167 
OPERATIONS FOR AUGUST. 
Now that the business in the various floral departments, as far as present effect is concerned, 
has become chiefly of a routine character, we are at liberty to, and must of necessity, turn our 
attention to the future, by commencing to propagate. This is particularly the case in the out-door 
floral department, where propagation has chiefly to be effected by cuttings ; for detailed methods 
of treating which, see the article in another page. Stove and greenhouse plants necessarily do not 
require increasing to a great extent ; under ordinary circumstances, little difficulty is experienced 
in producing the requisite number from cuttings, if the well-known conditions essential to success 
are at hand. The majority of the former are amongst the most simple and easy things to strike ; 
the reverse, though, is the case with the latter. Perseverance with them will do much, but 
extensive success can only be attained by long experience ; hence the inutility of going into the 
practical detail of the various methods pursued. The facility with which Roses, innumerable 
shrubs, deciduous and evergreen, increase by layering now, should be taken advantage of; budding, 
also, may be extensively practised. Neither must the numerous plants Ave annually raise from 
seeds be forgotten at this season. Where seed -saving is practised — and there are few places that 
under some circumstances, and to a greater or less extent, it does not become necessary — care 
should be taken that the first seeds, which are the finest, are caught before they become shed or 
otherwise lost. The diligence with which this direction is carried out will, of course, always 
depend upon the kind and quantity wished to be saved. The kind, again, is also the best guide as 
to the disposal of the seeds after they are gathered. Biennials and perennials should have their 
seeds sown as soon as they are ripe, in a manner suitable to their nature, while annuals have 
simply to be placed away, except it is wished to raise quickly, and have them in flower. Regard 
must be had that none are stored away before they are properly ripe and dry, or loss and disap- 
pointment will be the consequence. 
The stronger-growing herbaceous plants, occupying shrubbery borders, such as Hollyhocks, 
Phloxes, &c, may now have their main flower-stems permanently disposed, and secured to suitable 
supports ; this cannot be too effectually clone, arranging them in as free and characteristic a 
manner as possible. Their superior appearance, when so dealt with, will well repay the extra 
care taken with them, and further, they become much finer, and fully develope their lateral 
branchings. Here, too, the masses of, or individual shrubs, require some attention to keeping 
them in proper bounds, and, by removing over-luxuriant branches, preserving uniformity. This 
direction may be very extensively applied ; all the various ornamental shrubs and trees may be 
examined, with a view to its being practised where necessary. Plants, as they go out of flower, 
on borders, must have their old flower-stems removed and the plants lessened in bulk if requisite. 
Those coming into bloom must be duly supported and trained, and patches of annuals may have 
some of their shoots cut back, and part of their flowers removed, to induce them to continue 
longer in perfection. Dahlias cannot now be too well tended, thinning and tying their shoots, 
lessening the number of their flower-buds, &c, to insure fine blooms. Arbours and Jy«/-covered 
objects will begin to require that their coverings receive the usual trimming. But, instead of 
using the garden shears, and proceeding as is commonly done, we would strongly recommend the 
knife alone to be used, especially in conspicuous situations ; going over the whole with patience, 
removing all strong shoots not wanted altogether, and shortening back those that require it. The 
superior effect, the result of such a proceeding, is ample reward. Attend to all kinds of Roses, 
every description of climbing plant, &c. according to directions of last calendar. The occupants 
of conservative walls now require carefully treating, thinning, fastening, and disposing so as to 
display their beauties, and enable them to develop their flowers in a free and natural way. Very 
much of the fine effect of these grand accompaniments of the flower-garden depends upon the treat- 
ment the plants which occupy them experience. 
In the parterre, the Box edgings will require neatly clipping ; the various beds must have the 
plants with which they are filled regularly gone over, preserving them within proper limits by 
shortening back the under and longest shoots, leaving others to fall into and occupy their places, 
and all decaying flowers and their stems removed. Annuals should have their seed-vessels con- 
