AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



515 



JULY. 



GREEN-HOUSE AND WINDOW PLANTS. At this 

 season a copious supply of water must be 

 given, both at the root and overhead. In the 

 green-house especially, sprinkle the paths and 

 benches in the evening to keep up a moist 

 atmosphere during the night. Use every effort 

 to keep everything clear of such insects as 

 Green Fly and Red Spider. If the house 

 is kept shaded, almost all so-called stove 

 plants can be grown successfully in the green- 

 house during the summer months. The 

 plants from the green-house that may have 

 been plunged out-doors must be watched 

 when they require repotting; and where 

 the roots have run through the pots, they 

 should also be occasionally turned round, 

 to break them off ; for if this is not done now, 

 it would seriously injure the plant when taken 

 up in the fall, if the roots have run through the 

 pot and deep into the soil. Many of them 

 will require to be pinched back occasion- 

 ally to keep them bushy, and Chrysanthemums 

 for winter blooming topped in and turned 

 around. Carnations, Bouvardias and other plants 

 for winter blooming should be pinched back. 

 Azaleas, Oranges, Camellias and plants of a like 

 character will be much improved by being 

 syringed every clear evening, care being taken 

 at the same time that they are not over- 

 watered. 



FLOWER GARDEN. The usual routine of 

 mowing, weeding, etc., must be attended to, 

 all irregular growth trimmed back, the various 

 early flowering shrubs pruned (see "Pruning "), 

 and the flower beds trimmed and kept neat. 

 Nothing gives such an air of neatness and 

 beauty to a well kept garden as a well kept 

 lawn, and neatly kept, well rolled walks. The 

 rock-garden must also be kept in good order ; 

 all weeds removed, and any plants that are 

 growing too large or strong, shortened back. 

 Dahlias, Roses, Gladioluses, as well as many 



herbaceous perennial and annual plants, will 

 now require staking. Be careful to proportion 

 the size of the stake to that of the plant, and do 

 not tie it too tightly. Stakes painted green look 

 best, and the square are nearly as good as the 

 round ones, and much cheaper. Give the Cos- 

 mos, lovely for its feathery foliage and single, 

 Dahlia-like flowers, a long stake, and, once in a 

 while, run a spade down near its roots to check 

 its rampant growth and throw it into flower; 

 it will well repay the trouble. All vines and 

 creepers should be trained up, and all super- 

 fluous growth pruned away. If the weather 

 is moist it will yet do to sow Grass Seed 

 for new lawns. 



FRUIT GARDEN. As recommended last 

 month, thin out all Apples, Peaches, Pears, 

 etc., which have set their fruit thickly, as by 

 so doing an equal weight is secured, much finer 

 fruit and superior flavor. Summer pruning is 

 still useful ; a little practice will soon show its 

 advantage. If there are any signs of mildew on 

 the Grape-vine leaves, dust them over with dry 

 sulphur, choosing a still, warm day. The fruit 

 will now be gathered from the Strawberries; 

 and if new beds are to be formed, the system 

 recommended of layering the plants in small 

 pots is the best. (See " Strawberries.") 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. Succession crops of 

 Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Lettuce, etc., may 

 still be sown, and in some sections of the coun- 

 try Ruta-baga Turnips for the main winter 

 crop. Cabbage, Celery and Cauliflower should 

 also be planted, more especially Celery for a 

 main crop. Tomatoes should be kept tied up 

 to stakes or trellises, and the fruit well exposed 

 to the light. Sweet Potatoes should also be 

 held up, and the vines moved occasionally to 

 prevent their rooting at the joints. Cucumbers 

 for pickles should now be sown, and Endive for 

 fall use. (See directions given under these sep- 

 arate heads.) 



AUGUST. 



GREEN-HOUSE AND WINDOW PLANTS. Nearly 

 all that is necessary during this month is to 

 follow the instructions given for July. Hanging 

 Baskets, Vases, etc., require constant attention, 

 and all climbers and other plants should be 

 syringed freely, and kept clear of insect pests. 

 Plants intended for winter flowering should be 

 forwarded by being repotted, and kept bushy 

 by being pinched back occasionally. Primulas, 

 Calceolarias, Cinerarias, etc., should be sown, 

 and preparations made for propagating such 

 plants as rnay be required for winter or spring 

 flowering. Chrysanthemums must not be 

 neglected, as the pots are now full of roots and 

 will require water twice or three times a day. 

 Cuttings struck at this season make excellent 

 dwarf plants for the window or green-house, 

 generally flowering a week or two later than 

 the old plants. All such work as painting, 

 glazing, seeing to boilers, etc., is now in order, 

 and should be attended to, before the press of 

 autumn work comes along. 



FLOWER GARDEN. Here, as in the green- 

 house, the routine of work is the same as last 

 month. No pains should be spared to keep the 

 garden beautiful; all dead leaves and flowers 



should be removed and the edgings and walks 

 kept neat and clean. The grass should be rolled 

 frequently, and mown as often as necessary ; in 

 very dry weather it may be advisable to water 

 it frequently to keep it from becoming parched 

 and brown ; one of the improved lawn sprinklers 

 is excellent for this purpose. Tea and other 

 autumn flowering Roses will be benefited by an 

 occasional supply of manure water; all tall 

 growing, herbaceous and other plants should 

 be staked up, the soil loosened occasionally, 

 and all weeds kept down. Sow Grass Seed for 

 new lawns if not too dry. 



FRUIT GARDEN. During the early part of the 

 month summer pruning may still be practiced 

 with advantage. Spring-planted Strawberries, 

 and also those that have fruited, will now be 

 making " runners " or young plants freely. All 

 runners should be kept cut off close to the old 

 plant when not wanted for new plantations, 

 so that the full force of the roots is expended 

 in maturing the "crowns" or fruit buds for the 

 next season's crop. New plantations may also be 

 made the sooner they are planted, the heavier 

 the next season's crop will be. (See "Straw- 

 berries.") Cut away the old stems of Raspberries 



