144 
OPERATIONS FOR JULY. 
What we have said on watering may have the appearance of triteness, yet the subject is of 
too much moment at present to permit us to pass it over. To plants in pots, the same general 
principles may be extended. Beautiful specimens of fine-rooted species are now best kept in 
frames, which serve materially to ward off the rays of the sun from their roots, and in which they 
can more readily be preserved moist. At this time the cultivator is often annoyed by seeing 
valuable plants sicken and die away in a few days ; hence the necessity for looking carefully after 
them, to prevent the sun from injuring their tender roots, and to see that the soil in which they 
are planted does not become hard and impenetrable to moisture. Sometimes the largest 
administrations of water have no effect, because they pass off down the sides of the pot, without 
entering the soil : it is therefore advisable to stir the surface of the earth occasionally, and thus 
keep it constantly open. 
To guard against the influence of the sun on the roots of susceptible plants, they should be 
placed where their pots are sheltered from its rays, or the pots containing them should be put in 
other and larger pots, and the interspace filled with moss, sand, or porous soil. By keeping these 
perpetually watered, a delightful moisture will be retained about the roots lying near the sides of 
the inner pot. It should also be provided, that each specimen do not want for pot room, so that 
the majority of its tender rootlets do not come into direct contact with the heat-absorbing surface 
of the pot. 
Pelargoniums that have shed their flowers should be at once cut down, disrooted, potted in 
smaller pots, and put in a close moist atmosphere, that they may have every assistance in 
developing their new shoots. The cuttings can be made use of in propagation, for which a very 
little heat, but a confined shaded place, will be requisite ; and both the young and old plants 
must have their shoots again stopped if they grow straggling, or are not duly bushy. 
The growth of Cactse and Indian Azaleas ought to be now attended to, and they should be 
watered profusely. It is injudicious to expose them yet to the open air, as the tissue of the 
shoots or leaves is too delicate at pi-esent to bear such conditions, and they will perfect themselves 
better in a light house, where too much air is not afforded. 
Bulbs of Amaryllis and other stove and greenhouse plants can be put together in a pit or 
frame where they will be near the glass, and where the influence of the sun, with the gradual 
diminution of water, will mature them, and cause their leaves to wither. Never allowing the 
foliage to flag is a good criterion of the quantity of water to be given ; and they may be kept as 
near to that state as possible. Crocuses, with those corms and bulbs that are hardy, should be 
taken up at this time, once in two or three years, and kept in dry boxes till the autumn. 
More air may now be given to the stove and greenhouse, and likewise to the Orchidaceous- 
house ; the latter should still be shaded. The plants having by this time, for the most part, 
completed their developments, a free current of air will assist in hardening and ripening them ; 
or, at any rate, will tend to make them robust and healthy. All that are wished to be propagated 
can be increased this month with the greatest facility by cuttings, and budding may be com- 
menced wherever it is appHcable. Heaths will demand shading at this season. 
Tender herbaceous or subshrubby plants in the open ground will have been thrown rather 
into a flowering than a growing state by the late drought ; they will therefore be benefited by 
having the flowers picked off, and by being liberally watered. Although this is the time at 
which they ought to come into bloom, the culturist must not scruple to take away the blossoms on 
that account, or their subsequent display will be extremely deficient. 
A few annuals may yet be sown in the borders, and others in pots for the greenhouse. In 
sowmg seeds it is well to steep them, particularly the larger ones, in water for a short time 
previously. This induces them to germinate much sooner ; but they must not be suffered to 
want water after being sown. 
The principal shoots of climbers should be kept fastened in, and the minor ones left to stand 
out from the wall or trellis, for effect. The stems of Chrysanthemums, and all those plants that 
need supporting, should be staked at an early period. Seeds can be saved from annuals, or any 
plants producing them ; selecting those specimens which have borne the finest flowers, and 
preserving only the best ripened of the seeds. 
