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Work for the Month of August | 
By Henry Gibson, New York 
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THOUGH August with its heat and lazy days has 
been deemed by many a dead month as far as gar- 
dening operations are concerned, yet there is a 
good deal that can be accomplished to advantage at 
good deal that can be accomplished to advantage at this 
time. August is an excellent time to plant evergreens. 
Moreover, at this time of the year one can give more 
attention to the details of the work. Should the month 
prove droughty, plenty of water should be applied to 
the newly planted stock, or many will not survive the 
ordeal of transplanting. Water thoroughly and regu- 
larly and if circumstances permit of it spray the plants 
well towards evening. 
Red spider is partial to evergreens, especially during 
dry weather, and no stock should be planted that is 
suffering from the activities of this pest, unless strin- 
gent measures are taken to eradicate it. Though a 
violent enemy of evergreens red spider is compara- 
tively easy to combat, a strong force of water usually 
being sufficient to keep them in check, but it requires 
persistent effort. 
Speaking of using water to check the activities of 
red spider brings to mind the matter of dealing with 
bugs and other insects that prey upon green succulent 
vegetables that are about ready for the table. While 
strong poisons are generally used it is preferable to 
use a good stream of water, for to use poisons on or 
near the vegetables that are soon to be consumed may 
result in serious consequences to the consumers. A 
stream of water applied with a hose fitted with an ad- 
justable nozzle so as to get a fine spray will most 
effectively serve in washing off such insects as aphids, 
red spiders, leaf-hoppers, etc. Not only is this treat- 
ment serviceable, but the staining of woodwork, and 
the persistence of disagreeable odors that attend the 
use of some insecticides are obviated, by the water 
cure. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Neatness is the order of the day in this department. 
The lawn will not require such frequent cutting, and 
the time thus gained may be well spent in staking, 
tying, and cultivating in "the flower garden. Dahlias 
will be showing bud formation at this time, and should 
be encouraged with applications of bone meal or other 
good commercial fertilizer, forked in around the base 
of the plants. Any plants that show a tendency to 
grow strong and rank with no prospect of throwing 
flower buds, should be cultivated somewhat deeply so 
as to cut the roots and check growth, which will in- 
variably cause them to set up flower buds. Liquid ma- 
nure should be used sparingly on Dahlias, as it tends to 
set up a soft growth. 
Climbing roses and vines should be gone over from 
time to time and be tied and trained into position. 
When it is necessary to restrict flowering vines, the 
old wood should be cut. which is practically spent, and 
lay in a good supply of young shoots. 
Don't allow any of the vines to suffer for want of 
water; a good application of bone-meal forked in will 
greatly improve the quality of the flowers, and nothing 
will be of so much benefit to the climbing roses than 
frequent applications of liquid manure. The long 
canes being thrown up by these roses will bear flowers 
another season and one cannot have them too strong. 
Tall growing annuals should be kept staked and tied 
into place, for it does not take much wind to break 
and do considerable damage to them. Hardy early 
flowering outdoor Chrysanthemums should be staked 
as they require it, or many blooms will be spoiled and 
broken by wind and storms. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
The final sowing of string beans may be made not 
later than the middle of the month. If large quantities 
ot this vegetable are used sow several rows about 
eighteen inches apart, so that they may be protected 
from frost by throwing an awning over them. By the 
aid of such protection string beans may be had in 
sections right down to November. A sowing of peas 
for a late crop may be made as early in the month as 
possible. It is not always possible to get these last 
sowings of peas to mature, but if they fail the loss is 
small, and should they come in the gain is considerable. 
Late cabbage should be kept well watered to prevent 
club-root. They should also be sprayed with arsenate 
of lead before they head up. There is then less danger 
from the poison ; and it surely keeps the cabbage worm 
in check. Celery may still be set out. In many sec- 
tions of the country owing to the lateness of the sea- 
son celery will be late in being planted because it is a 
crop that usually follows early peas, and these are late 
this year. One can still hope to get good celery de- 
spite the late planting, though the heads will not be so 
large. Dig plenty of manure into the ground and don't 
stint the water supply. 
Onions will be ripening toward the end of the month. 
When the tops start to turn yellow, pull them up and 
lay them on their side for a day or two until they dry 
up. Then place them in a dry place where they will 
have abundance of air until the stems dry up entirely. 
Raspberries should be pruned as soon as the fruit 
is all picked. Cut out the old bearing canes and tie 
the young ones to the trellis heading them back to 
about 4 feet in height to cause them to branch out. 
Blackberries should have similar treatment, and when 
the work is being done a sharp lookout ought to be 
kept for rust. This is a fungus disease which appears 
in spring on the under sides of the leaves, where it 
forms an orange red or rusty color. The reddish dust 
that is so easily shaken from the leaves is really the 
spores. The presence of spore masses is visible evi- 
dence that within the stems of the canes bearing af- 
fected leaves are the feeding threads, or Mycelium of 
the fungus, which live in the canes from year to year. 
Spraying is therefore useless, and the only way to 
successfully combat this disease is to prune out and 
burn affected parts. 
THE GREENHOUSES. 
Flic greenhouses are the scene of many activities 
this month, no les^ than the out-door garden. Now is 
the time to attend to the broken glass and other nec- 
essary repairs, painting, etc. It is easier to do this 
work now than when the house is filled with plants. 
Calla lilies should be potted now if not already done. 
Give them a rich compost, and after one thorough wa- 
tering keep them reasonably dry until the roots begin 
to permeate the soil. 
Lilies of all kinds are now procurable, and these 
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