AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
195 
lSiiO.J 
shade. Rub off the flowers, and keep them from the air 
in bottles or cans. 
Hoc often to loosen the soil and destroy weeds. 
Insects—Grubs, striped bugs and squash bugs are still 
troublesome and must be looked after. Visit the vines 
early in the morning, and destroy bugs by hand. Plant 
additional seeds about the hills of vines occasionally, to 
feed insects escaping observation ; they will choose the 
young growth. These superfluous plants can be removed 
when the insects have gone. Salt sown upon land de¬ 
voted to cabbages, say three or four bushels per acre, 
will, it is said, prevent the ravages of the cut worm. 
Lettuce—Keep up a succession for the table by sowing, 
f, in, 1. The Silesian variety is recommended for late use. 
Melons for mangoes may be planted, ff. Hoe those 
planted early. Pinch off the ends of long straggling 
vines to increase the yield of fruit. 
Mushrooms—Collect necessary materials for Autumn 
beds, m, II. 
Onions—Keep free from weeds, and the soil around 
them well lightened. Examine for the maggot and try 
sulphur or other applications to repel them. Experiments 
are needed to find a certain remedy. Sow seed, 11, for 
half grown bulbs (pips) to be set out next Spring. 
Peas sown, ff, will be in season for late use, and less 
infested with weevil. 
Potatoes—Harvest early varieties and devote the ground 
to turnips, late cabbages, or other crops. 
Preserving Fruits and Vegetables—Commence with 
these as they mature, and continue through the season. 
For directions read article in this number, page 214. 
Radishes—Seed sprinkled among corn, cabbages, etc., 
after hoeing, will give continued succession. 
Raspberries—Pick daily as the fruit ripens. When the 
fruiting is passed, cut down old canes of last year’s 
growth, and train the young sprouts to slakes or low trel¬ 
lises for next year’s crop. Remove weak spindling 
shoots, leaving two or three of the strongest canes. If a 
further supply of canes is wanted, superfluous shoots may 
be left and removed in the Fall. 
Rhubarb—Gather for preserving in bottles or for wine 
making. Many stalks near the center of the plant are 
still serviceable. 
Seeds—Gather Turnip, Cabbage and other seed now ri¬ 
pening. Dry with care, and label for another year. Tur¬ 
nip seed of this season’s grow th will answer to sow now. 
Spinach—Sow, ff, m, for late use.- Allow a sufficient 
number of plants from early sow'ings to remain for seed. 
Strawberries—The finest fruit is produced by culture in 
hills. Clip the runners as they appear, and keep the bed 
free from weeds. If beds need replenishing, mark out 
sections two to three feet wide, manure with leaf mold, 
and a little stable manure, dig it in deeply, and mix well 
with the soil. The rows left, will send out runners and 
cover the new sections. The older portions can be re¬ 
newed in the same manner the following season. 
Thin out all beds or hills where plants are crowded, 
and remove late setting fruit from vines. 
Tomatoes—Train to trellises or upon frames. They 
may be supported by brush as for peas. Nip off the ends 
of the vines after sufficient fruit is set. Allow only so 
much as will ripen before frost, except where green fruit 
is preferred for pickling. 
Transplant to fill vacancies in hills or rows. By ob¬ 
serving directions given in previous numbers, any plant 
not too large can be removed with little injury. 
Weeds are best raised by pulling them out of the 
ground ; or raze them to the ground with the hoe. 
Winter Cherries—If additional plants are wanted, take 
cuttings from those growing, and set the same as for 
transplanting. Shade and water moderately until they 
root. 
Flower Gardem asid JLawia. 
The cool and dry weather of the last of May and first 
of June delayed the flowering season a little, but rains 
and the warm sunshine during the latter part of June 
have made ample amends and covered the lawn with 
a thick velvety grow th, and the flower borders with a pro¬ 
fusion of bloom. Perhaps no month in the year is richer 
in flowers than July. Some of the early plants have fin¬ 
ished their blooming season, but there are many of the 
perennials still in flower, while the borders are gay with 
the bright colors of a host of annuals, if well kept, other¬ 
wise they give little pleasure to the owner or others. Not 
only will the flowers continue longer in bloom, but they 
will be far prettier if allowed ample space to develop 
themselves, and the ground is well stirred and kept free 
from weeds. A favorite plant can be kept in flower much 
longer than its ordinary period, by watering it frequently 
and shading fojr a few hours in the middle of each sun 
ny day. A piece of muslin tacked upon stakes makes a 
convenient screen. 
