JUNE] FLOWER GARDEN. 453 



they then assume a clumsy and heavy appearance, and deprive the 

 beds and borders of that apparent roundness so necessary to set them 

 off to advantage. 



DRESSING THE FLOWER-BORDERS AND SHRUBBERIES, ETC. 



The flower-borders, beds, shrubbery- clumps, and all other orna- 

 mental compartments, must now be kept remarkably clean and neat, 

 and no weeds suffered to appear, or at least to grow to any consider- 

 able size in any of these places. The weeds must be exterminated 

 immediately on their appearance either by hoe or hand, occasionally, 

 and this should be performed on a dry day ; if with the hoe, cutting 

 them up within the ground and raking them off immediately. 



Examine the evergreens and flowering shrubs, and where any have 

 made disorderly shoots, let such be cut clean out or shortened, as you 

 may deem expedient, in order to preserve the heads in due form and 

 of an elegant appearance. 



WATERING. 



Occasional waterings must be given to all your late planted shrubs 

 and flowers, and particularly to the annual, perennial, and biennial 

 flower plants newly planted out into nursery beds. 



Your entire stock of plants in pots and boxes, seedlings and others, 

 must be watered as often as the earth about them becomes dry and 

 unfriendly to vegetation ; and your carnation and other layers must 

 be duly attended to in this respect to preserve the earth about them 

 moderately moist, and only so. 



For some useful observations in respect to watering, see page 404. 



GRASS AND GRAVEL- WALKS. 



The grass and gravel-walks, &c., must be treated constantly during 

 the summer and autumn, as directed on page 415. 



THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



GENERAL CARE OF THE GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS. 



The plants being now out and fully exposed to the air, will require 

 a constant supply of water; it is impossible to say how often it ought 

 to be administered, or how much should be given at a time, as the 

 state of weather, the different constitutions and habits of the plants, 

 and also the size of the pots or tubs as well as of the plants them- 

 selves, make a material difference in that respect. The only true 

 guide is the state of the earth in the pots or tubs, which should always 

 be kept moist and in a proper condition to promote and encourage 

 vegetation. In very hot weather, the plants that are in small pots will 



