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OPERATIONS FOR JULY, 
Stove plants will derive great advantage from a partial shading during the glare 
of the day at this season, which will preserve them in their natural luxuriance, and 
also render them less liable to injury from drought. Water must be administered 
liberally, both to the roots, and also over the leaves and branches by a syringe ; 
but this latter operation should never be performed until the sun has ceased shining 
on the house, or the leaves would be in danger of being scorched. Cuttings of any 
desirable sort may now be successfully struck, and all climbing plants should be 
kept within due bounds. 
Greenhouse plants cannot be too sedulously attended to with regard to water- 
ing, as there are frequently more plants lost this month (particularly heaths) for 
want of water, than there are in the winter season, through excessive moisture. 
This is not so much owing to the direct influence of the sun upon the surface of 
the soil in the pots, as to the heat of the sun penetrating the pots, and burning or 
parching the root fibres, which usually find their way to the sides of the pot. It 
is therefore important, that where the pots are very much exposed to the sun, they 
shovdd be protected by moss or other similar material, and that in watering, not 
only the soil in the pots, but the pots themselves, should be thoroughly wetted. 
The artificial heat applied to Camellias may now be gradually diminished, and 
when their growth is completed, they will not require so much water, though the 
soil should never be allowed to become too dry. Pelargoniums should have their 
shoots shortened to within a few inches of the stem, as soon as their flowers have 
faded, when the shoots may be made into cuttings, and struck in a gentle heat 
under a hand-glass, and the old plants should be repotted, and placed in a slightly 
humid heat. Succulent plants, that have ceased growing, should be watered rather 
sparingly, and only allowed sufficient moisture to preserve them from drooping or 
shrivelling. Propagate by cuttings any greenhouse plants whose shoots are of a 
proper size and consistence. 
In the flower-garden, as we have before remarked, watering is of primary 
importance at this season. Chrysanthemums that were struck from cuttings last 
month, may now be planted out, retaining a few in pots for the greenhouse or 
conservatory. It will be advisable to clear away a portion of the flower-stems 
that are produced on the old plants, otherwise they will not flower in perfection. 
Another sowing of hardy annuals may be made this month, for the purpose of 
obtaining a succession of flowers in the autumn. Seeds of any plants that are now 
producing them, and which it may be desirable to save, should be carefully collected 
on a fine day, and spread out upon paper to dry. Dahlias will require watering 
this month, but it is better to place some damp, retentive, rotten manure round the 
base of the stem, to the distance of one foot or eighteen inches, which will 
effectually preserve the roots in a cool and moist condition. 
