204 



The llorUcaUurisl and Journal 



Flower G-arden for July. 



IF any plants are not very strong and well 

 established, there will probably be some 

 blanks to fill up, which should be done at 

 once from a few plants reserved for that 

 purpose ; and bedding plants generally should 

 have good attention, to get the beds covered 

 as soon as possible. This is best insured by 

 stirring the soil every few days with the hoe ; 

 this not only prevents the growth of weeds, 

 but prevents the soil from drying out so fast. 

 Mulching with short grass and half decayed 

 manure is also used for that purpose, and if 

 the weather is very dry, one good soaking of 

 water does more good than a daily watering 

 without mulching. 



Liirge Hnntcns (ind Drdccenas rex^uire 

 a thorough watering at least thi-ee times each 

 week, for if allowed to get very dry the leaves 

 turn yellow and fall off. Keep grass lawns 

 frequently mowed, and leave the short grass 

 scattered on the turf ; it prevents the grass 

 being burnt up and killed by the hot sun. 

 Where there is command of water, give the 

 turf frequent good waterings ; it is nearly im- 

 possible to keep a respectable lawn without 

 doing so ; in fact, on few soils can a passable 

 turf be kept without continual watering, for 

 it is only in the moist, dull climate of Eng- 

 land that really first-rate carpet-like turf can 

 be seen, and we must be content with as 

 near approach to it as care and attention will 

 give, and console ourselves with the thought 

 that although we cannot generally expect to 

 rival the English turf, the autumn tints of 

 the foliage is never seen in the same perfec- 

 tion on the other side of the Atlantic. 



Fresh planted shrubs and trees will pro- 

 bably be better for a good watering occasion- 

 ally the first season, especially llhododcndrons, 

 which often become so dry before getting 

 hold of the fresh soil that they cannot make 

 fi-esh roots, and die outright, while the sur- 

 rounding soil is moderately moist. 



Use the hoe fre((uently uniong shrulis and 



herbaceous borders, for usually at this season 

 the weeds progress faster than the plants ; 

 keep edgings and hedges cut into shape ; this 

 is best done, when possible, just previous to a 

 shower ; there is then less risk of its looking 

 brown and burnt with the sun. 



We find the variegated Japan honeysuckle 

 one of the most useful plants for a dwarf 

 edging to beds and walks, and its beautiful 

 variegated foliage is very pleasing ; it is per- 

 fectly hardy, but, of course, is not evergreen, 

 although it commences to grow early in the 

 spring. We plant small plants of this species 

 six inches from each other in the row, and 

 peg down a few shoots at first ; it will root 

 into the ground at every joint and take care 

 of itself, except during the summer it requires 

 frequent cutting in to prevent it rambling too 

 far, for it is naturally a climber and grows 

 very fast, but is easily kept into an edging 

 of a few inches wide and high. During its free 

 growing season we usually thin it once in two 

 weeks, and before it commences to grow in 

 the spring cut it down quite close to the 

 ground, by doing which it is more easy to 

 keep within bounds during the summer. 



EcJtevaria, seciinda, and secunda glauca 

 make a capital dwarf edging for a walk 

 during summer, and if plants of one size are 

 used, it remains quite uniform " without any 

 attention during the summer, and looks quite 

 lively when in fiower. 



Geraninms. 



BY JOHN QUILL. 



rpHOSE who have a collection of gold, 

 -L silver and bronze leaved geraniums, and 

 at planting mix them indiscriminately with 

 other bedding plants in the ridiculous form of 

 stripes, centers, edges, etc., know not the 

 excellent appearance that a bed of these 

 would present when massed together in the 

 flower garden. A bed containing several 

 varieties of the newest and most approved 

 Zonales and Pelargoniums on the grounds 

 that I have charge of, elicits admiration from 

 those that are well posted on horticulture ; 

 various shades of foliage are represented, such 

 as gold, silver, bronze, pure green, and 



