474 THE PLEASURE, OR [JULY 



When any of them have furnished strong offsets, such may be 

 taken off in the last week of this month, and planted in small pots ; 

 for about that time these plants begin to grow afresh, and advantage 

 ought to be taken of that critical period. The offsets will require 

 shade and water till newly rooted : the latter must be sparingly ad- 

 ministered till the plants take and are in a growing state, before 

 which too much water would cause the roots to rot ; but, notwith- 

 standing, the earth must still be kept a little moist. 



The auricula and polyanthus seedlings that were sown last autumn 

 or early in spring, if having grown well and of sufficient size, should 

 in the last week of this, or first in August, be transplanted into boxes 

 or pots, as directed on page 360, and placed in the shade to grow on 

 till the middle of October, when they may be rather more exposed 

 to the sun, and early in November remove the pots or boxes into a 

 warm situation, to remain till taken into their winter quarters. 



GRASS AND GRAVEL WALKS. 



The same care and attention must now be paid to the grass and 

 gravel walks, and lawns, as directed in the preceding months. 



BOX EDGING. 



Such box edgings as were not clipped in June, should now be 

 dressed, observing the same directions in every particular as given on 

 page 452. 



CLIP HEDGES. 



Hedges in general, of every kind, should be clipped in the early 

 part of this month ; for that purpose, advantage ought to be taken of 

 moist or cloudy weather to do the work in, as hedges always look 

 better after being clipped in wet weather than in dry. 



Another dressing of the same kind towards the latter end of Sep- 

 tember will keep them in a neat condition the year round. 



ORDINARY ATTENDANCE. 



The principal flower-borders, beds, &c., must now have more than 

 ordinary attention paid to the keeping of them clean, as well as the 

 shrubbery-clumps and other similar compartments. Where any of 

 the flowering-shrubs or evergreens have grown rude or disorderly, let 

 such be trimmed or pruned into neat form j that is, if any have pro- 

 duced strong and rambling shoots, cut out, shorten, or reduce them 

 to a pleasing regularity. 



Stake and tie up the stems of such flowering plants as stand in 

 need of support, to prevent their being borne down by winds or 

 heavy rains, &c. 



Cut down the stems of such fibrous-rooted plants as are past bloom, 

 except a few of the best, where the seeds are wanted. Those have 

 always an unpleasing appearance, and ought to be removed as soon 

 as possible ; by which means the plants, though past flowering, will 

 appear more lively and decent, and the advancing bloom of others 

 will show to greater advantage. 



