318 
THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 
the culture of many flowers as we could wish, and although we think 
its utility will not he equal to that on Practical Gardening, noticed 
Vol. 2, page 321; it will assist in spreading a taste for the culture of 
flowers, and serve as a pretty correct guide on many important points. 
We, therefore, think it deserves to he well circulated. We give the 
following extract. 
WORK TO BE DONE IN THE FLOWER-GARDEN IN JULY. 
Take up those bulbous roots which have ceased flowering—Hya¬ 
cinths, Tulips, Martagon Lilies, and such bulbous Irises as are out of 
flower. Ranunculus and Anemone roots, which have now lost their 
foliage, may also be taken up. 
Seedling Auriculas. —Which came up last spring, should now, 
if not before done, be potted, and placed in a shady situation, watered 
moderately, and kept free from snails and slugs. 
Carnations and Pinks— This is still a good season for propaga¬ 
ting these charming flowers, by either of the modes directed in June, 
but this work should not be postponed to an advanced period of the 
month. As soon as the shoots are strong enough to layer down, let 
them be put out. The latter end of this month and beginning of 
August is the usual season for layering Carnations, which, however, 
maybe done earlier, if the plants are sufficiently advanced in growth; 
the new plants from those early layers will be more vigorous, and 
better able to endure the severity of winter than those of a later 
season. In detaching them, it will be necessary to cut them close 
under the joint from which the roots have been produced, and from 
which the tongue had, in the first instance, been cut; the young plants 
may now be potted, and with the shelter of a frame, will in a few 
days be sufficiently established to bear exposure in the open air. 
In the space of a few weeks, it will be found that layers thus treated, 
will have formed a quantity of root from the other half of the joint, 
where they had been attached to the present plant; and they will 
not only be equally sound and healthy, but much more luxuriant 
than plants produced by piping. 
The operation of layering is very simple, and is done by first strip¬ 
ping the leaves from the second or third joint of the intended layer, 
then introducing the blade of a very sharp penknife at about a quar¬ 
ter of an inch under the joint, and cutting half way through the 
layer up to the joint, but not into it; the knife is to be drawn out, 
and the tongue so produced, cut away neatly under the joint, but so 
as not to wound it, or the layer will not root. The future fibres or 
roots of the new plant proceed from the joint itself, therefore any injury 
