186 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
perfecting of tlie flower-bud and the starting of the flower to expansion. If 
the plants are kept too dry the shoots will be feeble and stunted, and the flow¬ 
ers will be small, or so abortive as to be unable to expand. To hit the medium 
between too much moisture and too much drought, during the season of in¬ 
dividual growth and ripening of the shoots, is a matter of much nicety, and 
the proper knowledge of it is acquirable only by experience. Thus, though 
Azaleas are all either hardy or half-hardy shrubs, the proper treatment of them 
requires more skill and attention than that of many other plants which are upon 
the whole more delicate in their nature. 
The Bog Myrtle, or Sweet Gale, Myrica gale, is a small procumbent shrub, 
growing in peculiar situations ; and, though the scent of it is rather pleasant, 
it is not worth the trouble of cultivating except in botanical collections. It 
does not grow absolutely in the water, but it loves a spongy soil and humid 
atmosphere, with frequent rains, which keep up a low temperature ; at least, these 
are the circumstances under which we have seen it growing most vigorously 
on the upland and boggy moors of Scotland ; and we have never seen it on the 
higher slopes, or near the dells where the soil is kindly. 
THE WEATHER FOR JULY. 
During this month, the temperature has been much lower than it usually 
is at the same season of the year. The sky has been much overcast, and a good 
deal of rain has fallen, not in continuous and extensive downfalls, but in heavy 
local showers, often with lightning and thunder, and sometimes with hail. 
The intervals of these showers have generally been such as to allow much of 
the rain to be taken up by evaporation; and by this means, the communi¬ 
cation between the earth and the atmosphere has been re-established in rather 
a tranquil manner. The alternation of showers and evaporation has kept the 
air cool, and the out-door vegetation moist, circumstances that are highly 
favourable to the growth of the individual ; but by no means so for flowering 
and fruiting, which have been kept back in most instances, and if more sun 
and heat do not set in, there will be many failures. 
On the field vegetation the effect has, generally speaking, been beneficial. 
The aftermath of the hay is uncommonly green and vigorous ; turnips pro¬ 
mise well, and the corn has acquired length and strength. On some of the 
rich soils it is partially lodged, but dry weather will bring it up again. It is 
possible that, in some of the more early districts, the blades—the anthers— 
may be partially beaten off; but if this has happened it will be more than 
compensated by the increase of the general growth. The hops have, it is said, 
had too much rain ; but the progress of these is quite a gambling matter. 
Culinary vegetables have been abundant and of handsome appearance, 
though perhaps not so highly flavoured as if there had been more sun and 
drought. The Midsummer shoots are vigorous both upon trees and shrubs; 
so that, if the autumn is favourable for ripening the mould, flowers and fruits 
should be abundant next year. The leaves are in fine condition, not spotted 
with brown ; and it is probable that many of the root-destroying larvae are 
