1878. ] 
VILLA GARDENING! FOR JULY. 
109 
The main part of the work of propagation is 
done in January, February, and March, from 
plants wintered in 48-pots. The kind of wood 
preferred for cuttings is the young hard growths, 
such as might be "expected to come on semi- 
starved plants. A sappy, vigorous growth makes 
but indifferent cuttings, and they are slow and 
uncertain in rooting, while the former roots 
quickly. The later cuttings, as a rule, make 
the best plants, as they start away into growth 
at once when the weather has become more 
genial, and there is no check to their onward 
progress. In May and June some of the latest- 
struck cuttings, being too small to market, are 
planted out in the open ground, and as soon as 
the shoots are large enough, cuttings are taken 
from them during the summer. These plants, 
lifted and repotted in September or early in 
October, also make capital stock plants, from 
which to get cuttings in the winter and early 
spring months. The cuttings are put singly 
into small 60-pots, and stood on shelves near 
the glass, and when sufficiently well rooted are 
potted into large 60-pots, and some of the 
biggest into 48’s. 
The houses in which the plants are gi'own 
during the winter and spring are rather more 
roomy than those in which market plants are 
generally grown ; they are light, airy, and dry, 
and in sunny positions. The temperature main¬ 
tained during winter is from 50° to 55°, rising 
to 60° and 65° with sun-heat. Plenty of air 
is given on all favourable occasions; water is 
given sparingly till growth sets in. Indeed, the 
rule is to keep fairly dry on dull days. Water 
does not hurt the plants when the temperature 
in which they are growing is genial and kindly, 
and the plants healthy. An unhealthy plant 
is an exception to the rule in Mr. Pestridge’s 
nursery. 
Then as to soil. For the gold and silver 
tricolors, Mr. Pestridge uses about two parts of 
light loam and one part of leaf-mould, with a 
good sprinkling of silver sand. The gold and 
bronze varieties stand a stronger loam and a 
little old manure, as they root more freely than 
the tricolors. 
The great secret of success with these gaily- 
coloured plants, as indeed with all market 
plants, is the constant attention they receive 
at the right time. They are never neglected 
or forgotten. This is the golden rule of plant 
cultivation. It is because of this, and the 
observance of the conditions named above, 
that the leaves flash out with such brilliancy 
of burning hues,—painted by the sun, and in¬ 
tensified and refined by touches of human 
skill. These charming foliaged plants, splendid 
with leaf-tints that put into the shade their best 
flowers, “ their Maker’s name in silent pomp 
display,” and set the seal of goodness on 
His marvellous handiwork.— Richard Dean, 
Ealing , W, 
VILLA GARDENING FOR JULY. 
PAPER having this heading might 
very appropriately commence with 
some observations on the importance 
of watering—for is not July the season offbeat 
and drought, when the sun shines clear out of 
an unclouded sky, when the winds are low and 
soft, and living creatures seek the shade ? What 
if it is the month of St. Switliin ? The 
traditions of the watery Saint are not always 
observed ; and indeed, so much of rain has 
fallen of late, that it will soon be necessary for 
the clouds to seek a fresh supply, to recoup 
their overtaxed resources. But July may be as 
wet as May and June, and it would appear as 
if St. Svvithin has anticipated his annual 
visitation by a month or two. At present, 
except for plants in pots, there is little need 
for the use of the water-pot out-of-doors. 
Greenhouse. —Unforced Azaleas , that is, 
those that have come on into flower without the 
quickening influences of artificial heat, have 
been late, but have done flowering, and all the 
seed-pods should be picked off, and the plants 
put into the warmest part of the greenhouse, to 
make growth and set the buds ; a shift can be 
given to such as require it. All greenhouse 
plants required for late blooming will be the 
better for a shift, for the purpose of growing 
them on into good size before blooming. 
Camellias may be shifted if necessary, but if 
well potted in the first instance, the villa gar¬ 
dener may console himself with the fact that 
they will flourish in the same pots for three 
years in succession ; and to overpot them is an 
injury from which they may never recover. 
When Camellias and other plants have become 
potbound, and it is inconvenient to give them 
larger pots, they are greatly helped by a slight top¬ 
dressing of Standen’s Amateur’s Friend manure, 
or Amies’ prepared manure, carefully applied 
twice a week, by sprinkling a little over the 
surface of the soil, and washing it in the act 
of watering. Fuchsias represented by last 
year’s plants, cut back in early spring and re¬ 
potted, are now very gay and effective subjects 
for the greenhouse. Fuchsias are so bounteous 
of bloom, and on the whole so easily managed, 
that they may well be relied on to be a staple 
feature in the summer display. Frequent 
syringings overhead and plenty of water at the 
roots are necessary, and an occasional dressing 
of the manures mentioned above, in the case 
of densely-rooted plants, will be found of 
great service. A few spring-struck Fuchsias, 
potted on as fast as possible, and stood out-of- 
doors till about the middle or end of the 
month, will be found very useful in the con¬ 
servatory during August and September. By 
pinching back some of the Zonal Pelargoniums , 
and by potting on cuttings struck in May; by 
