362 GAJIDEN MANAGEMENT. 



freely in cveiy lane and on almost every common in England, Many a poor 

 boy might eai'n an honest penny b)- cutting these in autumn when the wood is 

 toughj and selling them in bundles for nest summer's use. 



1036. Hints on Clii')]}ing Hedfjesand Evergreens. — All evergreens and hedges, 

 especially evergreen hedges, should be cut to a point pyramidically ; for if 

 the top be allowed to overhang the bottom, the lower shoots will invariably 

 die off. With hollies and laurels use the knife in pnining, to avoid the rusty 

 appearance of the v/ithering of half-cut leaves. Privet and thorn may be 

 clipped with the gai'd en -shears. 



1037. Treatment of Bulls in Borders. — Be careful to give a good dressing of 

 well-rotted manure, and as much mulching from the liquid-manure tank as can 

 be spared to all choice bulbs while their leaves are in a growing state ; for it is at 

 this time that Natiu'e is making her greatestefforts, and will require, of course, 

 the greatest support. Those who wish to increase the size of any single bulb, 

 and so insure an extra fine flower for another year, will do well to cut off the 

 flower-stalk as soon as it appears this season ; but by no means to pluck or 

 Injure the leaves. In the case of all bulbs, the leaves should be suffered to die 

 away natm-ally, notwithstanding the beds where they grow are not improved 

 in appearance while the process is going on. In crocuses and narcissus for 

 edgings the dying leaves may be curled roimd and made neat ; but they must 

 on no account be shortened or cut off. Nothing in the spring of the j^ear 

 makes a more effective display in a garden than different sorts of bulbs round 

 the edges of the different beds, now of necessity emjDty of everything else. 

 Yellow, purple, white, and variegated crocuses, may each have its own edg- 

 ing of a bed allotted to it — the little single daffodil, the winter snow-flake, 

 and hoop-petticoat narcissus, may be placed around others ; but if these are 

 to flourish and do well, they must not be disturbed ; they must be well 

 manm-ed when in a growing state, and their leaves not rc:iioved until they 

 have died down. 



1038. LiqvAd-raanure Tanlc. — In anticipation of a hot dry summer, every 

 garden should be jDrovided with a liquid-manure tank, and this may be easily 

 and inexpensively made of an old tar-barrel either standing on the surface or 

 sunk into the ground. The barrel should be filled about one-third with well- 

 rotted cowdung and two-thirds pond or rain water, and occasionally stirred. 

 As the liquid is used up, more water may be placed upon the sediment, which, 

 as it becomes exhausted, can be replenished from the cow-yard and tho 

 btable-drain. 



1039. Tomato, or Love-apple. — An admirable sauce by itself, — it enters 

 largely into a great number of our best and most wholesome sauces. It also may 

 be cooked and brought on to table like other vegetables in several different ways. 

 Moreover, those who have analyzed its properties say that the tomato is singu- 

 larly wholesome, and very useful, especially in cases of bad digestion : still it is 

 not appreciated or cultivated as it ought to be. There is undoubtedly some 

 little difficultv in our climate in fruiting and ripening tomatoes to jDcrfection; 

 but the follui.ing directions, if attended to, will generally be found to sue- 