Everything is now growing rapidly, and especially 
among the trees and shrubbery should the knife be used 
freely. Almost any shape can be given to a tree or shrub 
by Summer pruning. A compact, stocky head is much 
better than a long straggling growth. Nip off the aspir¬ 
ing shoots and side branches will push out to form this 
desirable head. This pruning need not be confined to de¬ 
ciduous trees alone. Even evergreens are found to bear 
judicious clipping, not only with impunity but with man¬ 
ifest advantage. 
Annuals of quick growth may still be sown, ff, lo take 
the place of early blooming plants. The most of them 
will flower before frost, even if they do not ripen seed. 
They will also help to lengthen out the floral season. 
Bulbs—Those which are to be reset, should now be 
lifted, dried, and put away in drawers or wrapped in pa¬ 
pers and carefully labeled. It is not necessary to trans¬ 
plant them every year. 
Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks—Layer, ff, m, select¬ 
ing a rainy day or water the plants at the time o, layer¬ 
ing. Cuttings can also be put in at the same time. There 
should now be a fine show of bloom. Some of the flow¬ 
ers will incline to burst upon the side and give an imper¬ 
fect bloom. This defect will be remedied by splitting 
the sheath with a knife, or clipping the top of the cap. 
Dahlias—It is not too late to set out plants started last 
month in pots.or otherwise. Prune side branches and 
firmly stake and tie tall plants. A single stalk is sufficient 
to leave in a place. 
Evergreens make much of their growth in July, and 
are particularly ornamental at this period. No lawn or 
ornamental ground is complete without a collection of 
them, beautiful at all seasons and fine for the “ Winter 
garden.” This is the appropriate season to prune them. 
If to make stately trees leave the leader uninjured, but 
when desired to form shrubs, both the upright and prin¬ 
cipal side shoots may be pinched in to advantage. 
Flower stalks are unsightly after completing their bloom. 
Cut them away unless seed is wanted, and plant annuals 
to occupy the space. 
Geraniums are in full flower, and if well arranged, make 
a fine show. The Tom Thumbs answer admirably for 
bedding out. Both layers and cuttings may now be made. 
Gravel—Keep freo from weeds and well rolled. Tull 
out the weeds, or use the scuffle hoe. Some apply salt 
to destroy the weeds, but it requires too thick a coat. A 
machine has been invented wffiich forces a jet of steam 
upon the weeds as it passes over them. 
Hedges—The first clipping should be finished, ff. Cut 
evenly and to a line upon the top leaving them a little 
cone shaped. Do not trim from the sides near the bottom 
at this season, as the object-now is to thicken the hedge. 
Thin places can soon be filled up by judicious pruning. 
Hoe grounds often. Even if there are no weeds, the 
soil should be frequently stirred with a hoe or rake, to 
prevent crusting. Use a push hoe and walk backwards 
which will leave the weeds loose upon the top without 
any footprints. 
Insects—Look after and destroy the rose slug as direct¬ 
ed last month. The leaf hopper dislikes the odor of the 
soap mixture. 
Leaves and Grass Edgings need shearing every fort¬ 
night during this rapid growing w eather. Pare evenly, 
but not too closely and rake off at once. 
Layering—This is a favorable month to layer many 
plants, vines, etc. The present season’s growth may be 
used, and if put down early in the month, roots will prob¬ 
ably be formed, and layers may be taken off another 
Spring. 
Manure may be applied to the lawn, or to any plants 
which are not growing thriftily, by first dissolving it in 
water. Poultry droppings or guano, treated in this way, 
make a powerful fertilizer. Only one quart of guano 
should be used to 8 gallons of water. 
Potted Plants—Some of these remain in their pots, and 
were only brought from the houses for a few months sun¬ 
shine and fresh air. Whether sunk in the earth, or stand¬ 
ing upon the ground, the pots should be turned around oc¬ 
casionally, else the roots will penetrate through the hole 
at the bottom and fasten into the soil. They will also re¬ 
quire more water than plants growing in the open ground. 
Prune freely, but judiciously. Remember the object 
now is to give shape and thickness, and to develop flower 
buds. Nip off frequently rather than prune seldom and 
heavily. 
