194 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[July, 



it time to soak gradually away, and when the 

 surface has dried a little, draw in loosely the soil 

 over it, and it will do without water for some 

 weeks. This applies to all plants wanting water 

 through the season. If water is merely poured 

 on the surface, it is made more compact by the 

 weight of water, and the harder the soil becomes, 

 the easier it dries ; and the result is, the more 

 water you give the more is wanted. 



It must, however, be borne in mind that much 

 injury often results to the newly planted trees 

 from summer watering. The cold water cools 

 the ground, and we need some warmth in the 

 soil to encourage new roots to push. Still, trees 

 must have some water when the ground is dry, 

 but it must be used with caution. 



Amateurs may have some rare or choice 

 shrub they may desire to increase. They may 

 now be propagated by layers. This is done by 

 taking a strong and vigorous shoot of the present 

 season's growth, slitting the shoot a few inches . 

 from its base, and burying it a few inches under 

 the soil, or into a pot of soil provided for the 

 purpose. The young growing point of the shoot 

 should be taken out in the operation. By the ; 

 English mode of making the slit, a great num- i 

 ber of the shoots will be broken and spoiled. \ 

 Anything can be propagated by layers ; and it is 

 an excellent mode of raising rare things that can 

 be, but with difficulty, increased by dL.ny other. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



A HANDSOME TOWN. 



We have had occasion to note that the care of 

 streets and sidewalks should properly be regarded 

 as a work for horticultural societies or horticul- 

 turists to take in hand. What can be done 

 when the right spirit prevails is shown by the 

 following extract which we make from the 

 annual message of Henry Probasco, Esq., mayor 

 of Clifton, a suburb of Cincinnati : 



"The public avenues are maintained in excel- 

 lent condition, notwithstanding a steadily in- 

 creasing travel, incident to the increasing popu- 

 lation and pleasure travel from the city, which 

 throngs them daily in fine weather throughout 

 the year. Fifteen years ago they were without 

 foundations, covered about fifteen feet wide witli 

 rolling gravel, never rolled, without crossings or 

 • footwalks, and to leave the centre of the track 

 was to stick in the mud. Since then, without 

 the aid of Commissioners to smile on contrac 

 tors, and contractors to demoralize laborers, 

 without creating debt, the grades have been im- 



proved, roads widened, with their foundations 

 substantially macadamized, and crossings made 

 wherever needed. Along the sides of the road 

 drains, gutters, and culverts have been well con- 

 structed, with handsome footwalks. The widen- 

 ing and maintenance of all these costs less than 

 one thousand dollars per mile annually, which 

 preserves them in a condition which is superior 

 to those of any other corporation in the State. 



" Bryant avenue, 905 feet in length, has been 

 made and completed the past year, the portion 

 widened at the expense of the village costing 

 about $1,300, the amount having been included 

 in the road expenditures. 



"The footwalks have been increased by adding 

 a new one on the Carthage road, on the Clifton 

 side, from Forest avenue north to Mitchell 

 avenue, a distance of 4,280 feet, made at the 

 public expense, adding materially to the comfort 

 of property owners there, as well as to the im- 

 mense foot travel from the city to and from 

 St. Bernai-d. 



"The footwalks are being steadily planted and 

 replenished with handsome shade trees of many 

 varieties, of which there are 1,000 in the village 

 nvirsery, given by one of the citizens for public 

 uses. These are growing in size and beauty, and 

 will soon be available at any moment when 

 required. 



"The Clerk's annual report, duly attested on 

 the 15th of March, and published according to 

 law, shows a balance in the treasury of $7,279.99. 

 No debts are contracted for any purpose what- 

 ever, nor has the last levy for taxation exceeded 

 the average for the past seven years more than 

 one mill on the dollar. 



"All the principal avenues are lighted with 

 city gas, supplied for private and public use on 

 terms as favorable as those given to the city of 

 Cincinnati. The number of gas lamps on the 

 avenue is 143, and gasoline 48. 



" In 1877 the Trustees of Resor Academy 

 made valuable improvements to their building, 

 which is mainly appropriated for the use of the 

 public school, town hall, Council Chamber, jail, 

 etc. It is used to its fullest capacity at present. 

 The Trustees having been applied to for addi- 

 tional rooms for public school purposes, they have 

 had consultations with the Council and Board of 

 Education, caused plans to be prepared for an 

 addition to the south wing of the present build- 

 ing, which will give ample accommodations for 

 many years at a cost of about $5,000. These im- 

 provements, which are now very inuch needed, 

 will be completed during the present year should 

 the several parties take immediate action. 



"The Town Hall is available at all times for 

 public uses to the citizens at the cost of heating, 

 lighting, and service, on application to the 

 Mayor, who issues permits in accordance with 

 the regulations adopted by Council. 



" During the past year several villas and cot- 

 tages had been built, improved, or in course of 

 construction, adding beauty to the village, such 

 as those of George A. McAlpin, John Morrison, 

 Theo. Cook, John C Sherlock, Charles H. Law. 

 Nathan E Jordan, Alex. McDonald, and others, 



