CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR JULY. 



335 



This is supported by its feet 

 level, and the right heiglit, by 

 thrusting the sticks more or less 

 into the ground, or cutting them 

 to a proper length, the feet are 

 pointed to go into the two holes. 

 It then forms a level table with 

 the bud tlirough the centre, and 

 when a flower-pot is over it, with 

 the hole stopped, it keeps out the 

 vermin. If, however, your Dahlias 

 are to ornament the garden, and 

 exhiltiting is a second considera- 

 tion, leave tlie apparatus for cover- 

 ing alone, and trust to fortune for 

 fine blooms. If you have any 

 that are scarce or dear, take off 

 young cuttings, and strike them in 

 strong bottom lieat. 



Evergreens and ornamental trees 

 and shrubs are in full growth. 

 Look well to the growing branches, 

 and see that they are not over- 

 growing themselves and getting 

 the plant out of shape ; check any 

 that are growing out of the way ; 

 stir the earth on the surface of the 

 beds. Water the American plants 

 copiously from the moment they 

 are beginning to grow; they are 

 frequently unable to complete their 

 growth for want of ample refresh- 

 ment. The Rhododendrons, Kal- 

 mias, Andromedas, Arbutuses, 

 Magnolias, and such-like shrubs, 

 must be watered in dry weather 

 the first season they are planted. 



Gladiolns. — Fasten the stems to 

 appropriate supporters, and give 

 them an abundance of water. 



Holly hocks. — Look well to the 

 seedlings, and mark any that are 

 better than we have already got, 

 but thiow away ail secondary 

 things. Nothing that is perennial 

 should be tolerated as novehies 

 unless they have real merit about 

 them. The flowers sliould be very 

 double, the petals very thick, the 

 colour very new, and the spike 



veiy compact, to justify our keep- 

 ing one to propagate; and thej>e 

 novelties of merit are not common. 

 Irises. — The numerous Irises 

 that bloom from early in the 

 spring till late in the summer 

 should be regularly noticed, and 

 especially the seedling English 

 Iris, which now comprises so 

 many very splendid varieties ; and 

 such as are worth cultivation 

 should be taken care of, and their 

 principal features noticed, or they 

 should be numbered, and entries 

 of their peculiarities made in a 

 book. 



Lily. — The large white, orange, 

 and scarlet Lilies in the borders 

 should be supported by stakes. 

 The Japan Lilies in pots should be 

 kept in the shade, for their deli- 

 cate blooms would soon suffer 

 under a hot sun. The half-hardy 

 Lilies of all kinds form beautiful 

 objects in collection ; they require 

 a good deal of water while in pots. 



Ziupinuspoh/p/iylhis and other per- 

 ennial Lupines. — Seedlings should 

 be planted out in nursery-beds, or 

 where they are to stand for bloom, 

 if not done before. In either case 

 they should be well watered, and, if 

 the weather be very hot, shaded 

 also ; but if they be taken up care- 

 fully after watering the seed bed, 

 and planted out after the sun is 

 down a little low, they will suffer 

 nothing. 



Mimiilus seedlings must be kept 

 clear of weeds. If you have any 

 worth propagating you may increase 

 them as fast as Verbenas ; and 

 planted all about the borders they 

 are most showy and dwarf, and 

 from a pinch of seed you will have 

 a hundred different varieties. 



Peony. — Most of these plants 

 have lost their bloom, but it is 

 not well to part them until the 

 end of autumn, when their growth 



