THE 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN. 



Vol. XIX. 



JUNE, 1877. 



Number 222. 



f^vp 



XOWER KARDEN AND If LEASURE ^ROUND. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Since our first volume, wherein we described 

 how to prune evergreens, it has become a sort 

 of mania, and, where the principles are not well 

 understood, we notice the tree is frequently 

 spoiled. It should be remembered that when 

 the sides of an evergreen is pruned to make it 

 bushy, the leading shoot has to be shortened at 

 the same time. Shorten this leader to within a 

 foot of where the shoot pushes, which you would 

 adopt as the new leader — this will serve as a 

 stake to tie the new leader to, which should be 

 drawn as closely to this '' stake," at its junction 

 with it as possible, so as to leave as little of a 

 " link " in the mam trunk as we can ; next year 

 this " stake " can be cut out altogether. It is 

 always of more benefit to the compact beauty of 

 an evergreen to cut out the leader, than to 

 shorten in the side shoots ; and in many cases, 

 it is all that is required by the new art. No 

 trees, evergreens especially, should have grass 

 permitted to grow around the roots for a j'ear or 

 so after planting. Grass absorbs moisture, and 

 the tree will probably want all about it for itself. 

 When well established the luxuriant growth 

 shades the ground, and grass cannot grow then 

 very strong, and does little injury. 



Evergreen hedges will require attention as 

 they grow. Where the height desired has been 

 attained, the top and strong growth should be cut 

 back while they are still watery. The side shoots 

 need not be touched till past midsummer. All 

 wise people now employ the conical shape for 



hedges. In cutting back the top growth at this 

 season, the conical form can still be preserved. 



The care of the lawn is always a leading ob- 

 ject in a well-kept American garden. Mowing 

 machines are often set too low. It is an injury 

 to cut grass too close. Better cut often and leave 

 the grass on the plants near half an inch high. 



Next to the lawn, the walks are the most 

 striking feature of a well-kept garden. Weeds 

 should be taken in time, and the labor of keep- 

 ing them down will be very slight. The edges 

 or " verges " should be trimmed at every mowing 

 of the grass-bordering; for which purpose a 

 common sheep-shears, or grass-edging shears, 

 made specially for the purpose and sold at most 

 horticultural stores, should be kept on hand. 

 Washing by heavy rains should be guarded 

 against; or when so injured, speedily repaired. 



After the walks and lawns, the flower-beds 

 should be a constant source of attention. If the 

 plants appear to suffer by drouth, there is no 

 better remedy than to place a fork around the 

 plant and loosen up the soil deepJy, without dis- 

 turbing the plant more than can be avoided. 

 After being thus loosened, it will not dry out 

 near as much as before. Above all, keep the 

 surface continually broken by hoeing and raking 

 fine. Nothing is so sure a preventive of soil 

 drying as a loose, porous texture. 



Another plan with trailing plants, such as ver- 

 benas and those usually employed in masses, is 

 to peg them over the surface as fast as they 

 grow. They thus shade the soil, and so far check 

 evaporation. The best pegs for this purpose 



