OPERATIONS FOR JULY. 
143 
Prostranthe v ra lasja'nthos. It seems strange that so fine a plant as this would be for 
exhibitors should scarcely be seen in collections. A specimen, nearly ten feet high, is now 
literally covered with blossoms in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. It is a shrubby plant, 
with fine oblong lance-shaped toothed foliage, and produces its large red and white flowers in 
panicled racemes. From the appearance of the species, we have no hesitation in saying that 
plants a foot high will flower profusely. Several other species of this New Holland genus, 
described in botanical works, but yet unintroduced, are said to be equally fine. 
OPERATIONS FOR JULY. 
In a general way, we experience more dry and warm weather in July than in any other 
month of the year ; and when this proves extreme, it tells prejudicially on those summer garden 
exotics which have not yet grown sufficiently to constitute a cover to the bed that holds them, and 
shade it from the scorching and drying influence of the sun. We spoke last month of the utility 
of some interposing substance to check evaporation from the soil when the plants are newly placed 
in the borders of the flower-garden, and before they have sent out fresh roots, and become suffi- 
ciently established. The difficulty of managing this in a tidy and unobtrusive way, is an objection 
to its continuance longer than it is absolutely indispensable. 
As a means of retaining moisture in the soil, as well as of improving the appearance to the 
eye, the practice of hoeing is rarely so repeatedly resorted to in the course of the season as it, 
ought to be. The insufficiency of hands to accomplish the multifarious operations of a garden at 
the proper time, and in a neat tasteful style, through the summer months, is too often a just 
excuse for passing over those that are least pressing ; but we have also met with cultivators, and 
very lately, who neglect hoeing from an idea that it assists in extracting any little moisture that 
remains in the soil. On a superficial glance such would appear to be really the truth, but a slight 
investigation alone is sufficient to convince to the contrary. Where the surface of the soil is kept 
loose, the bulk beneath continues longer in a humid state. Besides, a loose surface would seem 
to attract moisture ; for, if we examine a plot of ground where the soil has been lately stirred, 
and another in a hard crusted state, we shall find a more abundant deposit of dew upon the former 
than upon the latter. This must be invigorating to the plants during the bright summer months : 
in fact, experience incontestably proves that, the more hoeing is attended to, the more flourishing 
is the growth of the plants, other requisites being equal. Hoeing is also a better means of eradi- 
cating weeds, if repeatedly and timely performed, than hand-weeding ; but whether weeds exist 
or not, the opportunity of dry weather after rain, should always be seized upon to hoe the surface ? 
especially of stiff clayey soils. There is less occasion for it in light sandy earth which continues 
open and crumbling ; nevertheless, it is the province of the culturist to combine to the utmost, 
appearance with utility, in the management of his charge, and there are few instances among his 
operations in which we find those two ends more faithfully answered by the same work. In fact 
the hoe must never lie idle whilst summer lasts : it keeps the ground in a favourable state for 
the growth of the plants, is the best safeguard from a weedy flower-plot, and imparts a freshness 
to the appearance of the ground. 
Most of the several attentions which are now becoming more especially essential in the 
pleasure-ground to render it worthy of the name, may in themselves appear somewhat insig- 
nificant ; without them, however, we must not expect to realise anything beyond a commonplace 
effect. And yet how many of them are constantly neglected ! There cannot be a doubt but the 
removal of the rudimentary seed-pods of the Rhododendron when the flowers cease to be orna- 
mental, not only improves the appearance of the plant for the remainder of the year, but confers 
a direct benefit upon it, in preventing its energies being wasted in the formation of parts that 
contribute no ornament, and reserving them to promote vigour and future floweriness ; yet these 
pods are suffered to remain and ripen in almost every garden. Again, there is the petals of the 
rose shed over the borders and the lawn, or hanging still upon the plant in brown withered 
clusters, impairing the effect of those in full-blown perfection, and looking not a little untidy. 
Many plants, moreover, which flower on the current season's shoots are induced to flower longer 
