AUGUST. 



680 



AUGUST. 



ivater in the evening, and dust the affectec 

 parts with ' flour of sulphur. Towards th< 

 end of the month any roses budded las 

 month may have the bandages removec 

 and the place examined, to see that nothing 

 has interfered with the bud, and the band- 

 age restored. 



Roses, Cuttings of. Cuttings of Tea- 

 scented, Noisette, China, Bourbon, and 

 Hybrid perpetuals, may be struck in ligh 

 sandy soil over a gentle hotbed. When 

 rooted, pot off and replace in the frames 

 for a few days till the roots begin to move, 

 when they are to be removed and hardened 

 off. 



Roses in Pots. Roses standing in pots 

 should never be crowded, but constantly 

 watered and kept in a growing state. 



Roses, Shoots from Bottom of Stem of. 

 The Ayrshire, Boursault, Sempervirens, 

 and other climbing roses, frequently send 

 out very luxuriant shoots near the bottom 

 of the stem. These, if not wanted to cover 

 "some weak part of the plant, should be 

 removed. 



Routine Work. The flower garden will 

 now be in its greatest beauty, and every 

 means must be taken to keep turf, gravel, 

 and edgings of all kinds in the neatest 

 order ; dead flowers should be picked off 

 daily, and stray growths reduced within 

 proper limits. Trailing and climbing plants 

 should frequently be gone over, to keep 

 them neatly trained and secure after high 

 winds; for the same purpose examine 

 hollyhocks, dahlias, and other tall-growing 

 plants. After removing the dead flowers 

 from roses, encourage the production of 

 autumn blooms in the perpetuals by water- 

 ing with liquid manure, and mulching the 

 surface of the ground where practicable. 



Saxifrages. Many varieties of saxifrage 

 may now be propagated: the offsets rise 

 from the sides of the plant, and may now 

 be taken off and planted either in borders 

 wr pots. Among these may be named, 



Saxifraga crassifolia, S. granulata fiore 

 pleno, S. pelt at a, S. sarmentosa, and S. 

 umbrosa, or London Pride. S. cotyle- 

 don must also be added to the number, 

 which throws up a fine pyramidal spike of 

 blossom 12 inches high. These plants 

 may be propagated by division in spring as 

 well as in autumn. 



Stocks, Intermediate and Ten- Week. 

 Intermediate stocks should be sown early 

 in the month, and ten-week stocks of 

 various colours before the middle of the 

 month. The intermediate stocks must be 

 kept in pots throughout the winter for 

 spring flowering. Pot a quantity of 

 Bromptons for the same purpose, planting 

 the remainder in a sheltered spot to take 

 their chance through the winter. 



Tulips. Clean and prepare tulip beds, 

 and arrange the plants in their drawers, 

 discarding stained varieties, and adding 

 new ones in their place. 



August. Fruit Garden and Or- 

 chard, Work in. 



Aphis on Trees. As it is not proper to 

 drench the trees when the fruit is ripe or 

 ripening, any shoots infested with aphis 

 should be cleaned with a brush, or by dip- 

 ng in thick puddle. 



Apples and Pears. Trees that happen 

 o be heavily laden require to have their 

 jranches supported ; those against walls 

 and espaliers should be pretty closely 

 topped. 



Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines. 

 These are now ripening rapidly, and should 

 )e exposed to the sun as much as possible 

 :o give them colour. Keep the shoots laid 

 n closely, and remove obstructing leaves, 

 ilways leaving enough for the elaboration 

 of the juices of the tree. Suspend nets, 

 supported by short stakes, beneath the tree, 

 as the ripening period approaches, to catch 

 ny falling fruit, with some soft material in 

 he net to soften the fall. Netting of a fine 



