DEVOTED TO 



JorfirullPurp, MorifuHupp, ^oiang %* Jlural "Mkm, 



THOMAS MEEHAN", Erttor. 

 W. G. P. BRUSrCKIiOS, PuBLjsHER. 



JULY, 1867. 



VOL. IX. -isro. 7. 



Snh for 3u!g. 



FLOWEH-GAHDEBJ JIND PLEASUSE- 

 GHOUND. 



Few have any idea of the enormous increa e of 

 lied Sj^ ider in gardens, and the great amount of 

 injury done by it. Thousands of plants se*- out in 

 spring, dwindle or die out-right at this season, and 

 the loss set down to m ny causes but the right one. 

 Ti.e leaves are first dotted with yellow spot , which 

 grow larger while the green grows smaller, and at 

 last die away alt. gether. If they are taken in time 

 the insects will not ncrease n)uch , an occasional ex- 

 amination will soon show their existence in occasional 

 instances, and these maybe de troyed by rubbnig 

 the finger under the leaves, but when it becomes 

 numerous the syringe i ust be used to throw water 

 slightly impregnated with coal oil in and about the 

 leaves. Just enough oil to give an odor to the 

 water will do. There is danger that an overdose 

 will injure many of the leaves, but it can do no more 

 injury than the red spider will, and if you destroy 

 the insect with the leaves, a new crop of leaves will 

 come out which will be clear of all encumbrance. It 

 is worth a little unpleasant feeling to get rid of such 

 mortgages on your capital stock. Not only flowers 

 but evergreens are very liable to this red spider pest, 

 and particularly the evergreen tree Box, all of which 

 must be treated in the same way. 



To distinguish the Eed Spider, remember it is 

 not always red. Its color is in a measure deter- 

 mined by the plants on which it feeds, just as a 

 man is known by the company he keeps. Some- 

 times it is brown, or nearly green or white : and so 

 small that many can not see it without a lens. The 

 yellow spotted leaves, however, under which is a 

 very fine webby process, will always tell the tale. 



The Red Spider, the scale and the aphis tribes, 

 of which there are many species, are the chief in- 

 sect enemies in flower gardening, all of which 

 may be, and let us say must be kept in check by 

 the above directions being attended to. 



If any plants or trees, set out in spring, do not 

 push freely, or have withery looking leaves, prune 

 back some of the branches. It is astonishing how 

 it helps them. Also loosen the soil about the roots 

 on a dry day, and within a few hours ^fter loosen- 

 ing roll or press it firmly down again. This pulver- 

 izes the soil, and p dverized soil does not dry like a 

 very hard or a very loose one. Also cut away faded 

 flowers, especially on newly planted things ; it is 

 surprising how it invigorates thel anguishing plant. 



If flowers happen to get into poor ground, and do 

 not grow well a lii.tle manure water will help them. 

 If too stiong it will injure. If the drainage of a 

 stable yard be used, about on gallon to ten of water 

 would be safe. Where this cannot be had a table- 

 spoon full or g. ano to about a gallon of water would 

 do. Where none of these are at command, soap 

 suds or any rich ma.ter in about the same propor- 

 tions may be used. 



Soil for flowers should, however, not be over rich. 

 Some things like Lantanas or Geraniums have 

 more lea\es than flowers in too strcng a soil. 



Plants set against walls and piazzas frequently 

 suffer rom want of wate, at this season, when even 

 ground near by them is quite wet. Draw away the 

 soil around each plant so as to form a basin ; fill in 

 with a bucket full of water, allowing it time to soak 

 gradually away, and when the surface has dried a 

 little draw in loosely the soil over it, and it will do 

 without water for some weeks. This applies to all 

 plants wanting water through the season. If water 

 is merely poured on the surface, it is made more com- 

 pact by the weight of wate •, and the harder the soil 

 becomes, the easier it dries ; and the result is, the 

 more water you give the more is w nted. 



Whenever the bark of any plants separates easily 

 from the wood, and plants have ripened their 

 wood enough to form prominent eyes in the -xils of 



