HORTIGULTIIEAL ITEMS. 



BOX EDGING-'. — Few people, except professed gardeners, kno-w hoTV 

 this handsome border ornament ought to be planted. It is usually 

 stuck in a few inches, and left straggling on top of the ground, with 

 three or four times as much top, and three or four times less bottom, than 

 it ought to have. Box grows nearly as well from the branches, as the 

 roots. Now, the trench in which 'the edging is to be planted, should be 

 full spade deep on the border side, being a few inches shallower on the 

 alley side — the soil should be made fine — and the box inserted to the 

 bottom of the trench, packed in tightly with soil, leaving only from one 

 and a half to two and a half inches out of ground. There will be no 

 danger of it not growing, or of producing full foliage at the ground 

 Of course no one would think of planting box without a line. 



Trimming box edging is rarely performed either skilfully or jud,. 

 ciously. Instead of cutting off the top squarely, and below the preceding 

 year's growth, let it be pruned to an angle, like the letter a, taking care 

 not to cut below the new growth, and you will, through the whole season, 

 have a beautifully green, thrifty edging. 



LIQUID MANURE for growing vegetable crops, may be given twice 

 iach week, and for developing flowers as soon as the calyx or flower-cup 

 Degins to burst, it should be applied but once a week. A cloudy atmos- 

 phere is the best condition for giving water, and early in the evening 

 the best period in summer months. 



The liquid which soaks from common farm and poultry yards, with 

 some soot added, is the cheapest, but where such is not procurable, add 

 1 lb. guano to 30 gallons of water, and about a spadeful of soot, the 

 latter tied up in a coarse cloth or bag to prevent it from swimming on 

 the surface of the water. This mixture will make a liquid manure fit 

 for all the ornamental gross-feeding plants, as Pelargoniums, Salvias, 

 Fuchsias, Calceolarias, Achimenes, Glerodendrons, &c., &c. To prevent 

 drawing off, or using the water in a turbid state, drain it off as clear as 

 possible. The soot is an essential ingredient as a maniu^e, and as an 

 antidote to insects. 



WHALE OIL SOAP. 



An effectual remedy for destroying Insects on Plants, Trees, Vines, etc.. 



FOR WASHING DOWN THE BARK OF TREES, GRAPE-VINES, 

 &c. — Take a quarter of a pound of the Soap, four pounds Sulphur, a 

 quarter of a pound of Tobacco, one ounce Nux Vomica; pour over 

 these three gallons boiling water, stir until thoroughly mixed ; when 

 cool, apply with a brush. 



FOR DESTROYING THE APHIS OR PLANT LOUSE, SLUGS 

 ON ROSES, THRIPS ON GRAPE-VINES, MILDEW, SLUGS ON 

 PEAR-TREES. — Take a quarter of a pound of the soap, dissolve 

 thoroughly with boiling water, add in all two gallons of water. Strain 

 through a sieve or cloth, apply with a syringe or the rose of a watering 

 pot to the plants. The best time to apply the preparation is in the 

 evening, or quite early in the morning. 



