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OPERATIONS FOR JULY. 
Daily syringing, at this dry season, is, we believe, much more beneficial to 
plants than most cultivators imagine. By thus applying water to their evaporating 
surface, that excessive transpiration which occurs at this period is seasonably 
repressed, and the processes of nutrition and secretion are enabled to proceed, 
sufficient succulence being by this means preserved, without the absorption by the 
roots, and consequent circulation through the entire system, of crude sap, which 
would considerably interfere with the consolidation and maturation of the newly- 
formed wood. 
In favour of this practice, it may also be mentioned that, to plants in the open 
ground, rain or heavy dew is always more propitious and useful than a much 
greater artificial administration of fluids to their roots. The succeeding day's sun 
has thus, for a while at least, a moist surface to act upon ; and, on the failure of 
this, there is always a supply that has been absorbed by the leaves, which diverts 
that powerful agent from sapping so extensively the substance of the plant. It 
follows, in natural coincidence with these facts, that gentle syringing would be of 
great advantage to plants in the open border, when any artificial watering is 
considered needful. 
In watering plants in pots, particularly those whose roots are very much 
compressed, or much exposed to the action of the sun, it is advisable to thoroughly 
wet the pots themselves. This may appear a superfluous or whimsical hint, but 
its adoption is of some value. Most of the more tender roots and their spongioles 
are situated near the sides of the pot, and these being of the most highly susceptive 
nature, are frequently damaged, or even destroyed, by the intense and dry heat 
conducted through the substance of the pot to the surface with which they are in 
contact. It is this, as well as the copious exhalations from so large and exposed a 
superficies, that makes some covering for the pots, or some medium in which to 
plunge them, so essential to those kinds which are placed in the open air. 
The young shoots of all exotics are now, perhaps, in the very best condition 
for propagation by cuttings. Being in some slight degree hardened, they are not 
so liable to decay as when much younger ; while they unquestionably form roots 
sooner than the more matured branches. We have before recommended the spring- 
as the most suitable epoch for increasing plants in this manner ; and, for the 
reasons then expressed, we still adhere to that opinion. But there are some 
exceedingly delicate species which, owing to the weakness and succulence of their 
new developments, could not then be successfully struck ; and for such the present 
is the preferable season. They should only be allowed to grow just sufficiently to 
establish themselves before winter, and on no account must they be vigorously 
excited, except for a very brief time. 
