135 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



standing in a deep saucer full of water. Under this culture, offsets may bo 

 brought into flower in their third year. 



309. Russian Violets. — To have an abundance of fine flowers in the autumn 

 and early spring, these should be planted in beds under a wall, in a warm 

 aspect. The soil should be light, but very highly manured, with a large 

 quantity of sand about four inches underneath the top soil. The roots should 

 be planted in rows about 3 or 4 inches apart, and well watered. Every year, 

 in April, immediately after they have done flowering, the buds should be 

 broken up, the soil renewed, and fresh plants put in for another year. 



3T0. To (jrotc Hyacinths in Moss. — Fill a china bowl or other vessel with 

 fresh green moss cleared of all impvirities. Let this be well wetted, and 

 lightly pressed down ; in it plant the hyacinth bulbs, covering them lightly 

 with some of the greenest moss. As soon as the hyacinths are planted, place 

 the bowl in a dark cool place for about three weeks afterwards ; keep it near 

 a window, where the bulb will have plenty of light and au*. Be careful that 

 the moss is always kept damp, and that the top moss round the bulbs is 

 changed frequently, in order that the surface may be kept green. The moss 

 best suited to this purpose is that found on banks, or grown upon the roots 

 of old trees. 



311. Deciduous Flowering Shrubs. — Almost all these, which are very orna- 

 mental, are easy of cultivation ; but they require an amount of care and 

 observation, in order that they may be made to produce abundant and hand- 

 some flowers. Lilacs and laburnums may, with advantage, occasionally be 

 thinned out, but they ought never to have their shoots shortened; while 

 Guelder roses, syringas, ribes, spiraeas, and others, will be benefitted by almost 

 any degree of pruning, and can only be made to bear fine handsome flowers 

 by having their spring shoots well cut in about the end of May and beginning 

 of June. 



312. To grow ^j^a?i<5 that have a tendency to stray. — To preserve a neat 

 appearance in the flower-borders, all perennials that have a tendenc)' to run 

 about or stray, — and there are many of which this is the habit, should have 

 their roots confined under the surface with tiles. Old chimney and seakale- 

 pots are very good for this purpose. By this means they may be kept within 

 due bounds, but, of necessity, will require every few years to be transplanted 

 into fresh soil. 



313. Plants that have been frosted should never be touched with the hand, 

 or moved ; even if in pots, it is best to let them remain where they are, and 

 to place a hand-glass or frame over them, to keep them fi*om fm-ther injur j-, 

 shading them at the same time. As soon as the thaw comes, they should be 

 well watered from a fine rose — they can hardly have too much water. After 

 this they must be left for some days before they can be removed with safety. 



314. Strawherry-heds. — The proper time to make new strawberry-beds is the 

 month of August ; but if space of ground cannot then be had, or the time 

 spared, it is an excellent plan to take the runners at that time, and set them 

 only a few inches apart in peat-soil, on a north border, where they will soon 



