19(5 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
Insects are now troublesome if they have not 
been kept in check. The favorite multiflora, or 
choice souvenir rose, looks as though scorched by a 
fire. An examination discloses multitudes of green¬ 
ish worms or slugs upon the leaves, eating out the 
tender portions. Sifting air-slaked lime, or fresh 
wood ashes over the bushes each morning, while 
the dew is on, will soon destroy them. A still bet¬ 
ter application is one pound of whale oil soap to 
six gallons of water. Apply with a syringe or wa¬ 
tering pot twice a week, until they disappear. The 
same solution will drive away the small leaf-hop¬ 
pers, often quite troublesome. 
Lawns and Grass Edgings—Mow or shear once a 
fortnight, to keep a thick, green bottom. If the 
short grass is left evenly spread upon the surface, it 
serves to protect the roots from the sun, is soon 
hidden by the new growth, and its decay eventually 
enriches the soil. Do not let the turf encroach 
upon the flower borders, or grow too closely around 
newly planted, or even established trees. If suffer¬ 
ing from dryness, a hydrcpult, or other sprinkler, 
may be used to advantage, sprinkling with the 
waste wash water, or with liquid manure, well di¬ 
luted with water if it is dark colored and strong. 
Layers of new growth may now be put down ; 
they will probably root sufficiently to be removed 
in the Fall or Spring. 
Potted Plants—A few plants probably remain in 
their pots, and were only brought from the houses 
for sunshine and fresh air. Whether sunk in the 
earth, or standing upon the ground, the pots 
should be turned around occasionally, else the roots 
will penetrate through the hole at the bottom, and 
fasten into the soil. They will also require more 
water than plants growing in the open ground. See 
that they are sufficiently protected from high winds. 
Pruning should be completed early this month, 
especially the shortening in, that the after growth 
may have sufficient time to harden before Winter. 
Late pinching produces a late growth, which is full 
of crude sap when cold weather comes on. Such 
plants winter-kill badly. See fuller directions for 
lawn trees, under “Orchard and Nursery.” With 
shrubbery, the chief object is to give shape, thick¬ 
ness, and develop flower buds. Various curious 
forms can be given to trees and shrubs by peculiar 
pruning. See illustrations, p. 176, June Agriculturist. 
Rhododendrons which have made a magnificent 
6 how for several weeks past, are now nearly out of 
bloom, and are growing finely, preparatory to the 
formation of new flower buds. Keep the ground 
free from weeds, and well stirred about the plants. 
Roses—The fragrance of the June sorts, and 
showy clusters of Climbers have scarcely passed 
away, while Hybrid Perpetuals still exhibit a rich¬ 
ness and profusion of bloom. By cutting back 
freely, a second bloom is often obtained, even from 
those which usually flower but once in a season. 
Hemove all flower stems as soon as blooming is past. 
This is the appropriate season for budding. A fine 
effect is produced by budding several sorts upon 
one bush. Layers put down now will root before 
Fall. Cut half way through from the upper side of 
the layer, and there will be little danger of break¬ 
ing. Keep pillar and climbing varieties tied to 
stakes or trellises. Use the oil soap solution to de¬ 
stroy slugs and leaf hoppers, he rose bug dislikes 
the odor. Prune those trained as standard or tree 
forms, and head back pillar and climbing sorts. 
Salvias and Heliotropes make a good show of 
bloom at this season. They can be pegged down 
and spread so as to form a mass of flowers. 
Seeds—Some of the early blossoms are ripening 
seed, which should be gathered—some sorts every 
other morning, before being wasted on the ground. 
Perennials sown now will bloom freely next season. 
Stake or otherwise confine all tall growing plants 
liable to be broken down by high winds. 
Thin plants requiring it, remembering that a 
shrub or flower can not fully develop itself when 
crowded. Beginners usually leave them too close. 
Transplant annuals, perennials, etc., sown last 
me nth. Set in place' occupied by early bloom¬ 
ers now decaying, thus using the ground twice 
Verbenas—These admirable bedding plants now 
show a mass of bloom, if properly arranged and 
spread by layering and pegging. The ground may 
be entirely hid beneath a mat of flowers and foli¬ 
age. Continuing in bloom all Summer, of various 
tints and hues, the verbena is a universal favorite. 
Now is the time to provide a good stock, by layers 
or cuttings, for blooming in-doors next Winter. 
Water must be given occasionally to trees and 
shrubs set in the Spring, also to herbaceous plants. 
Frequent stirring of the ground will do much to¬ 
ward bringing up moisture from the soil, and it as¬ 
sists in absorbing dews. As often applied, water 
does little good ; a pail of water dashed upon the 
ground soaks in very little, while it helps to bake 
the soil. Scoop out a hollow about the tree or 
plant, pour in the water from a spout or sprinkler, 
and when soaked in, return the surface soil. 
Weeds will not, of course, be tolerated among 
flowers by good gardeners. 
Cbi-ccei ami iSol-EEmtses. 
Little more than bare walls is to be seen, except 
in propagating houses, the contents of most of 
these buildings having been transferred to the open 
grounds, some of them turned from, and others still 
growing in the pots. Those who raise plants for 
sale, still find it convenient to use the houses for 
striking cuttings, as they can better control sun¬ 
shine and shade, moisture and dryness, and guard 
against the extremes of temperature. In striking 
cuttings of succulent plants, for instance, there is 
so much evaporation from the leaves and stem, that 
it draws heavily for nourishment before roots are 
formed. A glass structure confines much of this 
moisture, and a hand-glass covering is an additional 
protection. Care must be exercised not to admit 
the direct rays of the sun through ordinary glass. 
