:»5^^ 



editor's table. 



yountj bearing troos. Make it n study, next season, to clisl)Uil and summer prune all rank- 

 growing trees, so that you may weaken and check the wood ; pruning such trees now increuKcs 

 their future vigor, since, hy diminishing the branches after the fall of the leaves, the roots 

 gain a greater preponderance. t)n the other hand, it is no less necessary to prevent weak- 

 ness from overbearing. Since the introduction of the dwarfing system by grafting on weak- 

 growing stocks, this error has been frequently committed, and unpr()fitai)le trees have been 

 the result. It has also had a tendency to throw discredit on the system, l)y those who, from 

 want of knowledge and experience, have been unsuccessful in cultivation. There are many 

 kinds, naturally of slender growth ; grafting them on a slow-growing stock induces fruitful- 

 ncss, and represses wood growth to an injurious extent. Such trees should have every 

 blossom picked off that appears in spring, all growth carefully retained during summer, and 

 pruned down in winter. Such treatment will be followed by increased vigor, which may 

 be maintained by taking moderate crops, and continued good cultivation. So much depends 

 upon individual peculiarities in trees, tliat it is difficult to form a definite rule that would 

 servo as a safe guide to the uninitiated. Close observation, extended experience, and, at 

 the least, a slight knowledge of vegetable physiology, are indispensable requisites to a 

 successful cultivator of fruits. 



Ctrapeky. — The vines may be pruned towards the end of the month, and, after being 

 loosened from the rafters, laid down and carefully covered ; the borders may be top-dressed, 

 and covered six inches in depth with manure. The house should be left aired, unless in 

 storms or very severe frosts. 



Figs are too tender to stand the winter uninjured. The best method of preserving them 

 is to peg them down as close as possible to the ground, and cover in and through the stems 

 either with soil or leaves. This fruit is much thought of by many, and should be more exten- 

 sively grown than it is. Attention to covering from severe frosts will insure plenty of fruit. 



Gkeexhouse. — As a general rule, the less fire heat given, the better for the plants. A 

 night temjierature of 40-' will be a safe average ; with sun heat, 70-^ will not be too high. 

 All greenhouse plants will flower under this temperature. Those who follow the old routine 

 practice of shutting up early, and putting on fires in the evening, keeping a high tempera- 

 ture during night, and opening the sashes as soon as the sun shines, need not look for many 

 perfect flowers. If they would look a little into this management, it will be found that they 

 have their highest temperature at the wrong period in the twenty- four hours ; in other words, 

 the house is warmer, or, at least, as warm at night as during day. The necessity of low night 

 temperature has frequently been urged in these calendars. It is one of the most important points 

 in the culture of plants under glass, and is so understood by all really successful gardeners. 



The house will now be gay with primroses, camellias, azaleas, epyphyllums, coronillas, some 

 heaths, daphnes, epacris, acacias, oxalis, &c. Water must be given only when plants are 

 actually in need of it, otherwise they will not remain long in health. 



P'lower Garden. — Manuring and digging the soil should receive immediate attention. 

 Tlie deeper and richer the soil can be made, the better. It is only by liV)eral treatment that 

 a lasting luxuriance of Uowers can bo obtained during the warm and dry weather ; and, if 

 the ground is well drained, or otherwise freed of superlluous water, there will be no danger 

 of over luxuriance or imperfect maturity of the plants. 



In making additions or alterations in the flower-beds or lawns, much taste and judgment 

 will be required. It is no uncommon occurrence to see what would otherwise have been a 

 beautiful lawn, completely divested of all character by the injudicious introduction of cut 

 beds, and misplaced masses of flowering plants. Beds cut out at regular distances over the 

 ground, produce what painters term " want of breadth," and, whether such beds or clumps 

 consist of circles, ovals, or irregular-shaped figures, if placed pretty regularly over the whole, 

 a monotony of appearance will be produced ; but introduce these clumps at certain points, 

 with open glades of lawn between ; at some places form small designs in the arrangement 

 of the figures ; at others only single beds ; and the result will be "an effect." 



" Distinctive effect" is produced by the introduction of peculiarly shaped beds, fitted for 

 certain positions, such as the bends or angles of walks, or connected with the external forms 

 of buildings, so as to exhibit "expression of purpose," a term full of meaning when properly 

 understood. 



A flower garden may be invested with anotlier feature, tliat of " character," either by the 

 planting of the beds, such as a rose garden, or a collection of flowering shrubbery, kc, or 

 by the introduction of statuary where it can be brought in. The arrangement of the walks 

 will also occasionally give " character ;" this, however, is the lowest degree of it, and those 

 who attempt to give character by any peculiar arrangement of walks alone, evince a want 

 of knowledge and appreciation of the beauties of nature. 



