JULY 143 



Pink, which must be divided in the autumn, leaving 

 spaces for the planting of the Lobelia in spring. 



This is the time when the plants before named, which 

 were put into the reserve garden in the spring — early 

 Chrysanthemums, Phloxes, Michaelmas Daisies — are 

 brought to fiU up bare places in the border. If the borders 

 have been planted as before advised, the colours must be ' 

 arranged according to the several groups. Two plants of 

 the Daisy tribe — one blue-violet with a yellow middle, 

 called Erigeron speciosus ; the other a bright yellow, though 

 some are paler than others, called Anthemis tinctoria — are 

 invaluable in dry borders. They grow easily from seed, 

 and are very amiable about being moved. 



July llth. — Watering outdoor plants not in pots or 

 tubs is a question about which people differ much. 

 Gardeners as a rule are against it, and it certainly kiUs 

 perennial plants and small shrubs if begun and left off, or 

 even if improperly done. But in a dry soil many a plant 

 is saved by watering it thoroughly once or twice a week, 

 more especially if the flower-buds are formed. My 

 experience is that under those circumstances watering 

 hurts nothing, but it has a tendency to draw the roots to 

 the surface, which is very undesirable with perennials, 

 both for heat in summer and cold in winter. With any 

 precious plant newly planted, and which looks thirsty, a 

 very good and safe plan is to sink a flower-pot in the 

 ground, just above the plant if the ground slopes at all. 

 Pill this with water, and let it soak gradually away, to the 

 cooling and refreshing of the roots. After the plant has 

 been well soaked, one filling of the pot a day, in the 

 morniag, is sufficient. All plants that have been planted 

 out, after being removed from a reserve garden or seed 

 bed, must be watered ; and once you begin, whether in 

 kitchen or flower garden, you must go on till it rains 

 steadily and well ; a slight shower is no good. 



