116 EVERGREEN HEDGES. [JlugltSt. 



six inches above the inoculation, and prevent all shoots 

 from growing by pinching them off. This will forward the 

 bud, which will push and ripen wood this season ; but it 

 must be carefully tied as it grows to the remaining head of 

 the stock. Some do not head down the stock until the fol- 

 lowing spring, thereby not encouraging the bud to grow, 

 which, if winter sets in early, is the safest method. 



OF WATERING. 



If the season be dry, look over the lately planted shrubs, 

 and give them frequent copious waterings ; and a few of 

 the finest annuals that are wanted to flower perfectly 

 should be attended to. We do confess that we used to be 

 advocates for giving plenty of water to the Dahlia, but the 

 severe drought of 1838 put our science to the test, and the 

 result was, that of about one hundred plants of our most 

 choice kinds, which we regularly watered three times a 

 week, for nine weeks, during which period we had not a 

 drop of rain, the plants grew luxuriantly, but many of 

 them never produced a perfect bloom ; and those that had 

 no attention whatever paid to them, except a little manure 

 or litter laid on the surface over the roots, flowered almost 

 as well as in our more moist seasons. Hence we infer that 

 an occasional watering may be of service, but continued and 

 repeated artificial waterings are injurious. 



AUGUST. 



EVERGREEN HEDGES. 



THESE always make two growths in the season, and the 

 best time to perform the operation of clipping or dressing 

 them is before the plants begin their second growth. 

 Choose, if possible, dull and cloudy days, as in such wea- 

 ther they will not be so liable to get brown or bruised by 



