306 THE GARDENER. [July 



It is well to remark that great injury from bad potting and injudicious 

 watering is done to Pelargoniums. The roots should be wholly encased 

 by the new soil, and no space left between them and the sides of the 

 pots ; extra drainage will help those inexperienced in watering j rain- 

 water, or from a pond, is most suitable, and enough given when required 

 to wet the whole ball of soil. Cinerarias, Primulas, Balsams, and other 

 quick-growing plants, must not be allowed to become pot-bound, other- 

 wise premature flowering will be the result. Sprinkle over head plants 

 in windows, giving them plenty at their roots. If boxes are well filled 

 with roots, a little of Standen's manure may be sprinkled over their 

 surface, according to the directions on the package. This manure is 

 less offensive than some others employed. When manure of an 

 offensive kind is given, it should be covered with clean soil, but not 

 battered down, which keeps out air. Carnations and Picotees should 

 now be layered ; all budding of Ptoses should be finished as early as 

 possible. Propagate Pinks from side-shoots, taking them off at the 

 joints, stripping off the lower leaves, and placing them neatly in sandy 

 soil in a shady position, covering them over w 7 ith hand - lights, 

 watering, and giving air freely as soon as growth commences. Chry- 

 santhemums will now require liberal treatment w r ith manure-water, and 

 if the specimens are large, staking to keep them open at the heart 

 may be done as soon as convenient. The tops of some of them may 

 be layered into small pots, and plants can be had of a small size for 

 many purposes. Lawns should now be kept clear of seeding weeds; if 

 they cannot be got clean out by the roots, a little salt placed over the 

 broken part will in most cases kill them. Roll walks often, to keep 

 them smooth and hard. M. T. 



THE POT -CULTURE OF INTERMEDIATE STOCKS. 



Too much cannot be said in praise of this most useful section of the 

 Stock family. Grown ever so carelessly, they yield a good supply of 

 flowers ; but when grown in pots and carefully tended, they produce in 

 the spring and early summer masses of blossoms, almost unequalled by 

 any other plant at the same time. No gardener who has a house to 

 be kept gay should be without them, nor should the amateur cultivator 

 who has a frame and a spot of ground at command. 



Seed should be sown in June, using boxes filled with a light rich 

 soil, distributing the seeds equally but thinly over the surface, and cov- 

 ering to the depth of eighth of an inch, and watered through a fine rose. 

 The boxes should be placed on a somewhat shady border, and be cov- 



