?^Sir^s_ 
GARDEN HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
9 a.m., in the same year, is 7-8 inches, or 0-7 inch per hour, which shows an excess of 3-10ths in the 
day, over that of the night hour's. 
It is urged upon those who wish to record the rain-fall, to place a gauge near the surface of the 
soil, and another some few, or more feet, ahove the ground. As an illustration of the importance of 
this step, it may he mentioned that in 1850, at Highfield House, near' the surface of the ground, 22'1 
inches fell, whilst at 25 feet above the ground only 20'7 inches fell. In a violent thunderstorm, which 
only lasted an hour, I registered l'OO inch at 25 feet, and 1 - 10 inch on the ground. This increase is 
greatest in hot weather, and the law is not confined to rain, as it applies equally to snow and hail. In 
summer the rain drops increase in size Very rapidly as they near the earth, whilst in winter but little, 
and frequently no alteration in their bulk takes place. At a temperature of 25°, if snow falls, the 
flakes are exceedingly small, but as the temperature nears that of the freezing point, they become 
rapidly larger. In like manner, in winter the hailstones are small, but in the summer months, and 
more especially during thunderstorms, they attain a size which is so much dreaded, and occasionally 
produces sad havoc to our houses with glass roofs. 
iBuxln lilts fur Slmnintrs. 
AUGUST. 
SNCE more we are approaching "the sere and yellow leaf;" and gay as our gardens may appear at 
the present time, the cold nights of the harvest moon will soon begin to spread desolation among 
the more tender plants : therefore the " Hints " of last month must not be neglected, and no time 
must be lost in getting in good stock pots of all the choicest and most delicate flower-garden plants. 
This remark applies more especially to such tender tilings as Nierembergia intermedia and filicaulis, 
Lantana Selloviana and crocea, and the more delicate kinds of Lobelias — all of which require to be strong 
and well established to enable them to get through the winter in good condition. Some of the finer 
kinds of Petunias and Verbenas, especially the hard-wooded and free-blooming varieties, require to be 
taken early, or they strike root very reluctantly ; indeed it is a good plan to keep a few plants from 
the spring store, as such plants, if properly established, always produce better cuttings than those 
rooted in the autumn, and half a dozen established plants of that age will produce more and better 
cuttings than dozens of plants of the ordinary kind. Climbing plants, such as Maurandyas, should be 
rooted early to get them strong, and cuttings of the Bouvardias, of various kinds, if not too hard, will 
root in gentle heat now, and produce nice plants in the spring. Kalosanthes may also still be propa- 
gated, as may B-oehea falcata, which makes a splendid plant for autumn beds or baskets. We saw 
the other day some large plants of Gazania pavonia, which, in the full blaze of the sun, have a really 
magnificent appearance ; this plant is not so much cultivated as it ought to be, for upon rockwork, in 
a sunny situation, it is a most remarkable plant. Proceed, as fast as you can procure cuttings without 
disfiguring the beds, to propagate Pelargoniums of all kinds, placing the cuttings in a sunny situation 
in the open garden. Among comparative novelties, Cerise Unique and Commander-in-Chief we find 
two of the best, and they will both make fine beds. Queen of Summer, though equal in habit to Tom 
Thumb, and a fine scarlet, is not sufficiently free ; and with us, in bright weather, the old flowers burn 
before the truss is fully formed, and hence it has always a ragged appearance. We have a small goose- 
berry-leaved Pelargonium which does not grow more than a few inches high, and produces a complete 
mass of brilliant scarlet flowers, which may be classed among the best of the scarlets for small beds ; 
we call it, in consequence of its bright colour, Harkaway. Of the variegated varieties, " Flower of 
the Day " is very good; but Mr. Gaines, of Battersea, has a much finer one as to colour and variega- 
tion, the white of the foliage being very pure, and the scarlet very brilliant — yet, unfortunately, it is a 
slow grower, and hence may not get into general cultivation for several years to come. The sweet- 
scented kinds, as the Prince of Orange, Bose-scented, Citriodorum, Lady Scarborough, Lady Plymouth, 
and the like delicate kinds, should be increased without delay, as should the Ivy-leaved and Manglcs's 
variegated. 
Towards the end of the month, and through September and October, Boses — more especially the 
Tea, Bourbon, and Hybrid China kinds — strike with great freedom, providing the wood is tolerably 
ripe, and the cuttings be kept cool. Under a common hand-glass is a good place; but if taken from 
the open ground and placed in heat, they are almost sure to perish. The rage for planting the finer 
kinds of perpetual Boses in masses and separate beds is yearly becoming more fashionable, and, when 
properly managed, they certainly have a splendid appearance. The limits, however, of a monthly 
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