FLORAL NOTES FOR AUGUST. 



331 



ease at the present time. If any of our 

 readers, however, desire to try a bulb or two 

 of either LiHum Harrisii (Bermuda lily) or 

 Lilium longiflorum — which is considered 

 by many growers to be less liable to 

 disease than L. Harrisii — they should be 

 secured as early as possible to have 

 them in flow^er at Easter in the win- 

 have them in flower at Easter in the win- 

 dow. A seven inch pot for the largest size 

 bulb will be necessary, whilst a six inch pot 

 will do for a second size bulb. The method 

 of potting, soil, and future treatment as re- 

 commended for the Freesias will suit the 

 lilies mentioned. 



WiNi)ow Boxes and Hanging Baskets. 

 — These will require plenty of water, as the 

 plants will by this time have a mass of roots 

 to absorb the moisture, as well as a large 

 amount of growth to support. The soil in 

 them will also have become very much ex- 

 hausted. An application of liquid manure, 

 made from fresh cow manure prepared as 

 described in July number of Horticulturist, 

 will be found a good stimulant that will help 

 to carry the growth and beauty of the plants 

 through until late autumn. 



Pansies. — If early blossoms of these 

 pretty bewitching flowers are wanted early 

 next spring, the seed should be sown now. 

 Sow the seed in a shallow box, about two 

 inches deep and of required size. Place the 

 box in a partially shaded place until the 

 plants have attained their fourth leaf, when 

 they should be transplanted into a cold 

 frame, where they can be given the protec- 

 tion of a sash, or of even a few boards dur- 

 ing severe weather. A box about ten 

 inches deep and minus the bottom boards, 

 placed over a good rich spot of soil in the 

 garden will answer very well to winter a 

 dozen or two of pansy plants in. 



Pelargoniums. — Plants of these spring 



flowering favorites should be cut back some 

 time in August. Prune them back to with- 

 in an inch or so of the two-year-old 

 . wood. Give them very little water, keeping 

 the soil barely moist until growth commen- 

 ces. As soon as the new growth is about 

 a quarter of an inch in length, they should 

 be repotted. Shake all the soil from the 

 roots and repot them into soil to which near- 

 ly one half of fine sharp sand has been 

 added. Give them a size smaller pot than 

 they have been growing in, and do not over 

 water them until growth has well started. 

 When the growth is about two or three 

 inches in length, repot them into pots two 

 sizes larger, using a rich loamy compost and 

 some pieces of broken pot for drainage. 

 The new growth can have the tops pinched 

 off once or twice during the winter if it is 

 inclined to grow spindled. Pelargoniums, 

 or Lady Washington geraniums as they are 

 sometimes called, are very liable to attacks 

 of aphis or green fly when in the window. 

 A strong solution of tobacco water, or fu- 

 migating the plants with tobacco smoke, will 

 destroy these pests to window plants. Keep 

 the plants outside until early in September 

 until danger from frost is probable. The 

 shelter of even a sash and frame for a few 

 weeks in early autumn is often preferable 

 for many other plants besides pelargoniums, 

 as oftentimes we have several weeks of 

 beautiful warm weather after the middle of 

 September, w^hen many plants that are to 

 winter in the window or greenhouse will do 

 much better out in a cold frame or some- 

 where where they can be protected from 

 slight frosts if necessary. But care must 

 be taken to watch the thermometer closely 

 for sudden changes in temperature, or pos- 

 sibly the plants may be exposed for just one 

 night too many and be nipped by the frost. 



