144 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



A very good shading protection for small plants or 

 delicate seedlings is to get the village blacksmith to make 

 you some flower-pots — he will understand that — in per- 

 forated zinc such as would be used for larder windows, &c. 

 Eeverse one of these over the plant, to protect it from 

 sun and wind. 



The mention of blacksmith reminds me that the 

 parings and raspings of horses' hoofs, which can be 

 purchased for very little, put into a tub of water and 

 allowed to decompose, make a very excellent and 

 nourishing liquid manure. It should not be applied too 

 strong. 



July ZQih. — Two shrubs are now flowering in the 

 garden which in this month of the year are valuable. 

 One is called Clethra (Sweet Pepper Bush), mentioned in 

 May for pot-cultivation, and useful, as it stands pulling 

 about and changing ; it is quite hardy, but in dry places 

 it is the better for watering when coming into flower. 

 The other is called Pavia or ^sculus parvifolia (Dwarf 

 Horse Chestnut), a handsome and valuable hardy tree 

 from North America. It does not grow fast, and takes 

 little room ; it has long spikes of flowers with bright 

 pink stamens, is refined and sweet, and very pretty when 

 gathered and wedged {see Appendix), though it would not 

 look well in a room in any other way. I have had it 

 several years, and it flowers every year ; its handsome 

 and yet restrained growth is a great advantage in a small 

 garden. 



