SUBURBAN RESIDENCES. ' 91 



must be used. The strawberries will require watering every evening, from 

 the time they come into blossom till the fruit is set ; and the alpine and wood 

 kinds, as they bear fruit the greater part of summer, will require additional 

 watering in proportion. The flowers in the wall borders, and the ground 

 between the wall and the walk, and also the ground under the flagstones, will 

 require frequent watering ; and, indeed, the wall border and the espalier 

 border ought to be mulched with half-rotten dung, to keep the ground con- 

 stantly cool and moist. Neither should ever be dug, but merely be pointed 

 on the surface with a three-pronged fork ; except in so far as may be neces- 

 sary for renewing the strawberry edgings. The runners from these straw- 

 berry edgings must be constantly taken ofl", as soon as they extend 6 in. from 

 the plant over the walk ; or 12 or 14 inches over the border, except when 

 young plants are required to substitute for the old ones. The crops of culi- 

 nary vegetables in the centre beds will require constant watering every even- 

 ing during the whole summer, except when it has rained ; more especially tj 

 render the peas productive and succulent, and the lettuces and other salading, 

 crisp and tender. A^s soon as one crop of any article is ready to be removed, 

 another sliould be sown or j^lanted to succeed it, the ground being previously 

 well dug, and manured if necessary. A constant look out must be kept for 

 insects on the culinary vegetables, herbs, and flowers, as well as on the fruit- 

 trees ; and, throughout the whole garden, snails, slugs, and worms must be 

 destroyed as soon as they are perceived. The plants in the circular bed in 

 the front garden should be taken up late in the autumn of every year, and the 

 ground trenched; a fourth part of the soil removed, and a fourth part of 

 iresh soil added, with a portion of thoroughly-rotted manure, if necessary; 

 after which the plants and bulbs should be replanted, and new ones substi- 

 tuted for such as may have become shabby, or are dead, or for the sake of 

 change. This mode of re-invigorating the soil, if not performed every year, 

 should be performed every second or third year, otherwise the stronger plants 

 will overrun the weaker ones ; and the bulbs, especially the hyacinths, which 

 ought to constitute the principal beauty of the bed in spring, will degenerate, 

 and cease to be ornamental. The roses against the wall in the front garden 

 will require to be constantly watched, lest the aphides should make their 

 appearance; and, the moment any are seen, watered with weak tobacco 

 water, being washed immediately afterwards with pure water, to prevent the 

 tobacco water from disfiguring the plants. A receipt for the preparation of 

 this tobacco water, and more particular directions for using it, will be given 

 hereafter. The roses will require to be taken up, the soil renewed, and all 

 the old wood and roots cut out, every three or four years ; that is, if it is 

 wished that they should flower freely, and display themselves to the greatest 

 advantage. Both the flowers and rose-trees in the front garden will require 

 constant watering; and the vine against the back front, and the wistaria, 

 honeysuckle, and jasmine, against the street front, will require to be watered 

 over the leaves with the syringe, as well as at the root ; and to be summer- 

 trained and pruned. Many other minor operations might be enumerated; 

 but the above are enough to show that, where the most is intended to be 

 made of even the smallest-sized fourth-rate suburban garden, if planted in 

 this manner, there is work enough for one person, every evening, say from 

 six till it grows dark, throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months ; 

 besides work that must be done previously to six o'clock, in the mouths when 



