JULY. 181 



dry, it is better to water a couple of beds efficiently than to merely 

 lay the dust over a dozen : so, a certain number, according to the 

 extent of the garden and the means at command, should be effectually 

 done every day, until the whole are gone over, when, if necessary, 

 the same process can be repeated. But it is not to be understood 

 that slight sprinklings over the foliage of plants do them no good ; 

 on the contrary, such dewings are of great benefit in the evenings of 

 hot days, when the perspiration from the leaves has been excessive, 

 only they must be applied in conjunction with, not as substitutes for, 

 copious root- waterings. It will be found, however, that after bedded 

 plants have well established themselves, flowers will be produced 

 more profusely in comparatively dry than in wet weather, — a fact 

 which should serve as a guide v/hen applying water artificially. 



Any Crocuses, or other spring bulbs, that need removal, should 

 now be taken out of the ground (provided the leaves have all 

 withered, which Is a sign that the roots are at rest), dried in the 

 shade, cleaned, and divided, preparatory to being replanted. Much 

 might be efl^ected with this gay and many-coloured flower in enliven- 

 ing the dreariness of our gardens early in the year. 



The tubers of the single Anemone are sometimes taken up imme- 

 diately after the blooming is past, and before the leaves die, to be 

 temporarily replanted in other ground, where they can have time to 

 ripen. This treatment, however, can only be tolerated when some 

 strong reason can be given for its adoption, — such as a necessity for 

 replanting the bed they occupy with other flowers. This removal 

 must be carefully performed, or the tubers cannot be depended upon 

 for blooming strong and well next spring. The Anemone is so 

 attractive through its glowing and various colours, and so useful 

 through presenting this attraction for a long time in succession, and 

 in accommodating itself to widely diflferent modes of treatment, that 

 it is deserving of a place even in the smallest garden. Seed sown 

 now will produce flowering plants early next summer. 



Many other kinds of bulbous plants might be advantageously 

 employed in the flower-garden to a greater extent than they now are 

 generally, although, for the most part, they are more fitting for small 

 than for large masses. A species of Hyacinth {Hyacinthus amethys- 

 tinus), which blossoms early in June, is a most desirable little plant, 

 on account of the bright blue colour of its graceful bell-like flowers, 

 which resemble in appearance those of some kinds of Squill (Scilla). 

 Of this last genus, two or three of the dwarf early-blooming species 

 — as verna, sibirica, and bifolia — have very pretty blue flowers, and 

 there are white and pink varieties of the latter species ; but the finest 

 of the whole is the Peruvian Squill, which exhibits its large heads of 

 blue flowers in June. This kind would make a very showy bed ; 

 only, as it gives no succession of bloom, the bed would require to be 

 managed something after the following manner : — Plant strong bulbs 

 in autumn, about eighteen inches apart; then prick in between them 

 plants of some upright-growing annual — Erysimum Perofskianum, 

 for example — which would blossom in April and May. Remove the 



