138 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
flower, Lobelias speciosa and Paxtoniana (tbe last from cuttings, as much of it 
raised from seed is comparatively worthless), Nierembergia gracilis, and 
Cuphea platycentra will take its place. The bright green foliage of this 
pretty and homely Sedum presents a striking contrast to the browned foliage 
of some Nosegay Geraniums in a bed just beneath it, right in the full glare of 
the sun. Poor things ! they seem to groan in their misery as they roast oil 
“the wretched land, 
That yields them no supplies.” 
Some Gladioli, planted on a shrubbery border, are making rapid growth, 
but are plentifully supplied with nourishment. Should this weather continue 
for a while longer they will be in bloom early, the spikes seem to be swelling 
out very fast. I gave all mine a liberal quantity of rotted manure to grow in, 
and they seemed to appreciate it. Though planted very late they have come 
on wonderfully quick, and though the bulk were very small in some cases, there 
will be two strong spikes to several of them. I intend in a few days to open 
the ground about them to the depth of some 2 to 3 inches, and place some 
more manure about them, and shall mulch them well with water while dry 
weather prevails. In another border but more shaded, I have a row of very 
strong plants of G. brenchleyensis, and by the side of this is a narrow slip in 
which I planted a dozen bulbs of G. ramosus, Ne Plus Ultra, said to a very fine 
and showy scarlet flower. What with these, the bedding stuff, dwarf Roses, 
dwarf Nasturtiums, Stocks, Asters, &c., the summer months are well provided 
for, and I hope to have a continuance of bloom until 
“ the summer is past 
And the -winds have a whisper that prophesies death.” 
And, last of all, though the last should have been first in the order of precedence, 
I have some dwarf Roses, pretty bushes covered with flowers. General Jac¬ 
queminot in a brilliant crimson uniform, looks every inch a warrior, fresh and 
trim in the morning, but just in the flush of the hot weather it gets prema¬ 
turely old by evening; Geant des Batailles, bright and glowing, but somewhat 
puny owing to the weather; Charles Lawson, large and full; Coupe d’Hebe, 
large globular flowers of great beauty ; Gloire de Dijon, very fine, and some few 
others, that flower so profusely that I can pluck some to grace the mantlepiece 
of my sitting-room. 
How pleasant to come up away out of the fierce tide and flow of the city’s 
strife on to the “ consecrated heights ” where dwell such beauteous forms ! It 
is a reproduction of the Delectable Mountains of the old Christian pilgrim, with 
the celestial ministrants, though in a much grosser form—faint reflection of 
the first home of man on earth ; type of the “ green fields ” that “ beyond the 
swelling flood ” in the region of the Great Evermore “ stand dress’d in living 
green.” Quo. 
ON SUMMER PRUNING. 
I question if there be anything which conveys more pleasurable feelings to 
the mind of the gardener than to see his fruit trees laden with fine ripe fruit. 
It is a sight which more than repays him for all his care and labour. Nothing 
tends so much to the production of certain and abundant crops of fruit as the 
timely and proper summer pruning of the trees. A few remarks on this 
subject will, therefore, be not altogether unseasonable nor unprofitable. 
It may, perhaps, in the first place, be advisable briefly to mention the 
principles on which pruning is founded—they are these:—The nutriment of 
plants is absorbed from the soil by the roots and formed into leaves, branches, 
flowers, and fruit, by their buds; by operating on the roots and buds, we can 