Rhododendrons are still in flower. Water freely and 
keep the soil well stirred about them. 
Roses are still in full flower and fragrance. This is the 
proper season to bud and layer in order to change the va¬ 
riety and increase the slock. New growth, layered now, 
will root sufficiently to be removed another Spring. Keep 
pillar and climbing varieties tied to stakes, or trellis. Use 
the oil soap solution freely to destroy slugs and leaf hop¬ 
pers. Even the rose bug evidently dislikes the odor. 
Prune those trained as standard or tree forms, and head 
back pillar and climbing sorts. 
Salvias make a good show of bloom at this season. 
They can be pegged down and spread so as to form a 
dense mass of flow'ers. 
Seeds—Collect any of the early varieties now ripening. 
Stake or otherwise confine all tall growing plants liable 
to be broken down by high winds. 
Thin plants requiring it, temembering that a shrub or 
flower can not fully develop itself when crowded. Be¬ 
ginners usually leave them too close. 
Transplant the remainder of the biennials and peren¬ 
nials sown last month. Some of the annuals may be set 
out to take the places of flow ers already faded. 
Verbenas—These admirable bedding plants now show 
a mass of bloom if properly arranged, and spread by lay¬ 
ering and pegging. The beauty is to have a mass of flow¬ 
ers and foliage hiding the ground beneath. 
Verbenas—Increase stock of Fall blooming plants by 
layering. 
Water any plants needing it during dry w eather. 
Weeds—Keep down by frequent hoeings. 
Cri'ccss janad ISoS-SSmsses. 
As most of the plants have been taken to the open 
grounds where the care of them comes more appropriate¬ 
ly under “ Flower Garden and Lawn,” we have very few 
directions to give, relative to the houses. Some of the 
tropical and other plants over which it is needful to have 
perfect control, are still in houses especially devoted to 
them, but, for the most part these houses have both doors 
and windows open day and night, except during stormy 
weather. The glass of such houses should also be coi> 
l'Ugated, or coated with some substance to break the di¬ 
rect rays of the Stin. Frequent syringings and waterings 
will be necessary to keep the humid atmosphere suited 
to many of these plants. 
Budding may now be performed upon many of tho 
woody plants. 
Callas—Repot towards the latter part of the month, wa 
tering less freely. 
Cissus, and other trailing,or climbing plants should be 
arranged in suitable positions for training. They should 
be near the glass. 
Cuttings of a large number of plants may be made, ff, 
m. Insert them at once in pots of prepared mold. 
Earth for Potting—Provide a good supply and have it 
well mixed against a time of need. 
Grapes—Some of the houses have already ripened their 
crops and the plants should be checked in growth prepar¬ 
atory to a period of rest. A dry atmosphere, and dryness 
at the root will soon check their growing. Those plants 
which have received less forcing will need some atten¬ 
tion 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 sulphur 
upon the first appearance of mildew. 
Insects of all kinds need especial looking after now. 
The whale-oil soap solution will prove sufficient in most 
cases, although it may sometimes be necessary to resort 
to tobacco fumes. 
Layer and inarch many of the woody plants to increase 
the stock, ff, m. 
Oranges and Lemons, whether in or out of doors 
should be budded, ff, m. Water bearing plants freely, and 
thin fruit as may be needed. 
Potting should be prosecuted vigorously during this 
month. Large numbers of the seedlings are now crowd¬ 
ed for room. If possible, put them in pots of a blooming 
size at once. 
Prune plants, ff, m, to bring them to a good form. In 
some of the plants the old wood requires cutting away to 
renew the growth. 
Seeds—Gather any ripening, and save with care, or 
plant at once. 
Water—Give copious supplies during the warm, dry 
w'cather of this month, sometimes both morning and 
evening. Wash freely with a syringe. 
ApiaB’y in Jn2y. 
BY M. QUINBY. 
Nearly all of the best quality of surplus honey will be 
stored this month. Give close attention to the boxes. 
Do not neglect any stock or swarm that is crowded for 
room. Only a few days neglect now, may reduce the 
amount of surplus one half—bees will often continue to 
work in a box, while honey is failing, when they would 
not make a beginning at such time. All boxes should 
be removed as soon as filled, and empty ones put on in 
their places, as long as honey is being stored.—Combs 
