V THE ^ 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



LIBRARY 

 NEW YO# 

 ■OTANICi 



€A]iDE^ 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN. 



Vol. XX. 



FEBRUARY, 1878. 



Number 230. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



lu many parts where our magazine goes it will 

 "be necessary to bring up the preliminaries for 

 active spring work. 



Many delay pruning shrubbery until after se- 

 vere Aveather passes, so as to see what injury 

 may be done— but with March ail should be 

 finished — taking care not to trim severely such 

 shrubs as flower out of last year's wood, as for 

 instance, the Wiegela — while such as flower from 

 the spring growth, as the Althaea, Mock Orange, 

 •&.C., are benefitted by cutting back vigorously. 



Those which flower from young wood, cut in 

 severely to make new growth vigorous. Tea, 

 China, Bom-bon and N'oisette roses are of this 

 -class. What are called annual flowering roses, 

 as Prairie Queen and so on, require" much of last 

 year's wood to make a good show of flowers- 

 Hence, with these, thin out weak wood, and 

 leave all the stronger. 



To make handsome, shapely specimens of 

 •shrubs, cut them now into the forms you want, 

 and keep them so by pulling out all shoots that 

 grow stronger than the others during the summer 

 season. 



Graft trees or shrubs where changed sorts are 

 ■desirable. Any lady can graft. Cleft grafting is 

 the easiest. Split the stock, cut the scion like a 

 wedge, insert in the split, so that the bark of the 

 stock and scion meets; tie a little bast bark 

 around it, and cover with Trowbridge's grafting 

 wax, and all is done : very simple when it is 

 understood, and not hard to understand. 



If flowers have been growing in the ground for 

 many years, new soil does wonders. Rich ma- 

 nure makes plants grow, but they do not always 

 flower well with vigorous growth. If new soil 

 cannot be had, a wheelbarrow of manure to 

 about ever}^ fifty square feet will be enough. If 

 the garden earth looks grey or yellow, rotten 

 leaves — quite rotten leaves — will improve it. If 

 heavy, add sand. If very sandy, add salt — about 

 half pint to fifty square feet. If very black or 

 rich from previous year's manurings, use a little 

 lime, about a pint, slacked, to fifty square feet. 



If the garden be full of hardy perennial flow- 

 ers, do not dig it, but use a fork, and that not 

 deeply. 



Dig garden ground only when the soil is warm 

 and di-y. Do not be in a hurry, or you may get 

 behind. When a clot of earth will crush to 

 powder as you tread on it, it is time to dig — not 

 before. 



If perennial plants have stood three years in 

 one place, separate the stools, replanting one- 

 third, and give the balance to your neighbor who 

 has none. 



Box edgings lay well now. Make the ground 

 firm and level, plant deep, with tops not more 

 than two inches above ground. 



Roll the grass well before the softness of a 

 tha^f goes away. It makes all smooth and level. 



In planting trees remember our repeated ad- 

 vice to use the pruning knife freely. 



We would again repeat a suggestion we re- 

 cently made in regard to rustic summer houses. 

 They can often be very cheaply made. In our 

 country they should be open on all sides. 



