108 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



All plants have naturally a resting sea- 

 son. Seek to ascertain the period, pecu- 

 liar to each particular species you cultivate, 

 and transplant them only at that time. 



Plants are in their most vigorous state 

 of growth at the time of flowering, and 

 should not then be transplanted, as they 

 would very likely suffer much from the 

 operation. 



But the period of flowering is much the 

 most suitable for making cuttings, because 

 the tendency to root formation is then 

 most active. 



Plants in flower have all their juices in 

 the most perfect state ; and this period 

 should be chosen to gather such as are no- 

 ted for aromatic or medicinal qualities. 



Excessive blooming greatly exhausts 

 the plant. Hence, all flower buds should 

 be gently pinched off ere they open, from | 

 newly-rooted cuttings as well as from weak j 

 or sickly plants, to preserve the strength I 

 of the stalk. 



Few plants can well endure great chan- 

 ges of temperature ; and none should 

 therefore be transferred directly from the 

 hotbed, or hothouse, to the open air. Warm 

 weather should be chosen for the removal 

 of plants, even from an orangery or cold 

 frame, to the garden. 



All withered and faded flowers should 

 at once be removed from perennial plants, 

 unless it is desired to raise seed. This j 

 will tend greatly to prevent the premature I 

 exhaustion of the plant. 



To secure a succession of bloom in a 

 rose-bush, prune back some of the shoots' 

 to their eyes as soon as you see that they 

 begin to swell; and defer the pruning of 

 .others till the leaves have become expan- 1 

 ded. In the first case, the eyes will break ! 

 into bloom early, whilst the latter will not j 

 begin to swell till the others are in full 

 leaf, and consequently bloom later. 



As a general rule, the smaller the num- 

 ber of fruits on a healthy, vigorous plant or 

 tree, the larger the size, and the more per- ! 

 feet the taste. It is hence proper, in all 

 caseSj to thin out moderately. But a sin- 1 

 gle gooseberry left on a bush, or a jingle j 

 cluster on a large grape-vine, however i 

 monstrous be its development, is only evi- J 

 dence of a sound principle misapplied or I 

 carried to extremes. 



Fruit should always be gathered in dry, I 

 calm weather. It should be removed by! 

 hand, and carefully placed in a basket, so' 



as not to bruise it. Roughly handling it 

 may, and probably will, cause it to rot. 



If, when any of my fruit-trees are in 

 blossom, I suspect that the soil does not 

 contain the requisite amount of moisture 

 needed by the roots, I dig a trench around 

 the tree about eighteen inches from the 

 stem, and pour into it four large buckets- 

 ful of water, and immediately return the 

 removed ground. This enables the blos- 

 soms to resist the effects of drying winds ; 

 the fruits set perfectly, develop rapidly, 

 and are less liable to the attacks of in- 

 sects. The result is, that the fruit does 

 not subsequently drop. I have cherry- 

 trees that formerly bore fruit only every 

 alternate year, which are now annual and 

 abundant bearers, in consequence of this 

 treatment. C. V. Goldacker. 



According to the researches of Messrs. 

 Schubler and Kohler, of Tubingen, white 

 flowers are the most numerous in nature, 

 and, at the same time, the most fragrant. 

 Red flowers come next in order. — Quoted 

 in Horticulturist for Nov. from the Frau- 

 endorfer Blatter. 



[From the Country Gentleman.] 

 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



Those who are contemplating landscape 

 improvement, may be reminded that now 

 is the time to take pieparafory measures 

 for the labors of the coming Spring. Much 

 that requires a good start before progress 

 can be expected, ma}'' now be accomplish- 

 ed, as well as to wait five months hence. 



Drives and walks may be laid out and 

 hedded ; these should be broad and deep. 



Instead of the many formal stiff lines 

 that are common in walks, there should 

 be exhibited more of the elegant, easy, 

 flowing lines, which render so much of 

 grace to a charming landscape. 



By making these preparations during 

 the autumnal months, the advantage of 

 the cold weather action upon the ground 

 is gained. 



Trees and shrubbery, if set out in the 

 Fall, get nearly a year's start of those de- 

 layed until spring ; and in planting do not 

 set them in lines and squares, but form 

 them in clusters, or elegant groups, about 

 your grounds. This is much more artistic 

 and beautiful than the former and old 

 fashioned manner. 



Care and taste are quite necessary in 



