SUBURDAN RESIDENCES. l-ij 



clear from all impurities; and not to overwater the roots. Where rose trees 

 are grown, it is a great point to keep them clear of aphides ; and the best mode 

 of doing this is to make a little brush of pieces of bast mat, tied together, 

 and fixed on a bit of stick. This brush is much softer, and less likely to 

 injure the delicate texture of the young shoots, than a brush made of hair 

 or bristles. 



223. It is necessary that the food of plants should be in a state of minute 

 subdivision when it is presented to the spongiules of the roots ; and it is also 

 necessary that these delicate organs should not be plentifully supplied with 

 food, unless the leaves are kept in a healthy state, so as to digest it properly. 

 Thus, if the roots are supplied with abundance of water, manure, and air, and 

 no water is given to the leaves, which are suffered to remain laden with soot 

 or dust, the spongioles, acting mechanically, will take up more food than the 

 plant can digest; and its vessels becoming choked up, "the usual circula- 

 tion of the fluids will be impeded, and it is not surprising that the plant 

 should droop, that its flowers should not expand, or that its fruit should 

 shrivel or drop off prematurely, and that in the end it should die ; as in fact it 

 may be said to expire of apoplexy, brought on by indigestion." — {Gardening 

 for Ladies, 1st edit., p. 27.) 



224. The want of light is another disadvantage which attends suburban 

 gardens. Light is essential to plants to produce the chemical changes which 

 ought to take place in their leaves; and suburban gardens, from their small 

 size, and the height of the surrounding houses, have frequently their largest 

 portion in the shade during the greater part of the day. Light is particularly 

 necessary to the production of flowers, and to the ripening of fruit ; and hence 

 suburban gardeners find it very difficult to grow showy flowers, and to ripen 

 fine fruits. 



225. Selection of plants for a suburban garden. — It is generally necessary, 

 before planting a suburban gai'den, to decide whether it will be better to plant 

 trees or flowers; or, in other words, whether the garden shall be shady or 

 showy, as it is very difficult to manage to combine the two. In general, a shady 

 suburban garden is thought most agreeable, as green leaves and shade form 

 a delightful contrast to the hot dusty road; and an appearance of gaiety in 

 flowers can be obtained by placing a few calceolarias, verbenas, petunias, 

 and pelargoniums (which have been grown in pots, and brought into flower 

 in a green-house), here and there as taste may dictate. These plants may be 

 procured in full flower during the months of May and June, in London and 

 its neighbourhood, at about 4s. for a dozen plants, and, during the remainder 

 of the summer, for about 3s. a dozen. The same kinds of plants, without pots, 

 may be had at a still cheaper rate, and are very useful for bedding out ; that is, 

 for planting in the open air. 



The deciduous trees, not having ornamental flowers, that will thrive in a 

 suburban garden, are : 



The walnut. The wych elm. 



The black walnut. The weeping elm. 



The fig. The oriental plane. 



The weeping ash. Various kinds of poplars. 



The tree willow. To these may be added, Ailantus glandu- 

 The weeping willow. losa, and Sophbra j.aponica, with the 



The elm. weeping variety of the latter. 



I, 2 



