356 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



cold frosty nights, and shading from the sun's heat. The maximum average 

 of heat in 'May for the ten years ending in 1853 was 65*36°, the minimum 

 41 'TS", and the average mean 53*54°. 



§ 2. — Flo web-Garden and Shrubbery. 



loio. The Flotcer- Garden. — A flower-garden is only interesting as a whole 

 when the beds are distinctly seen ; any gradations, therefore, produced by mere 

 colouring and shading in one bed by plants closely approaching each other in 

 the colour of the flowers, and perhaps height too, is lost, because the eye gets 

 entangled by one colour after the other, and the whole effect is a series of 

 impressions so slight as to be scarcely felt — the shades of difference are too 

 minute for effect. If you would leave a pleasing and lasting impression, there- 

 fore, plant your flower-beds with decided colours, and leave to Nature the task 

 of shading them off". 



101 1. When autumn-planting has not been effected, Portugal laurels, ever- 

 green oaks, red cedars, arbor- vitaj, &c. &e., and hollies, have been found to take 

 root more freely now than when planted earher in the spring. Continue to prick 

 off" annuals raised in frames into small pots, and harden such as are established 

 preparatory to their turning out into the open ground. Those which have 

 been potted some time should have another shift, rather than allow them to 

 become stunted in their pots. Another sowing of annuals may now be made 

 either in an open border for transplanting, or on small squares of turf, grassy 

 side downwards. When the plants are up, the pieces of turf with the plants 

 may be removed to their final quarters. As the planting season approaches, 

 have everj'thing ready by hardening the plants, that they may experience 

 no check by removal, and turning over and well working the soil to get it into 

 a proper state for planting. 



1012. Lai-ge plants of some genera, as phloxes, asters, &c., generally throw 

 up too many flowering-shoots : where such is the case, thin them out at once, so 

 as to obtain not only fine heads of bloom but increased strength to the 

 remaining shoots, to enable them to need less assistance from stakes. Holly- 

 hocks for late blooming may still be planted, as it is better, where they are 

 grown extensively, to plant at two or three times to insure a succession of 

 bloom. As the soil and weather will now be in a fit state' to commence 

 bedding out, a start should be made with the half-hardy plants first ; as 

 antirrhinums, pcntstemons, &c., which may be followed by calceolarias and 

 verbenas ; reserving heliotropes, and the more tender kinds of geraniums, for 

 the latest planting. One of the principal points in pleasm-e-ground scenery is 

 the beauty of the turf, which should be kept at all times well cut, but more 

 particularly when, by cutting the grass as low as possible, the foundation 

 of a close -bottomed turf will be laid for the season. On poor sandy or 

 rocky soil, the verdure must be maintained by occasional waterings with liquid 

 manures, or dressings with guano, leaf-mould, or decayed dung. 



