226 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[August, 



for parties or pic-nics — entirely i" the shade, yet 

 with an abund;ince of room and air all round. 



Of good weeping trees adopted to capacious 

 shade, there is now the weeping yellow elm, 

 weeping beech, weeping birch, weeping poplar, 

 as well as the ash and willow already noted. 



Many other kinds of weeping trees are rather 

 ornaments than extensive givers of grateful 

 shade. Of vines and such like plants for shady 

 arbors we have already spoken, and, although 

 they necessitate an expense which the mere 

 weeping tree does not entail, they have many 

 amply compensating charms. The early spring 

 fragrance of the Akebia, or later of the various 

 kinds of honpysuckles, is worth all it costs. 



It may be well to repeat what we have said in 

 substance before, that the latter end of August 

 is one of the best seasons of the year to trans- 

 plant evergreens. The young growth of the 

 past season has got pretty well hardened, so as 

 to permit ot but very little evaporation, — and 

 the earth being warm, new roots push with 

 great rapidity, and the tree becomes established 

 in the ground before cool autumn winds begin. 

 The chief difficulty is that the soil is usually very 

 dry, which prevents much speed with the opera- 

 tion ; and the weather being usually very warm, 

 the trees have to be set again in the ground 

 almost as ftisD as they are taken up ; so that it is 

 not safe to bring them from a distance. It is as 

 well, therefore, to make all ready in anticipation 

 of a rain, when no time may be lost in having 

 the work pushed through. Should a spell of 

 dry weather ensue, — which in September and 

 October is very likely, — one good watering should 

 be given, sufficient to soak well through the soil 

 and well about the roots. A basin should be 

 made to keep the water from running away from 

 the spot, and to assist its soaking in. After be- 

 ing well watered, the loose soil should be drawn 

 in lightly over the watered soil, which will then 

 aid in preventing the water from drying out 

 soon again. 



Towards the end of the month, and in Sep- 

 tember, evergreen hedges should receive their 

 last pruning till the next summer. Last spring, 

 and in the summer, when a strong growth re- 

 quired it, the hedge has been severely pruned 

 towards the apex of the cone-like form in which 

 it has been trained, and the base has been suf- 

 fered to grow any way it pleases. Now that, in 

 turn, has come under the shears, so far as to get 

 it into regular shape and form. It will not be 

 forgotten that, to be very successful with ever- 



green hedges, they ought to have a growtk at 

 the base of at least four feet in diameter. 



Herbaceous plants often die or become weak 

 after a profuse summer flowering. This is 

 especially the case with choice perennial Lark- 

 spurs, Pentstemons, and other things. Seeds of 

 these should always be saved as a precaution 

 against loss. Where plants are able to take care 

 of themselves no seeds will be needed. In that 

 case cut off the flowers as soon as they fade. It 

 helps to strengthen the roots very much. Indeed 

 these which sometimes die, do so chiefly because 

 of having to perfect seed. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



The Public Squares of Philadelphia. — We 

 pointed out last year the disgraceful condition of 

 these little gardens in the great city, and the city 

 daily papers have since taken up the subject with 

 a will. But it seems to us there is nothing 

 gained by abuse of the city officials. There is no 

 doubt but more might be done with the money 

 if a better class of men were employed to do the 

 work; but it is clear that under the present 

 system of electing the management of these 

 places, it will be the millennium before we shall 

 get better men. But the naked fact is, that with 

 the meagre appropriations made, the very beat 

 men could not keep these public places in a 

 good condition. In the meantime the disgrace- 

 ful dirtiness of these squares must often make 

 the mayor blush whenever he sees how much 

 better those of other cities are. 



Roses in Europe. — The leading rose growers 

 announce that on account of the awful destruc- 

 tive drought last winter, prices have been 

 advanced. 



Prunixg of Osage Hedges. — Mr. James Hogg 

 says in the Rural New Yorker: " The season after 

 they are planted each plant will throw up several 

 shoots; these are to be shortened back the en- 

 suing spring to within six inches of the ground; 

 and then for the ensuing five or six years the 

 gi'owth of each year is to be shortened back to 

 twelve inches, making the hedge five and a half 

 or six and a half feet high at the end of the term." 

 We should be glad to have the experience of our 

 readers as to the best way to treat hedges. The 

 subject is a very important one. 



