30 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



A SELECTION OF TREES EOE WATER SCENES. 



pEARLY all large-growing hardy trees thrive in the neigh- 

 bourhood of water, although it is not so stated in the 

 books. But for positions commonly too moist for a 

 large selection, willows, birches, alders, and elms are 

 the most useful. Of willows the most ornamental are 

 Salix americana pendula, 8. labylonica, 8. caprea tricolor, and the 

 Kilmarnock willow. All the birches are beautiful, but the most 

 choice are Betula alba pendula, B. papyracea, B. nigra, B. rotundi- 

 folia. Amongst the alders, the best are Alnus glutinosa aurea, A. g. 

 laciniata and A. montana. The common elm need not be named 

 here as it is well-known as one of the grandest of forest trees. But 

 the Camperdown elm, TTlmus campestris camperdown, and the twiggy 

 elm, U. c. viminalis, are less known than they deserve to be, con- 

 sidering their beauty. The common hydrangea attains to magnifi- 

 cent proportions in the neighbourhood of water. 



NOTES FOR AMATEUR GARDENERS. 



make a Hyacinth Bed. — Dig the ground at the 

 end of September, and ridge it up for the atmosphere 

 to sift through it freely. After a week or ten days, 

 take out the soil to the depth of a foot, and lay down a 

 stratum of fresh cow-dung four inches thick, or, 

 wanting that, half rotted stable-dung, the shorter the better. When 

 the dung is laid down, replace the soil, breaking it very fine, and 

 mixing with it about an eighth part of gritty river-sand, or, if that 

 is not obtainable, sea-sand may be used, but coarse yellow pit sand, 

 which is so often used, is the worst thing that can come into the 

 vicinity of a hyacinth. Those who question my advice as to fresh 

 cow-dung — and it may startle some— are advised to try it one season 

 with some bulbs on which they set little value ; they will assuredly 

 treat their choicest stock in the same way the year following, and 

 this will come to be the orthodox way of manuring hyacinths. It 

 is all they require to bloom superbly, and retain their strength for 

 years ; but it should be remembered that the dung should be eight 

 inches from the surface, as it then attracts the roots downwards, 

 gives the plant a stimulus just as it wants it — namely, when nearly 

 flowering — obviates the need of frequent watering, by keeping a cool 

 moist bottom, and affords the strength requisite to the production 

 of strong offsets, and the forming of blooms for the next year. 

 About the end of October is the time for planting. Plant early, 

 and five inches deep. 



To prevent Fogging off. — Cuttings in heat, and seedlings 

 pricked out, are very liable to damp off, if in a confined air, with 

 too much moisture. The best mode of treatment, is, as soon as 

 evidences of damping appear, to give more air, and increase the 

 temperature five degrees, and, at the same time, to sprinkle the 

 surface of the soil with a mixture of silver-sand and powdered peat, 

 crumbled to the fineness of snuff. 



