94 THE FLOWER GARDEN COMPANION. 



times neat and cleanly ; and having once called attention to 

 this point, I may not recur to it hereafter. 



Particular attention must be paid at this time to the tieing 

 up all the slender plants to stakes or sticks, as the Dahlia. 

 and plants of a rapid growth. For this purpose, neat sticks, 

 or stakes, should be prepared, of a size in proportion to the 

 height of the plant ; for the Dahlia, sticks of about six or 

 seven feet, planed off in a tapering manner, either round or 

 square, and painted green, answer a good purpose. In the 

 operation of tying up the Dahlia, care must be taken that the 

 plant is not tied too tightly, which is often the case, and the 

 consequence of which is, that the plant is nearly cut asunder, 

 and the first storm that comes blows it down. In tying up 

 plants care must also be taken that they are not too much 

 bundled together, which is not only unsightly to the eye, but 

 is often the cause of the centre part of the plant being in a 

 measure rotted, owing to the leaves being too much confined, 

 and not receiving the influence of the atmospheric air. 



Attention must now, also, be paid to the training of vines, 

 as Honeysuckle, Clematis, and all such plants as are trained 

 to trellises and arbors ; which see, under the head of Hardy 

 Running Vines. 



Annual flower seeds may now also be sown for late flow- 

 ering; and in moist weather any bare places in the borders 

 may be planted and filled up with annuals, to make every 

 part have a regular and sightly appearance. 



ART. 8. July. 



Every favorable opportunity should be taken in this month 

 to keep down weeds as they appear, and to tie up any plants 

 that are of a slender habit. The Dahlias should be carefully 

 looked over, and tied to their stakes, to prevent them from 

 being broken down by rains or heavy storms. Every atten- 

 tion must now, also, be paid to annuals, by thinning out those 

 that are growing thickly together, which, in their infant state, 

 cause a weakness in their habitual constitution, and they 



