286 THE FLORIST. 



the treatment should be about the same as last month. Repot into 

 good rich soil such plants as are rooting freely to the sides of the small 

 pots. Open the pits or frames night and morning, for a time, to keep 

 the plants healthy. Should mildew appear, sulphur the leaves so 

 affected on its first appearance, and fumigate if aphides are detected. 



Conservatory. — If possible keep only a few extra plants in this 

 house, for the next month, and make use of the time, by exposing the 

 house as much as possible, to get the wood of the permanent inmates 

 ripened off. 



Cucumbers and Melons. — Cucumber beds exhausted by long bearing, 

 and from which fruit is yet required, should have a surfacing of rich 

 compost, and a little additional bottom heat, to swell off the remaining 

 fruit. Late INIelons must likewise be attended to, keeping the Vines 

 thin, that the leaves may not shade each other ; at this season they will 

 require ever}^ ray of light, to enable them to produce well flavoured 

 fruit. Keep up a stead}'- bottom heat, and apply water only when 

 necessary, graduating it in proportion to the decreasing amount of Hght. 

 Keep Cucumbers for \\dnter supply hardy. 



Dahlias. — These are ten days later than usual this season. The 

 spring was against early planting, since which we have had a very 

 ungenial summer, the plants having very generally been covered with 

 Wight. The fine rains since, however, coupled with the warm weather 

 we have lately experienced, has very much improved the plants. They 

 are now becoming very strong, and promise a fine bloom throughout 

 September. If the disbudding and thinning of the shoots have been 

 attended to, as previously directed, there will be but little to do this 

 month but to attend to the bloom. Late plants will requre another 

 thinning. In shading for exhibition avoid the error too oflen com- 

 mitted of close shading the blooms in a young state. Four or five days 

 before the time they are required for exhibition is a sufficient time for 

 many kinds at the commencement of the season, to be extended to 

 eight or ten days as the season advances. Previous to shading, they 

 should be securely tied, to prevent their being damaged by friction against 

 the surrounding foliage. Many kinds take a much less time in 

 blooming than others. This should be well attended to by the grower 

 of flowers for exhibition. Sofl centered DahHas, such as Sir F. 

 Bathurst, take the shortest time in coming to perfection. Those that 

 have a hard green centre when young, take the longest, and should be 

 allowed more time in blooming. 



Flower Garden and Shruhhery. — In addition to the ordinary 

 routine of cleaning, mowing, and dressing the beds, some of the earliest 

 blooming annuals may now want removing, and their place filled up 

 fi-om the reserve stock, of which there should always be kept a sufficient 

 supply in hand for these purposes ; trim in straggling growths, and 

 remove decayed blooms, dead leaves, &c. The propagation of stock 

 for next season's supply should now be proceeded with without delay, 

 and notes should be made of novelties under trial for bedding purposes ; 

 we shall fully report in a future number of the Florist on what has 

 been tried by ourselves, and which will include the major part of the 

 new things, but in the meantime all our readers should do the same. 



