TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR 



'HE hot weather usually prevailing 

 during the month of July brings a 

 period of comparative rest and 



jslTJ relaxation in garden work that is 

 most acceptable after the busy time ex- 

 perienced during the spring and early 

 summer. 



Although routine work may not press so 

 heavily as earlier in the season, sufficient can 

 still be found to occupy all the spare time 

 that one usually feels inclined to devote to 

 the garden during the hot sultry weather ; 

 especially when, perhaps, other, and appar- 

 antly more attractive sources of recreation 

 present themselves to lure the plant lover 

 away from his favorites. The garden, how- 

 ever, must not be entirely neglected as 

 insect pests and weeds will still require con- 

 stant attention to keep them under control. 

 Fruit picking will be an acceptable relief to 

 the usual routine of work in the garden. 



Watering lawns and plants will also 

 occupy considerable time and attention. 



Extra care will be necessary in watering 

 greenhouse plants, as many of these plants 

 should now be enjoying a period of com- 

 parative rest that comes naturally to them 

 when growing wild in their native haunts. 

 This dormant, or semi-dormant, period in 



plant life, requires to be of a much more 

 decided character in some classes or germs 

 of plants than in others, and, unless the 

 plant grower has some knowledge ot the 

 requirements of the plants under his care, 

 partial, or, perhaps, total, failure in their 

 culture must of necessity be the result. 

 Careless and indiscriminate watering of 

 plants is responsible for many failures in 

 plant culture at all seasons of the year. 



The Greenhouse. — The management of 

 the greenhouse or conservatory during the 

 hot months of summer, when most of its 

 customary habitants are out of doors in 

 their summer quarters, depends entirely on 

 the class of plants that are still occupants of 

 its benches. If Exotic ferns, fancy Cala- 

 diums, Anthuriums, Diffenbachias or similar 

 plants that require great heat and moisture, 

 are the principal occupants, the greenhouse 

 mnst be kept well shaded and top ventila- 

 tion almost entirely used in the day time, as 

 these plants dislike anything like a draught. 

 Very little ventilation, if any, must be given 

 at night. Keep the floors well dampened 

 and close the house an hour or two before 

 the sun is off. This will keep down red 

 spider. If the floors are kept well moistened 

 very little spraying, if any, will be required. 



