100 CARE OF PLANTS COMING INTO FLOWER [April 



these should be done about the middle of this month 

 There will then be no danger of frosts to brown the leaves, 

 and the young foliage will not be expanded. To keep these 

 edgings in order, they must be cut once a year, and never be 

 allowed to get above four inches high and two inches wide. 

 What we consider the neatest edging is three inches high, 

 two inches wide at the bottom, tapering to a thin edge afc the 

 top. It is very unsightly to see large bushy edgings, espe- 

 cially to narrow walks. 



The use of edgings is to keep the soil from the gravel, and 

 the larger they are allowed to grow, the more ineffectual they 

 become; growing more open below as they advance in height. 

 The operation may be done very expeditiously by clipping 

 the tops level, going longitudinally along with shears for the 

 purpose, called " box shears." Strain a line along the centre 

 of the edgings, cutting perpendicularly from the line to the 

 bottom on each side, leaving only the breadth of the line at 

 top. Edgings cut in this manner, every spring, will always 

 'ook well, and the trouble, comparatively, is a mere trifle. 



GENERAL CARE OF PLANTS COMING INTO FLOWER. 



Every part of the flower-ground should be put into neat 

 order, giving such plants about the borders as are shooting 

 up their flower-stems, and are tender, and in danger of being 

 hurt or broken by the wind, proper sticks or rods for their 

 support. In doing this, endeavour to conceal the rods, &c., 

 as much as possible, by dressing the stems and leaves in a 

 natural-looking manner over them. Let the stakes be in 

 proportion to the height and growth of the plants. It looks 

 very unsightly to see strong stakes to short and weak-growing 

 plants. The tyings likewise should be proportionate. 



Examine all the beds and patches of seedling flowers now 

 coming up, and let them be refreshed with water as it may 

 be necessary, and pick out the weeds as they appear. 



We cannot leave this department at this season of the year 

 without enforcing the benefit and beauty that will result 

 from keeping the weeds down during this and the next 

 month. Therefore strictly observe that there are none run- 

 ning to seed in any part of the garden ; in fact, they ought 

 aot to be allowed to rear their heads oneway in sight. 



