226 



THE GARDENERS" MONTHLY 



[August, 



in watering it.is rather an injury than a benefit to 

 pour the water on the surface. This compacts the 

 earth, and it dries out sooner than if not watered. 

 But if a basin be made about the tree, water 

 poured in, and as soon as the water soalts away 

 the soil filled in again lightly— not pressed in- 

 such watering is a great benefit. Again, pruning 

 is a great help to a tree suffering from drouth after 

 transplanting. If, with all the care in watering or 

 otherwise, some branches do not push into growth 

 freely, cut them back at once. 



As soon in the fall as bulbs can be obtained 

 they should be planted— though this will not gen. 

 erally be the case till October, — but it is as well to 

 bear in mind that the earlier they are planted, the 

 finer they will flower. This is particularly the case 

 with the many varieties of Lily, and of the now 

 popular Narcissus ; and it may also be remembered 

 that though Dutch bulbs, and other hardy bulbs 

 will grow well in any good garden soil, low alluvial 

 or rather moist ground, gives th*e best results. 



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 be- 

 comes established in the ground before cold 

 autumn winds begin. The chief difficulty 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 therefore, to make all ready in antici- 

 pation 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 being 

 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. 

 Herbaceous plants may be divided early in the 

 fall, and with great profit set out, if a little care be 

 taken to keep them from being drawn out by frost. 

 Some few will thrive all summer in poor and hard 

 soil; but the majority will only live well in a rich 

 open soil made especially for them. Some die 

 out from being left to mature seeds. Unless we 

 want a lew seeds, flowers should be cut as fast as 



they fade, just as we do with roses. Some hardy 

 perennials are, however, much the best when re- 

 newed occasionally from seeds. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



THE AMARYLLIS IN THE SOUTH. 



BY P. H. O. 



The .A.maryllis is a plant which deserves a 

 greater amount of attention in the Southern 

 States than is usually accorded it. The hybrid, 

 A. Johnsonii, is an old inhabitant of the gardens in 

 the South. Other varieties are not often met with. 

 The reason for this is perhaps, besides, that many 

 are as yet high-priced plants ; that it is not 

 generally known that all of them are hardy, if 

 planted in places not too wet. There may, how- 

 ever, be a few varieties which it will be difficult to 

 bloom in the garden. Chiefly among these I 

 will mention the belladonna varieties and a few 

 others. The above-named kind takes its season 

 of growth from November to May, and is in con- 

 sequence, often cut back in winter by sharp frosts, 

 which prevents the plants from getting strong 

 enough to flower. I believe, however, that it will 

 do well wherever the Orange is cultivated. The 

 other varieties and species succeed splendidly 

 with me. The bulbs ought to be planted in pots 

 to start them in, which, if it is done early in Sep- 

 tember, will sometimes bring them to bloom in 

 six weeks. During winter they must be kept 

 from freezing, and in spring, after blooming, they 

 may be set out in the border, and provided they 

 have a covering of 4 or 5 inches of soil over the 

 bulb, will never be killed, either by frost, drought 

 or hail. Their flowering season is in April here 

 in Texas, but in the summer of 18S4 I have had 

 some in bloom in every month from April to 

 September. I have cultivated many kinds of 

 plants, but with no kind have I e.\perienced so 

 little disappointment as with the Amaryllis ; in fact 

 1 have not lost a single plant. It is subjected ta 

 no disease, no insects attack it, and the possessor 

 of a bulb, or a few, may expect in course of time a 

 moderate increase by side bulbs. 



For the information of those who are unac- 

 quainted with the merits of the different varieties 

 and species I will name a few that have done well 

 with me in the garden. There is, first, that old 

 variety, A. Johnsonii, found in many gardens in 

 the South. Amaryllis pardina is just as free 

 blooming as the preceding ; in fact, my plant 



