150 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



GARDEN-WORK FOR AUGUST. 



Dahlias will require special attention to secure them from 

 splitting down, and breaking ; let every part be well sup- 

 ported by ties. The cool nights and. warm days of 

 approaching fell will give them their most vigorous 

 growth. 



SAVING SEED. Beet, spinage, peas, celery, salsify, let- 

 tuce seeds will now be ripe and should be gathered. Even 

 if not quite ripe, they may be plucked, as experiments seem 

 to show that seeds are more injured by over-ripeness than 

 under-ripening. Seal up your peas in bottles and put wax 

 about the cork, according to Dr. Plummer's directions, and 

 the larvae of the pea-bug will die for want of air. Seeds 

 are ripened best in their own pods or receptacles ; and 

 where they ripen nearly at the same time, and do not easily 

 shake out, we hang the whole plant in an airy shed, barn, 

 etc., until winter ; and then, for convenience, thresh out and 

 pack up. 



As fast as your perennial plants have shed their 

 flowers, let the seed plants be destroyed, unless you 

 wish to save seed, as the ripening of seed exhausts the 

 root. 



Young peach-trees should have the side shoots cleared 

 away and one strong centre stem secured for budding in 

 the fall. 



Onions may now be gathered. Let them lie a day or two 

 on the bed or in the alley, and then be transferred to a cool 

 and airy place. The sets for top onions may be tied in bun- 

 dles and hung up till spring. 



Where peas and bush beans have been cleared away, tur- 

 nips may be sowed for a fall and winter crop. 



Spinage seed should be got ready to be sown in Septem- 

 ber, if you wish a good supply of this choicest of all spring 

 greens. 



Celery plants will begin to grow strongly in the trenches ; 



