JULY. 223 



the finest flowers, as soon as the guard petals have dropped, will engage 

 the attention of those that cultivate these beautiful flowers successfully. 

 Should any pots have more layers than there will be room to put down, 

 the smallest shoots should be taken off, and struck in a similar manner 

 to Pinks. It should also be done early, at the same time as Pinks are 

 put down, and a month before it is necessary to commence laying. 



Cinerarias. — Seed should now be sown. The cuttings on the first cut 

 dowai plants will now be long enough to take from the old stools. These 

 should be struck in fine sand, in cool frames facing the north, potting 

 them off singly into very small pots as soon as struck. If mildew 

 appears, sulphur the plants affected without loss of time. 



Conservatory and Show House. — As most greenhouse plants wiU 

 now be out of doors or in frames, their place in these houses may be 

 filled with some kinds of hardy stove plants and Orchids in bloom, 

 Fuchsias, Kalosanths and Neriums. Do not fail making up a supply 

 of Mignonette ; keep the internal borders damp, where vigorous roots 

 exist, and attend to the requisite cleanhness required by both house 

 and plants. 



Dahlias. — Planting will now be completed, and, for a month hence, 

 will be but little trouble. The principal attention required, will be 

 watering over the fohage with soft water during the evening, with a 

 good rose, watering once a week in addition, if the weather is dry. 

 Insects, particularly earwigs, should be exterminated. 



Flower Garden and Shrubbery. — When once the summer plants 

 are on the move, the principal points to attend to will be the tying up 

 or pegging down, as the case may be, watering in dry weather, and 

 great attention to order and neatness in every quarter. Look at last 

 month's Calendar. 



Forcing. — ]\Iake fires in dull damp weather to late Grapes in bloom, 

 and such as are colouring ; give air at every opportunity. As the crops 

 of forced Peaches are gathered, well wash the trees, daily, to destroy the 

 red spider, shutting the house up close. Give air again by night ; a 

 warm well aired atmosphere by day, and a cold one by night, will 

 assist the ripening of the wood. Pines. — ^Air liberally to ripening 

 fruit. Those swelling keep moist at the root, and syringe daily. 

 Pot successions; keep the bottom heat at a steady point, 85° to 90°. Air 

 by night in warm weather will strengthen young stuff; pot suckers for 

 succession. Melons. — Give plenty of fight and air to ripening fruit. 

 See the roots get no check, either by the bottom-heat declining, or 

 through want of water when swelling ; sow for last crop, and earth up 

 succession crops. Cucumbers. — Shade, or the fruit will be bitter. 



Hardy Fruit. — Pears and Plums against walls, where at all vigour- 

 ous, should have about a fourth part of the uppermost growth of young 

 wood removed, cutting back to two or three joints ; towards the end of 

 the month the next part may be removed. Peaches and Apricots 

 will require the summer wood nailed in ; still keep a watch for insects, 

 and attack them with the engine when found. Net Cherries, and 

 stop and nail in the young v/ood of Vines. Strawberries must be 

 layered immediately the runners are formed; either for forcing or 

 forming new plantations. 



