12G 
THE ELOEIST AND POMOLOOIST, 
[ AnousT, 
VILLA GARDENING. 
SKugnsL 
^^^CjUGUST is generally looked forward to 
l)Au gardeners as the montli of the year 
(iV that is “fruitful, serene, and calm,” and 
in which the labour of many previous weeks is 
sweetened and rewarded with harvests worthy 
of his reaping. If it should turn out, as we 
all most devoutly hope it will, to be serene and 
calm, a very great change must pass over the 
face of nature. Gardeners of all degrees are 
anxiously looking for the summer that lingers 
long in coming ; they can only hope and wait. 
Greenhouse. —The plants that are now 
flowering in the amateur’s greenhouse are those 
that are generally out of bloom by this time. 
The Azaleas are not over yet. We have seen 
some in bloom only very recently, and they 
have yet to make their summer growth, and 
ripen their wood, and set their buds. We shall 
all anxiously look for a fine dry autumn, that 
blooming and fruiting wmod may be ripened, in 
order to bring forth blossom and fruit in due 
season next year. The close dull weather is 
germinating green-fly in great abundance ; they 
fasten themselves on all kinds of plants. The 
villa gardener must syringe, wash, and fumi¬ 
gate, to rid himself of these pests, for they soon 
spoil good plants. Among the Fuchsias., 
Felargoniuvis, Balsams, Petunias, &c., that are 
now forming the staple plants of the amateur’s 
greenhouse, such fine and useful things as 
Bpircea palmaia, which makes an excellent 
pot-plant, Lilhm lomjijlorum, Francoa ap- 
pendiculata, Ilgdrangea hortensis, IT. stellata 
prolifera, TIarrison's Music, Orohus niger, 
Coc/cscovibs, Celosias, Mirnulus, &c., may be 
added. The villa gardener will augment the in¬ 
terest he feels in his greenhouse by changing 
the subjects he cultivates, and from time to 
time adding something of which he has hitherto 
had no experience. If he has not grown some 
of the subjects we have just named, they are 
well worth obtaining as opportunity serves. 
A few days ago we saw some of the pretty old 
Thunhergias being well grown in a villa green¬ 
house ; and also some excellent plants of 
Phlox Druinmondii in pots. Pelargoniums and 
Fuchsias are certain to be the staple plants, 
because they are on the whole easily grown, 
and bloom freely, and they supply great variety 
of colour; but variety is pleasing, and by add¬ 
ing novelty, good knowledge is obtained of 
plants and their requirements. As soon as 
the plants of Primulas, Calceolarias, and Cine¬ 
rarias are large enough, they .should be grown 
on into size, by pricking them off into store-pots, 
and by potting the largest singly in small pots, 
so that some nice specimens may be had 
for early blooming. Some seed of Cgclarnen 
jiersicum should be sown as early in August as 
it can be had in a ripened state. 
Cold Frames.—Chrysanthemums should be 
kept growing strongly, picking off any shoots 
throwm up from the roots, and keeping the plants 
well watered and syringed, and free from 
vermin. A few plants of ATimulus growing on 
in small pots in the cold frame will come in 
very useful for flowering later on, when the 
leading plants in the greenhouse decline in 
bloom. A few good clumps of Christmas 
Poses, Choice Primroses, and other things 
of a similar character, should be potted for 
flowering at Christmas in the cold frame. All 
plants that are losing or have lost their foliage, 
should be kept fairly moist, but not drenched 
with rain, and the surface-soil kept stirred and 
free from weeds. Cleanliness in the cold frame 
is also of great importance; the plants do 
better, and it is nicer to see the surroundings 
of plants as clean and neat as possible. It wall be 
a good plan to mix some good potting soil for 
Hyacinths and other bulbs to be potted in a 
few weeks hence, and keep it turned over, to 
thoroughly sweeten it. It will then be ready to 
hand when wanted. 
Flower Garden. —A want of growth is gene¬ 
rally perceptible, and those who bed complain 
that the plants, and especially tender things, 
like Coleus, Alternantheras, Amaranthus, Ire- 
sines, &c., make no headwa 3 n Those who use 
the hard}' Sedums largely will find that the 
season is with them. The bedding plants that 
are growdng, do so somewhat freely, and want 
more attention, staking such as need it, and ty¬ 
ing out so give them room to display themselves. 
In beds and borders that lie near to shrubberry 
growths, slugs are very troublesome, and 
greedily eat many things. The villa gardener 
is fortunate who has kept by him a store of 
Asters, Stocks, Petunias, Phlox BrummondU, 
&c., for he will find them very useful to supply 
vacancies. Some cuttings of anything particu¬ 
larly good should be taken, so as to secure 
Laving a few plants well rooted by the winter. 
Kitchen Garden. —By this time such winter 
greens as Scotch Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, 
&c., that have been planted-out to stand the 
winter, should now be looked over, and if at all 
crowded, every alternate plant can be taken out 
to make fresh rows. Cabbages should be sown 
the second week in August. Improved Non¬ 
pareil and Enfield Market are the two best. 
Those who are fond of Spinach in early spring 
should sow a little on a warm slope in rich 
soil, and some Hardy Hammersmith Cabbage 
Lettuce, and Hardy White Cos I^ettuce also. 
Hoeing between growing crops is still of great 
value to them. Peas are growing tall this 
season, and will require taller sticks in many 
instances. Celery should be planted out 
without delay ; a good deal of celery is spoilt 
by leaving planting too late for the plants to 
make a good start. Turnips should be sown 
for succession. As Scarlet Punners are making 
