222 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. June 20. 
hand-glass, if one is to be bad; but if not, under shade 
somewhere; not of trees, by any means ; but it would bo 
well to select a place for a cutting bed, and if raised up 
by a slight hotbed of short grass and dung, and covered 
with line soil, mixed with sand, and a few slabs run 
round it to keep it up, so much the better; and cuttings 
of many things may now be put in, as Pansies, Dielytras, 
Alyssums, Pinks, Carnations, Phloxes, and Rockets. The 
latter had better be in a month earlier ; though, if 
left now, and a few roots are taken up by the middle of 
August, they will furnish a number of good half-rooted 
plants, at once fit to plant in some nursery bed; the 
principal secret in propagation being to put everything ! 
in at its proper time. Nature does much of the rest, i 
Bud Roses as wanted, aud layer young shoots of Moss, 
and other kinds which produce suckers sparingly, and 
they will root freely; and as the garden is supposed 
now to put on its best apparel, let nothing be wanting ! 
to improve the general effect; keep the grass short, aud, I 
if needs be, watered; the walks clean and well rolled, 
and neatly raked, not that hard, surface smoothness } 
which betokens something very stubborn underneath, 
but a fair proportion of loose earth at top, through 
which the rake’s teeth will freely pass; the plants being 
also neatly in order, not showing any stiffness, or tight- j 
ness in tying, but just that necessary assistance which 1 
the altered circumstances of their condition (from that j 
which nature intended for them) requires ; and with J 
but little labour this can be effected, if, as said above, 
the right job be done at tho right time ; afterwards, the 
same thing cannot be done so well, however skilful the 
operator, and it often takes more doing too. 
Shrubs. —Although the small space in our original 
plan allows but little room for Shrubs, yet, as they seem j 
indispensable everywhere, and most likely exist here, j 
some little attention must be paid, at this season, to see I 
that a coarse growing one does not overtop a more deli¬ 
cate or valuable specimen. Regard must also be had to 
views, or screens, as the case may be; or, if certain 
Box or Laurel be cut to certain shapes, now is the time 
to do that work; dull, moist weather is the best, and as 
time may not be an important affair with the amateur, 
I may observe that the knife is a better instrument than 
the shears, as, by a little care, the leaves need not be 
cut through, and, thus, much of after-rustiness avoided. 
Where it is necessary to cut away at a gateway, or other 
place, avoid, as far as possible, giving the plant a clipped 
appearance; also, be careful, in cutting any shrub, always 
to cut the top part most in, and do not let them assume 
“ an over-hanging” character. If the shoots of Syringa \ 
are thinned out after flowering they will bloom much 
finer another year. Cut but little at the Portugal j 
Laurel, or any of the Pinus tribe, as they are impatient ; 
of the knife; and these ought not to be planted in ! 
stations where pruning afterwards is expected to be j 
necessary, as, in most, it spoils their appearance. See ; 
that any newly-planted shrub is firm in tho ground; j 
and, if it requires stakiug, see that it is securely done. ; 
Water, now aud then, in dry weather, will also be useful. 
J. Robson. 
Potato Disease in Cornwall.— We regret hearing 
from a trustworthy correspondent “ that the potato disease 
has again shown itself in tho neighbourhood of Pen- 
zauce.” He adds, “ My only surprise is, that tho con¬ 
tinuous cold and wet of the last month has not caused 
its development at an earlier date. It appears in this 
instance to have attacked the plant in an open, sunny 
field, leaving untouched the far more luxuriant haulm 
of plants growing in an adjoining garden.” 
ALLOTMENT FARMING.-July. 
This is a month when the cottager should reap the full 
benefit of his industry and forethought; his crops of vege¬ 
tables and fruits will be sufficient to supply himself and 
family with an abundance, and some to give to his pigs, 
or cow, if he has one. No spare ground should now be 
seen in the allotment; and every crop, as soon as it has 
done bearing, should be removed, and its place filled-up by 
another. The hoe should be applied at all favourable 
opportunities. 
Winter Greens. —The principal crops should be planted 
this month. If the weather is very dry, it is a good plan 
to puddle the l’oots of all plants at the time of transplant¬ 
ing ; it is done by making a small hole, in any part of the 
ground, and pouring some water into it; when well mixed, 
and made to the consistence of thin mortar, the roots are 
dipped into the puddle until it sticks to them, and preserves 
them from, or rather counteracts, the ill effects of drought. 
Cabbages. —Some of the May sowing may now be planted 
out, about one foot apart, for autumn and early winter use. 
Strawberry-beds. —The strongest runners should now 
be selected for transplanting; they delight in a good, stiff, 
loamy soil. Those who cannot spare ground for a new 
plantation may prick them out in a prepared bed, six inches 
apart, and remove them, with balls, in October. 
Budding Roses, Cherries, Peaches and Plums. —This 
operation may be performed during the early part of the 
month. One practical lesson on the subject would be more 
useful to a novice in the art than a page of letter-press 
without diagrams ; a good, plump bud should be selected for 
inserting into a healthy, free-grown shoot, at the height that 
may be considered most eligible. 
Summer Pruning of Fruit-trees. —About the end of 
the month the breastwood, or any other shoots that appear 
where they are not wanted should be cut or pinched off. 
At the time the fruit is set, the greatest demand is made 
upon the sap, and then, by proper pruning, for greater 
exposure to atmospheric influences, light, and air, the supply 
is ready-stored up to meet such demands. About the begin¬ 
ning of October, a few inches of the tops of the branches 
should be cut otf, as we are but rarely favoured with suffi¬ 
ciently line autumnal weather to ripen the whole length of 
the shoots; by so doing, the descent of the cambium, or 
proper sap, would become more concentrated in the remain¬ 
ing buds, and, therefore, would add materially to the pro¬ 
ductiveness of the trees the following season. 
Kidney Beans. —The last principal sowing should now 
be made. In dry weather it is advisable to give a good 
soaking of water to all crops, such as Peas, Beans, Cab¬ 
bages, &c., a short time previously to the earthing-up. 
Parsley. —A sowing may now be made to get strong 
plants before winter. 
Herbs. —Those for drying, or distilling, should be cut 
before the flowers expand, as they very soon afterwards lose 
the qualities for which they are most valued. 
The Suckers oe Raspberry Stools should be thinned 
to four or live of the best canes, and tied up loosely to save 
them from the wind. 
Tines on open walls should now be looked over to stop 
the shoot at the first joint above the bunch, to remove all 
rank shoots and laterals,' and, when a second shoot appears, 
to stop it at the first joint ; to thin the bunches and berries, 
if too thick, and to tie up all that have shoulders; to keep 
them thin of branches, that a free circulation of air may 
pass through the leaves, and to apply liquid-manure to the 
roots during their season of active growth. 
Turnips. —The Dutch, or Stone, should now be sown 
for the main crop in the allotment; and Dale's Hybrid, 
where a cow is kept. 
Winter Spinach. — Towards the end of the month a 
sowing should be made in deeply-trenched and well-manured 
ground; it succeeds best on raised beds, or in any high, or 
dry situation. 
Mangold Wurtzel, Carrots, Turnips, and other such 
crops, require early attention in singling out the young 
plants, in keeping down weeds, and by deep hoeing; or, 
what is better, forking between the rows. 
Cutting Wheat before it is Ripe is a subject upon 
which many experiments have been made, and the results 
