222 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



The advantages these derive from the treatment described, led 

 me first to examine more closely what I deem a matter of much 

 importance. 



Before quitting the subject I may add that the injury inflicted 

 by such treatment is not confined to plants alone — the soil, also, is 

 oftentimes irreparably injured. It has been placed between the 

 sides of the pot and the root-bound ball containing the plant, where, 

 being in a comparatively loose state, it receives the whole of the 

 water that is considered sufficient to moisten the whole mass ; as, 

 where there is so little resistance, it is as effectually repelled by the 

 hard, and much more by a dry ball, as by the sides of the pot. 

 This reduces what has been added to the condition of a puddle, and 

 in this state it stands a good chance of being baked as hard as a 

 brick. At all events, it has been totally unfitted to afford that 

 nourishment to the plant it otherwise would have done. Such 

 consequences may be avoided by applying moisture gradually, but 

 if some time is allowed to elapse there is not so much fear, even 

 from the usual soaking, as the old and new material must, in the 

 interim, have become equally dry — a state, let it be remembered 

 indispensable to the thorough incorporation of such material. 



THE GARDEN GUIDE EOR JULY. 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



ANOTHER lot of chrysanthemums should be struck this month, under 

 hand-glasses, to make dwarf plants for the window and greenhouse in 

 autumn. The pompones are the best for this purpose, and they may 

 be stopped till the middle of August, to keep them dwarf and bushy. 

 Train out dahlias neatly, but do not cut them severely, for the loss of 

 foliage only weakens the plant. Put in cuttings of scarlet geraniums in the full 

 sun, 'either in a sandy border, or in pots half filled with crocks, to be potted singly 

 as soon as rooted. Get strong plants of chrysanthemums into their places in the 

 borders, so that the heavy rains this month may establish them. Layer pinks, 

 carnations, and picotees, and put pipings of the same into a gentle bottom-heat. 

 Another lot of annuals may be sown early in the month, to keep up the gaiety of 

 the borders to the end of the season. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Sow another and last lot of scarlet runners, and French kidney beans, to bear 

 till frost cuts them off; they will be very useful, as the early rows begin to fail. 

 Hoe between all growing crops, and especially between potatoes. Sow succes- 

 sional lots of lettuce, turnip radish, salads, round spinach peas and turnips. 

 Plant the main crop of celery in well-manured trenches. Plant also, from seed 

 beds cabbages of all kinds, broccoli, savoys, borecole, etc., etc., choosing, if pos- 

 sible showery weather, to reduce the labour of watering. Top runners, and keep 

 them well staked, but very tall sticks are not at all necessary, as they are only the 

 more liable to be blown over by gusts of wind. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Runners of strawberries, struck in pots, may now 1>3 cut off, and the plants 

 shifted into a size larger, or turned out into beds. Beds made now have the best 



