15G 



THE GAEDEN GUIDE EOE JULY. 



"Work of the Season. — The long 

 drought during April, May, and part of 

 June, has bad a bad elfect on roses, which 

 in many places look poor, and all bedding- 

 plants that were put out early now look 

 worse than tliose that were put out late. 

 We sliall probably have plenty of rain this 

 month, indeed July is a wet month usually. 

 But as it is also a hot month, a few re- 

 marks on watering may be useful. This 

 matter of watering is one much less under- 

 stood than it should be ; but the more it is 

 understood the lighter becomes the labour. 

 As a rule water should never be given, 

 until the further withholding of it would 

 be detrimental to the plants. Habitual 

 watering does, in the majority of cases, 

 more harm than good. Plants left to 

 battle with drought, send their roots down 

 deep in search of moisture, and when rain 

 does come, they benefit more by it than 

 those that have regular waterings all 

 along. If the ground is dug deeply, and 

 kept in good heart, plants that have once 

 got established will bear drought for 

 almost any length of time ; but things 

 lately planted, and that have not had time 

 to "get hold," must be kept supplied, or 

 their beauty may vanish for half the 

 season. Succulent vegetables, too, which 

 ought to be kept growing quick, must have 

 abundance ; and, of course, plants in pots 

 must, of necessity, have sufficient. There 

 are two important points to be attended to 

 in giving water — one is to expose the water 

 to the sun before using it, to render it soft 

 and warm ; and the other is to give a 

 thorough soaking at once, sufficient to 

 keep the ground moist for a week. Sup- 

 posing the supply to ba limited, but regular, 

 the best way of economizing both water 

 and time, is to take the garden, piece by 

 piece, watering each piece thoroughly 

 every evening, and then beginning again 

 as at first. Surface sprinklings bring the 

 roots to the surface in search of the 

 moisture, which, when they 'reach it, is 

 insufficient to nourish them ; but, on the 

 contrai-y, causes exhaustion, by inducing 

 the growth of fibres within reach of the 

 burning rays of the sun. Plants in pots, 

 in windows, and on gravel paths, are very 

 much tried by the beating action of the 

 sun, and to keep their roots cool, it is ad- 

 visable to drop the pots into larger ones, 

 and fill between the two with muss. 

 Tliis is the proper way to use ornamental 

 pots, and the dressing of moss may be 

 made to hide the inside pot, which con- 



tains the plant by arranging it neatly over 

 the surface of the soil. 



Kitchen Garden. — Where early crops 

 are coming off, clear the ground and dig it 

 over at once ; it is a folly to wait for the 

 last handful of peas or beans. As soon as 

 the rows cease to be profitable, destroy 

 them, and clear the ground. Dig deep, 

 that the heavy rains now to be expected 

 may sink deep, and j)lant out Brussels 

 sprouts, green coUards, kail, savoys, cab- 

 bages, broccolis, etc. If the plants are 

 crowded in the seed-bed, it is best to get 

 them out at once. Have all ready, and in 

 the evening put out as many rows as 

 possible, and give a little water to every 

 plant. Next morning lay a few boughs or 

 mats over them, to shade off' the sun, and 

 the next evening get out more, till the 

 planting is finished. This is better than 

 waiting for rain, which may be so heavy 

 as to render the ground unfit to be troddea 

 on, and, if succeeded immediately by heat, 

 the plants will flag as much as if put out 

 in dry weather, whereas, being already in 

 the ground, the smallest shower benefits 

 them. Seed-beds for winter-spinach should 

 now be made up and well manured, and 

 the seed got in without delay. In gather- 

 ing French and runner-beans take all or 

 none. If seed [is desired leave a row un- 

 touched. Never take green pods and seeds 

 from the same plants. Take up onions, 

 shalots, and garlic, as they ripen, and store 

 for winter. Give asparagus-beds plenty 

 of liquid manure, and use the grass mow- 

 ings from the lawn as mulchings, to pre- 

 vent the soil from cracking. Earth up 

 celery for early use, but the rows that are 

 not forward must be kept open and well 

 watered, as the plants grow very slowly 

 after being earthed up, the object of the 

 earthing being to blanch it only. Also 

 jjlant out the main crop of celery as soon 

 as tlie ground can be got ready. Cut down 

 artichokes. Hoe between all growing crops, 

 and especially between potatoes. Top 

 runners, and keep them well staked, but 

 very tall sticks are not at all necessary, as 

 they are only the more liable to be blown 

 over by gusts of wind. Sow the last 

 succession of runners and French beans ; 

 also lettuce, endive, Statholder and Mit- 

 chell's cauliflower, radish, small salads, 

 spinach, peas, and turnips. Land lying 

 high and dry may be plantedwith liotatoes 

 now, for use early next spring. 



Flower Garden. — Budding is the most 

 important operation this month. After 



