AUGUST. 



255 



to the air, excepting to heavy rains, to which they should never be 

 subjected. Aphides must not be allowed to infest them, or dead foliage 

 to remain on the plants. 



Carnations and Picotees. — These being unprecedentedly early, a 

 great advantage is gained this season, by the layering being completed 

 in good time. The unusually early blooming was over here by the 

 15th of July. Watering must be carefully attended to; this and 

 cutting away dead foliage are the only requisites this month. 



Conservatory may now be all but cleared of surplus plants, to allow 

 the proper inmates a full share of light and air. Now, also, is a good 

 time for repairing and painting, if required. A few Ferns, Palms, 

 stove plants, and Achimenes may be introduced as wanted. 



Cucumbers. — A crop for the autumn and winter supply should now 

 be sown ; when up, keep the plants as hardy as you can, as they will 

 withstand mildew much better if grown hardy when young, and will 

 make much longer-lived plants. 



Dahlias. — Water freely during dry weather, and in addition give the 

 plants a good sprinkling overhead every evening, after the sun has left 

 them. Go over the plants regularly twice a week, and remove all 

 superfluous small shoots and buds ; this must be done with care and 

 judgment, only cutting away a little at a time, leaving large varieties 

 full for a time. Secure the side shoots by tying them to stakes, in 

 doing which draw them away from the centre, to prevent weakness by 

 overcrowding of the shoots. Earwigs should be got under as much as 

 possible, to prevent the annoyance generally occasioned by their dis- 

 figuring the finest blooms. 



Flower Garden. — The flower garden will now be in full beauty, 

 and, as great attention is now paid to arrangement of colour, any defects 

 in composition, or the substitution of newer and better plants should be 

 carefully noted, and stock procured for next season. Variety is often 

 more pleasing than the mere display of colour ; we cannot therefore too 

 strongly insist on the employment of herbaceous plants, as well as of 

 the different shades of scarlet, blue, and yellow. For certain situations 

 the primary colours are indispensable, as, for instance, when there are 

 large spaces of Grass adjoining the beds, to counteract the effects of 

 which warm colours are decidedly required ; but for a general garden, 

 containing a number of beds, and especially if on gravel, more variety 

 than is usually seen will prove more agreeable to the majority of persons. 

 The great beauty and order of a flower garden depend much on the 

 training and management of the various plants, whether growing in 

 beds, or on walls, trellis, vases, &c. Let everything be kept, therefore, 

 to its proper limits as to training, the Grass kept close, and the gravel 

 free from weeds and frequently rolled, and you will go far towards 

 making your garden perfect. The propagation of plants for another 

 year should commence as soon as the cuttings can be spared. There is 

 no better plan for all the scarlet and variegated Geranium class than 

 putting the cuttings in on well prepared sandy soil on a south border, 

 or indeed in any open place, fully exposed. Verbenas strike equally 

 well the same way, with the addition of a handglass over them. 



Kitchen Garden. — The main breadth of Cabbages should be sown at 



