THE 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 

 Edited by THOMAS MEEHA.N. 



Vol. XXII. 



OCTOBER, 1880. 



Number 262. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Over and over again for years past we have 

 dwelt on the great necessity for shade to the 

 soil, as the great one thing which the cultivator 

 has to learn from American works and from 

 American experience, that he will never learn 

 from the best European works, because there 

 they want the soil warmer than it is, rather 

 than to be cooled. The coolness afforded by 

 the shade is the great element of value in 

 growing fruit trees in grass, and ornamental 

 trees on lawns, which, as everyone knows, do 

 better on a well-kept lawn than in a piece of 

 ground where the surface is kept clear of all 

 vegetation. It may, perhaps, have been an over- 

 sight that we have not as strongly urged the 

 great value of shade for border flowers as for 

 ornamental trees or fruits. The importance of 

 this shade was very strongly brought to mind in 

 a recent trip to the South. We remained over a 

 day at the Relay House, below Baltimore. Thft 

 hotel belongs to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 

 road Company, and the grounds around it are 

 of the most charming description. Tasteful 

 walks, neatly mown lawns, artistically grouped 

 trees and shrubs, with not a weed to be seen, or 

 anything out of place anywhere. But the great 

 attraction was the profusion of charming flowers 

 there, and in the highest condition of lux- 

 uriance. In Verbenas especially, we never saw 

 anything to equal them. The single flowers 



were about an inch across, and the trusses 



were of enormous size. The chief element in 



i this success was the shading of the earth from 



the hot sun. All over the surface of the earth 



' fresh tan bark was strewn, and gave the cool 



j shade in which the roots luxuriate. This is not 



the season for shading soil ; but it is in time for 



our " Seasonable Hints," that one can so think 



I over and arrange things, as to have the need/ul 



shade for next season. 



While caring for next summer's protection 

 from heat, look out for winter protection from 

 frost. Numberless things will endure frost,— at 

 the same time remember that even in the hardi- 

 est cases frost is no benefit. In protecting, Pine^ 

 Cedar and Arborvitae are often used, but they 

 often injure by the turpentine which comes out 

 when the branches freeze. In like manner be 

 careful with rank, strawy manure, for the salt it 

 contains does injury. Too great a thickness of 

 leaves will breed mildew, besides being unneces- 

 sary. Plants often die from excessive evapora- 

 tion, and bright sunlight in winter helps evapora- 

 tion. Just enough covering to keep oflF wind 

 and sun-light is all that most half-hardy plants 

 need. 



Many kinds of hardy annuals flower much 

 better next spring, when sown at this season of 

 the year. A warm, rich border should be chosen, 

 and the seed put in at once. Early in spring 

 they must be transplanted to the desired position 

 in the flower border. 



