THE 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHA.N. 



Vol. XXI. 



AUGUST, 1879. 



Number 248. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground, 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



The many beautiful effects that may be pro- 

 duced by Coleus and other leaf plants, are not 

 to be overlooked ; but the pleasure which hardy 

 flowering plants give is more fully recognized 

 with each succeeding j'^ear, and our readers value 

 lists of such things as will do in the full sun, as 

 well as of those which will flower or in otherways 

 look ornamental under the shade of trees, where 

 above all other places the American loves to 

 have his Summer garden. A large number of 

 beautiful plants do not like the hot sun ; at least 

 they do not mind the hot sun so much on their 

 leaves and flowers, but they do not like the 

 parched and sun burnt earth. If only the soil 

 be shaded with moss or branches, many will do, 

 that otherwise would not grow at all. But there 

 are some kinds which do not care how hot the 

 sun shines on the ground. They thrive for all, 

 and we write this with a vivid remembrance of 

 some we have seen the past hot July. Among 

 these Delphinium formosum and Spirtea lobata 

 were particularly handsome. All kinds of Cen- 

 taurea thrive ; and the Lilies, if only the soil is 

 cool enough, they will be among the loveliest of 

 Summer-blooming plants. It is best to save a 

 few seeds of the most desirable of hardy plants. 

 The frequent dividing of the main roots is not 

 favorable to good bloom. Lilies should be reset 



as soon as they have done blooming, and the 

 leaves have begun to fade, and this is true of all 

 hardy Summer-flowering bulbs. 



If the trees can be had near home, and not 

 have to be brought from a distance to dry the 

 roots, the latter end of August is one of the best 

 seasons of the year to transplant evergreens. 

 The young growth of the past season has got 

 pretty well hardened, so as to permit of but 

 very little evaporation, and the earth being 

 warm, new roots push with great rapidity, and 

 the tree becomes established in the ground be- 

 fore cold Autumn winds begin. The chief diffi- 

 culty is that the soil is usually very dry, which 

 prevents much speed with the operation ; and 

 the weather being usually very warm, the trees 

 have to be set again in the ground almost as fast 

 as they are taken up ; so that it is not safe to 

 bring them from a distance. It is as well there- 

 fore, 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, suffi- 

 cient 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 it soaking in. After being 

 well watered, the loose soil should be drawn in 

 lightly over the watered soil which will then aid 



