDE FQK JULY. 



Flower Garden. — This month i3 a capital time for propagating 

 many herbaceous plants. Young side-shoots of Antirrhinums, Pent- 

 stemons, and Phloxes will root freely under a hand-glass, with the 

 needful attention of watering and shading. Polyanthus that are 

 wished to be increased may be taken up and divided early in the 

 month. Shorten the tap roots, and replant at a distance of about a 

 foot apart each way. These plants do best in loam, leaf-mould, and 

 cow-dung. A shady position is the most suitable, and the plants 

 should have two or three good wateriugs after they are planted. 

 Seed must be sown as soon as possible. The Eose-beds must_ be 

 looked over frequently, and all suckers removed. The old flowering 

 shoots should also be cut back, and the trees have a few good closes 

 of liquid manure to aid in the production of a good autumn bloom. 

 Budding must be proceeded with ; if the stocks do not run freely, a 

 thorough watering will generally start them. The evening is the 

 best time for budding. Towards the end of the month the wood will 

 be in proper order for making cuttings of strong half-ripened shoots 

 cut into pieces of three joints each. The bottom leaf should be 

 removed, and the cutting inserted firmly in a bed of light, sandy stuff, 

 over a gentle hot-bed, where it will root freely. Cuttings will also 

 root well in a frame placed upon an elevated bed of soil, without 

 bottom-heat, but not so quickly as with that assistance. The frame 

 must be kept close, and shaded until the cuttings are nicely callused. 

 Evergreens may now be pruned, and their growth regulated. The 

 annuals that are past their best should be cleared away, to prevent 

 the garden having an untidy appearance. Where it is intended to 

 save seed from any of the herbaceous plants, it is a good plan to 

 cut the old flower-spikes directly the lower seed-pods begin to ripen, 

 and stick them in pots filled with wet sand, and place indoors over a 

 large sheet of paper, to catch the seed. When left on the plants 

 until the whole of the seed is ripe, three-parts of it will be scattered 

 to the winds and lost. Where it is intended to increase the stock of 

 Pinks, Picotees, and Carnations, propagation must be commenced in 

 the early part of the month, either by pipings or layers. 



Kitchen Garden. — Anything that is in need of water should 

 have sufficient to soak the ground for a considerable depth. Surface 

 watering does more harm than good ; it attracts the roots to the 

 surface, where they are more exposed to atmospheric influences than 

 before. Hundreds of crops were destroyed last year through improper 

 waterings. Unless labour is abundant, and the time can be spared 

 to follow it up, leave watering alone. Tomatoes ought to be stopped 

 just above the fruit, and be well pinched in, if plenty of fine fruit is 

 expected. Continue to plant out all the winter stuff as fast as 

 possible; the evening is the best time. Keep the Celery well watered, 

 and plant out the main crop. Let every pod be removed from both 

 Runners and Dwarf Beans directly they arc large enough for gather- 

 ing. Sow the main crop of Turnips, and successional supplies of 