If the glazing is corrugated, it will probably be suf¬ 
ficient, otherwise a coating of gum arabic, or glue 
and whiting must be applied to the glass, or a mus¬ 
lin screen stretched over it. The walls and floors 
should be syringed frequently to keep up a humid 
atmosphere, and the ventilators and doors be kept 
open most of the time. Future wants should be an¬ 
ticipated, and large numbers of cuttings of the 
leading varieties be put in for a stock of Winter 
blooming plants. 
Callas—Repot towards the latter part of the 
month, watering less freely. 
Cissus, and other trailing, or climbing plants 
should be arranged in suitable positions for train¬ 
ing. They should be near the glass. 
Grapes—Some of the houses have already ripened 
their crops, and the plants should be checked in 
growth preparatory to a period of rest. A dry at¬ 
mosphere, and dryness at the root will soon stop 
their growing. Those plants which have received 
less forcing will need some attention now. The 
ends of bearing shoots may require still further 
pinching in, and some of the clusters should be 
thinned again. Water and syringe freely. Use sul¬ 
phur upon the first appearance of mildew. Keep 
well ventilated. 
Insects of all kinds need especial looking after 
now. The whale-oil soap solution will prove suf¬ 
ficient in most cases, although it may sometimes 
be necessary to resort to tobacco fumes. 
Orange and Lemon Trees should now be budded, 
ff] if not already done. Water bearing plants freely 
and thin fruit as needed. 
Potting soil should be provided in ample quanti¬ 
ties for next Fall and Winter. It is better to keep 
a year’s supply on hand, as it improves with age. 
Many seedling and other plants are now ready for 
potting, and they should early be put iflto suitable 
pots, of small size at first, changing to larger ones 
as they increase in growth. 
Prune plants, £) m, to bring them to good form. 
With some of the plants the old wood requires cut¬ 
ting away to renew the growth. 
Seeds—Gather any ripening, and save with care, 
except such as may be planted at once. 
Water—Give copious supplies during the warm 
dry weather of this month, sometimes bolli morn 
iug and evening. Wash freely with a syringe. 
Apaary ana JTaaly. 
Prepared by M. Quinby, by request. 
As the Summer here (Montgomery Co., N. Y.,) is 
more backward than usual, we expect the swarming 
season to extend very far into July. This in itself 
is not discouraging: as long as the bees can avail 
themselves of all the flowers which come into 
bloom in succession, and lose no time by rainy 
weather, it makes but little difference whether they 
gather the honey of the apple blossoms the 10th ot 
May, or the 1st of June. Swarms may be consid¬ 
ered early, two weeks after apple blossoms are gone. 
The surplus honey boxes should now receive par¬ 
ticular attention. They should be removed as soon 
as the cells arc generally scaled over, without wait¬ 
ing for the few on the edges to be finished, as some 
of them may not be closed for a month. Combs 
grow darker the longer they remain on the hive. 
When the bees have a full harvest, boxes should be 
examined often. Replace with empty ones as fast 
as filled, for the purpose of giving the bees room to 
work, as well as to have the combs pure. All 
the best honey will be stored by the last of July ; 
what is obtained late, will be in small quantities, 
and if any is stored in the boxes, it is done so 
slowly that it is of dark color. In the vicinity of 
buckwheat, boxes may be rapidly filled, but the 
honey itself is dark aud inferior, even if stored in 
very white combs. Boxes not quite full of white 
honey are worth more in market than if filled out 
with that from buckwheat. On removing boxes 
from the hive, when bees are getting honey plenti¬ 
fully, they may be set down near the entrance—not 
in the hot sun—and the bees will readily creep out 
in a short time, without returning to carry off the 
honey; though when the supply has failed wholly or 
partially in the flowers, they will, if allowed, take 
it all. To prevent this, put the box on its side— 
combs vertical—in a box or barrel, cover with a 
thin cloth, turn it over occasionally as the bees 
gather on the under side, until they are all gone. 
Three weeks after the first swarm, is the time to 
examine for diseased hrood; when present, drive 
out the swarm to begin anew. When the combs 
are old enough to make pruning necessary, this is 
the time to do it. It is important that all old 
stocks have a queen; a week or two later than the 
above period it is time to find some indication of 
her presence. It is readily ascertained with the 
movable comb hive, by lifting out a frame or two in 
the center. Brood or eggs, are conclusive of her 
presence. With the box hive, when no immature 
brood is discovered on the floor, or about the en¬ 
trance, turn it over, and look down near the center 
of the hive on the sides of the combs, for sealed 
brood, driving the bees out of the way with smoke. 
When a hive, otherwise very good, contains no 
queen, break up some poor colony containing one, 
and supply the queenless stock. 
When from any cause bees are reduced so as not 
to cover the combs for a long time, the worms will 
be quite sure to destroy them; and if a colony of 
this kind can not be reinforced by some means, the 
contents—honey and wax—should be secured in 
advance of the moth, even if the few bees are 
wasted. Those who use the movable combs, can 
often add strength to a weak stock or a new swarm, 
by taking a comb filled with sealed brood from a 
strong colony, and introducing it. Protect it 
from a chill, by throwing over the hive an old 
blanket during cool nights before the brood hatches. 
July and August produce more moth worms 
than we find all the rest of the season. There is 
no danger from this cause, to strong healthy 
swarms, but the weak ones suffer. Under the 
small swarms, half full, lay some old pieces of dry 
comb ; the worms will gather around these, which 
may be taken out occasionally, and the worms des¬ 
troyed. Set shallow dishes filled with sweetened 
water, among the hives at night, for a few weeks. 
Give the moths that drown in them to the chickens. 
This liquid grows better as it gets older. Add a lit¬ 
tle water and molasses occasionally as it dries away 
