338 
FLOWER GARDEN, 
watering well. In the open ground Annuals 
require watering, tying up, cutting down de- 
caying flower stems, clearing from weeds, and 
occasional stirring the earth round ahout them. 
Perennials in pots, such as the Chimney 
Campanula, or Campanula pyramidalis, some 
of the Delphiniums, Petunias, Verbenas, in 
short all kinds, hardy, half-hardy, and tender, 
want considerable care and watchfulness dur- 
ing the hot weather of August. A few hours' 
neglect destroys the bloom, and this neglect 
much increased would destroy the plants 
themselves. Those in the open ground must 
undergo the same routine, except that water- 
ing need not be so frequent. They must, if 
slender, be tied up to stakes ; decayed stems, 
leaves, and branches, must be cut off. Those 
which are out of bloom may be propagated by 
parting the roots, and this may be done two 
ways. If the borders in which they are grow- 
ing are to remain in the same style, the best 
mode of doing this is to cut off with the spade 
portions of the patch which the plant forms, 
all round it, or on one side more than another, 
or at the back or front, as the case may be, 
so as to leave the plant in the ground perfectly 
undisturbed, and no larger than it is wanted. 
Digging out these pieces leaves holes, which 
must be filled up with fresh soil. The portions 
so cut away may be divided into moderately 
small pieces, and be planted in nursery beds, 
to grow into good-sized plants. Among the 
subjects to be so propagated may be mentioned 
the Scarlet Lychnis, Gentianella, the several 
Campanulas, Daisies, Polyanthuses, Prim- 
roses, almost all herbaceous plants, the Mi- 
chaelmas Daisies or Asters of all the kinds, 
Peonies, &c. Where it is desirable to make 
the largest quantity of stock, the whole plant 
is better dug up, and divided into as many 
pieces as can be made with a portion of root 
to them, and planted in a shady border, six 
inches apart, there to grow and establish them- 
selves. 
Perennial Seed may be sown at the be- 
ginning of the month, and will grow sufficiently 
by the end of October or the beginning of 
November, to plant out in nursery-beds to ac- 
quire strength. Most persons, however, plant 
in June and July, to get strong plants before 
the winter, so as to plant them out where 
they are to flower, before the winter sets in ; 
but in good ground and a good situation, they 
will grow quite large enough before the end 
of November to secure a good bloom in spring. 
Bulbous-rooted Plants yield seed plen- 
teously in a general way, and it may be sown 
as soon as it is ripe. This month, for instance, 
is a good month to sow the seed of all kinds 
of Lilies, Tulips, Hyacinths, Irises, Crown 
Imperials, Narcissuses, Crocuses, and the like. 
Sow in large pots, cover a quarter of an inch 
thick, place them in a cool frame until they 
germinate, which will be in spring. They will 
do equally well in the open ground if undis- 
turbed, where they may be raked in well, and 
a little light earth be sifted over the whole. 
There they may remain all the winter; but, if 
it be very severe, put a little peas haulm over 
the beds, which is the greatest protection 
there can be against frost and its bad effects. 
Carnations and Piccotees must be lay- 
ered this month; for, unless they be well rooted 
before they are cut off, they do not get well 
over the winter, and this month it can be done 
under the most favourable circumstances ; for 
the operation of layering should not be begun 
until the bloom has passed its prime. The 
usual plan has been to strip or cut off the 
leaves completely up to the top four or five 
pair ; to cut the tops of the leaves off square, 
so as to shorten them considerably before the 
operation of layering commenced. This last 
unkind cut has always been against common 
sense. It is necessary so to strip or take off 
the leaves below the first four or five pair, for 
the purpose of cutting the stem, and leaving it 
proper for pegging under ground ; but the 
leaves to be left on must not be shortened. 
With a sharp knife you must make a cut about 
two inches below the lower leaves that are left 
on; the cut is to be made from the under part, 
below a joint, / nearly half way through the 
stem, and cut up towards the leaves half an 
inch. Cut the bit which you have separated, 
as it were, from the main stem square at the 
bottom, and peg down the shoot under the 
surface of the soil, as per example. 
When the shoots are all pegged down they must 
be watered, and care must be taken that the 
plants are not distressed for water afterwards. 
They will be well struck in a month or six 
weeks, but they ought all to be layered this 
month. Remove the petals of flowers past 
their prime, if you wish for seed; as they often 
rot in the pod, and destroy the seed-vessel also. 
Pinks. — The pipings of Pinks will have 
struck root by this time, or, at all events, this 
month. Plant them out six inches apart, in 
beds of rich earth, or earth well dressed with 
dung and fresh loam ; the former thoroughly 
decomposed, and the whole well mixed. If 
you are obliged to use the ordinary soil of a 
garden, however good it may be, dress it with 
well-decomposed cowdung. Water them in 
