190 
CALENDAR FOE AUGUST. 
occasioned by an inopportune spell of dry weather, or some such 
cause. We grow only German stocks, and have had our present 
collection about ten years, without any perceptible decline in 
quality. 
Here is our practice, and may it be of assistance. The seed 
is sown in March, on a warm border of light rich earth, beneath 
a hand-glass, any other protection being unnecessary, or indeed 
attended with ill effects, as if kept warmer the plants are liable to 
be drawn, and we attach much importance on having them as 
strong (not large) as possible when transplanted. This operation 
we contrive to perform in showery weather, about the end of 
April if possible; and in consequence of its being dry in some 
seasons, just when they should have been transferred to the 
borders, we have occasionally had but miniature specimens to 
admire, still, however, there was no lack of double flowers. The 
ground prepared for them is made tolerably rich, and is always 
light and porous ; every assistance is given the plants in the 
earlier stages of their progress, and when the single plants are 
discernible, we trim away all the lateral shoots, leaving only the 
central stem of flowers, the object being to have the seed as 
strong as possible, as, according to our notion, double flowers are 
a consequence of extraordinary vigour in the parent, and if a 
healthy progeny of such extraction receive proper encouragement 
in the early stages of their existence, the result is nearly certain 
to be satisfactory ; there may be exceptions, but the same average 
success has ever been our fortune on different soils and in various 
situations. The obsolete twaddle about the roots, and the effect 
of double flowers on the seed, are no longer worth talking about. 
CALENDAR OF FRUIT AND FORCING GARDEN 
OPERATIONS. AUGUST. 
Fruit Garden. Wall trees will probably require looking over 
again to remove lateral growths that are not wanted, and to nail 
in the most vigorous shoots. These must be kept close to the 
wall, that the fruit may have the best chance of ripening. As 
