236 SCHOOL AND HOME GABDENING 



this month. It is late, but many of them will be ready for 

 blossoming next season. 



Transplant any annuals you have left, in the frames or 

 windows. Fill in hare spots of the perennial border with 

 annuals, if you have no others. 



Set fringing borders of coleus and other bedding plants. 

 If any strong flowering bulbs are still in the ground, dig them 

 up and let they dry well, and store in a dry place till fall. 

 Leave the summer bulbs, such as crocus, dewdrops and others, 

 in the soil to blossom year after year. 



JULY 



Vegetables. — Keep down weeds and conserve moisture by 

 frequent surface tillage. 



Insect pests must be kept off, especially those affecting 

 melons and squashes. Among the vegetables that may be 

 planted profitably for succession in July are wax beans, sweet 

 corn and beets. Use early varieties for each of these. They 

 mature much quicker and will be through earlier. Corn and 

 beans must mature their crops before frost. 



If dry weather comes on, irrigate or water the plants 

 abundantly. If hand sprinkling is necessary, better take the 

 nozzle off. Pour the water on in floods rather than in fine 

 drops. It is the soil that should be wet and not the plants 

 themselves. When the ground is well soaked, the roots follow 

 the moisture into the ground. If only the top is moist the 

 roots are kept at the surface and will suffer worse from 

 drought. A thorough soaking once or twice a week is better 

 than a light sprinkling every day. 



Trees, Fruits and Lawns. — Prune back the heads of the 

 young blackberry canes. Three feet is high enough. Long 

 branching laterals are also objectionable. Make the plants 

 bushy and compact. 



It is possible to delay the ripening of currants by shading 

 a few bushes with burlap before the fruits are full grown. 

 This gives a longer ripening period. 



