iSyi.] HAEDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 131 



noonday sun or a free circulation of air. To produce spikes such as 

 are seen at some of our horticultural shows, requires a rich soil. To 

 secure this, let the ground be trenched in autumn, adding, as the work 

 proceeds, a liberal supply of good manure. When the trenching is 

 complete, give the surface a dressing 2 or 3 inches thick of the best 

 manure procurable ; the winter rains will wash the best parts of it 

 into the soil, and when planting-time comes, a slight forking is all 

 that is required to make the bed in readiness to receive the plants. 

 The plants should not be put out until all danger from severe frost is 

 past, say the end of March or beginning of April. Let the plants 

 stand 3 feet apart in the lines, and 5 feet from line to line. AVhen 

 finished planting, if the ground is moderately dry (which it should be, 

 as it is a bad plan to plant when the soil is over-wet), make the sur- 

 face rather firm by giving the whole a gentle treading with the feet. 

 Place at once over each plant some Spruce or other evergreen branches, 

 as a protection against frost and cutting winds ; as if they get frozen 

 to any extent, the spikes are i^ever so fine. As soon as all danger from 

 frost is past, remove the protection, examine each plant, and see that 

 all are firm in the soil. Let only one stem rise from a plant, and nip 

 out all laterals as they appear. JSTever allow the plants to suffer for 

 want of water ; and as soon as flov/er-buds are formed, mulch the beds 

 wdth rotten manure. I prefer this to giving manure-water, as the latter, 

 unless applied with judgment, has a tendency to make the plants grow 

 by fits and starts, thereby causing irregularity in the build of the 

 spikes, a fault which neither length of spike. nor- size of blooms wdll 

 compensate for. In most instances two flower-buds will start from 

 the axil of each leaf ; nip out the smaller of the two j and in any case 

 of crowding, thin to the requisite number. During the three weeks 

 preceding the show^, the spikes must be protected from rain and strong 

 sun. This in the case of the Hollyhock is not so readily accomplished, 

 but it is necessary to the production of clean spikes ; and the culti- 

 vator must not neglect it, as by doing so he will destroy his chance of 

 attaining the end in view. J. H. 



NOTES ON HABDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



{Continued from page 42.) 



Lilium — Lily. — This is a grand and much-admired genus of bulbous plants. 

 They are beautiful mixed-border subjects, the taller species being fine back- 

 ground plants, and the dwarfer ones in fitting positions are equally telling and 

 desirable in mixed arrangements. The strong growers are also beautiful objects 

 when planted amongst dwarf shrubs, in such a way as that their inflorescence may 



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