MONTHLY CALENDAR. 501 



petunias, are all equally or more suited for forming a continuous band like that 

 indicated. 



1543. " High keeping, however, is, after all, the chief element of success in 

 flower-gardening : no combination of form or colour can give satisfaction, if 

 neglect is apparent. The rake should be in frequent use where bare soil is 

 shown. Weeds should never be seen ; all disproportion ed foliage should be 

 removed. Pegging down should be done early in the season, in order that 

 trusses of flowers may stand fairly in relief, and dress naturally with an air 

 of freedom, combined with neatness. Tying up also requires nice handling ; 

 the sticks, while uniform, should be inconspicuous. Flowers once suffered to 

 become crooked are long before they regain their position, and the finest 

 flowers look most inelegant if suffered to get into deshabille through lack of this 

 needful operation." 



1544. Such are some of Mr. Erring-ton's views on the arranging of flower- 

 beds, in an abbreviated form, and they may be useful aids to reflection at 

 this season, when the intentions of the gardener and the fulfilment of his 

 design are under consideration. "There is little doubt," he concludes by 

 saying, ** that the advice here ofiered will be impugned by some who are 

 wedded to the ordinary massing system. Such persons may rest assured that 

 dissentients from the clumping method have been on the increase. Will it not 

 be well, then, to anticipate and prepare for a coming change ? " 



1545. Many of our most beautiful flowering plants may be propagated this 

 month ; other varieties may remain for a week or two longer. With the above 

 may be classed crassulas, Ian tanas, hydrangeas, mesembyranthemums, &c,, as 

 they all should be struck early, to flower freely the following season. Petunias, 

 verbenas, heliotropes, salvias, and lobelias, may be taken in hand next, 

 reserving calceolarias till the last, as they strike better during the cold weather 

 of autumn than earlier in the season. Verbenas and calceolarias may be 

 struck under hand-glasses or in a cold frame. Geraniums, including the scarlet 

 varieties, will strike freely on a south border inserted in sandy soil. Anagallis, 

 maurandyas, and lophospermums, may be rooted in sandy soil, if placed in a 

 cold frame, and shaded in bi-ight sunny weather. Maurandya Barclayana rosea 

 is an abundant flowerer, but of undecided colours. Ten-weeks stocks, oi 

 various colours, should be sown before the middle of the month, and inter- 

 mediate stocks to be kept in pots throughout the winter for spring-flowering ; 

 and pot a quantity of Bromptons for the same purpose, planting the remainder 

 in a sheltered spot to take their chance through the winter. 



1546. Poll lawns well, and meet the rapid growth by frequent mowing. 

 Gravel-walks will likewise require frequent rolling, and surface -weeding, in 

 shady places especially, will be required, or the application of salt and water, to 

 eradicate the smaller weeds, mosses, &c., after which they should be well 

 rolled to make the surface firm and even. 



1547. Plant out all recently-struck pinks, double wallflowers, and pansies, 

 keeping a few of the latter in pots for protection during the winter. JNow 

 that the planting-out season may be considered over, attention should at once 



