June.] FLOWER GARDEN. 427 



hoe, cutting them up within the ground and raking them off imme- 

 diately. 



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. 



fVatering. 



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 390. 



Grass and Gravel-Walks. 



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

 during the summer and autumn, as directed in page 400. 



THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



General care of the Green- House Plants. 



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

 quire 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 

 themselves, 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 require some water both morning and evening, at 

 other times once a day will be sufficient; but as the plants have no 

 other nourishment but what they extract from the earth within the 

 pots or tubs, it ought to be a general rule to keep it constantly 

 moist, but not too wet. 



The best water for this purpose is such as is taken from rivers 

 or ponds where it is fully exposed to the sun and air, so that if you 

 have no other than spring or well water, it should always be ex- 

 posed in cisterns, &c. to the sun and air at least twenty-four hours 

 before it is used. 



