248 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



from seed-beds during showery weather. Earth up celery, take up all ripe crops of 

 potatoes. About the 12th, sow cauliflower and cabbaf^e. 



Fndt Garden. — Lose no time in securing rooted runners of strawberries, and 

 get them planted in well-prepared ground at the very first sliower that happens. 

 By doing this early and well, there will be secured a good crop of fruit on the 

 young plants next season. As for all other fruits, there is little to do but to gather 

 and eat them, or store them as they ripun. 



Flower Garden,. — The majority of people will prefer now to rest and be 

 thankful, and happily there is not much need of hard work, for the grass makes 

 little growth, and mowing is therefore not a frequent task, and beds and borders 

 only need a little watching, to keep them gay. One of the most hnportant items of 

 this month's business is to mark down in the garden-book the names of all the 

 bedders of which stock is requhcd for next year, and to begin propagating, if a 

 beginning has not been already made. As for geraniums, they may be increased 

 ad infinitum by putting the cuttings in an open border ; if rather sandy, it is an 

 advantage. In fact, tbe very best bed for propagatmg is one consisting chiefly of 

 sandy road-drift. The cuttings may be three or four inches apart, and, if put in on 

 the 1st of August, will be good plants for potting on the 1st of October. But the 

 1st of July is a better date to begin than the 1st of August. Calceolarias cannot 

 be propagated till next month, fur the plants are not growing at the base now. 

 Eoses also may be multiplied, by putting short cuttings, selected from the shoots of 

 this season, in a bed of sandy soil, in a frame, keeping them shaded and sprinkled. 

 Nine-tenths will root with ordinaiy care, and ninety-nine hundredths where the 

 cultivator is quite aufait at propagating. Budding on brier and manetti stocks 

 may be carried on as last month. It is a good time to buy in new roses, and plant 

 them, as they will be well established before winter, if taken care of, as to shading 

 and watering, for three weeks after planting. Pinks and carnations ought to be 

 well rooted now, and if so, they may be separated fjom the old plants, and be 

 planted out where they are to remain. Give chrysanthemums plenty of water. 



Greenhouse and Stove. — Many of the early-struck geraniums will now be 

 flowering freely. Pelargoniums will want a shift to larger pots, and old plants that 

 have begun to grow freely, after having been cut down, may be put into small pots, 

 in fresh soil ; but it is well to shift a few of the early flowering kinds, such as 

 Gauntlet, Brilliant, and Dr. Andre, into larger pots, without disturbing the roots, as 

 this plan insures an early bloom in winter. Cinerarias and primulas should be 

 growing freely. Cuttings of evergreen shrubs may be put in anywhere in the 

 shade, but better in frames, as here they can be shaded, and sprinkled, and have 

 protection during winter. Stove plants going to rest to be kept rather dry, but all 

 growing subjects to have plenty of water. Use fire-heat only as necessity compels — 

 the less of it the better. 



NEWS OF THE MONTH. 



Crystal Palace Eose Show, June 23rd. — The weather had a great influence 

 on this show, roses having a very wretched appearance until June set in. The mild 

 winter was followed by a cold spring, and, at the time when roses wanted pruning, 

 east winds and sharp frosts prevailed. But after the heavy rains of June they made 

 wonderful progress, but were later than ordinary, in some districts a fortnight ; in 

 others a week or ten days. Had the show been lield about the 30th, instead of the 

 23rd, it would certainly have been more satisfactory ; but dates must be fixed long 

 before any one can say what sort of season it is likely to be. As to their quality, 

 generally speaking, it was certainly below the average. They were wanting in 

 size, in substance, in finish, and sometimes in colour, and there was not one stand 

 in the whole show in whicli one could not find faulty flowers. Many of the best 

 varieties were to be seen showing eyes or curled petals, or if not specificallj' defective, 

 were wanting in that completeness and grandeur which we usually designate by the 

 term " carriage," and so the enjoyments proper to the insjiection of some thousands 

 of cut roses, were dashed with regrets that a large proportion of them failed to 

 sustain the characters given them in books, and the fame inherent in their genea- 



