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Dond mav be rendered additionally ornamental by the introduction of many native aquatic insects, whose
beautiful colours and airy evolutions would increase th e interest of the scene. Among these be
mentioned the different species of dragon-fly (Libèllula L .), as not only beautiful in form and colour,
but very serviceable (both in their larva and perfect state), in keeping gnats and other small insects
within due limits. As larvæ, thedragon-
flies live entirely in the water ; and after
they acquire wings, they perpetually
hover and skim over the surface, on
sunny days, in pursuit of flying insects.
In garden ponds, where hsh are preserved,
care should be taken to exclude
the large water-beetles, such as Dyt'is-
cus marginàlis {Jig. 883. a), Hydró-
philus piceus (b), &c., as they are well
known to feed upon the young fry. They
may be captured by a small landing-
net, with a long handle and very small
meshes. These are the oniy aquatic insects
th a t need be feared, as injurious
either to fish or plants.
5142. Inse c ts a n d vei-min. Tlieseniust
be kept under in every part of the flower-
garden and shrubbery, and we perfectly
agree with the author of the Florist's
M anual, th at “ the simple and laborious mode of picking away the animal, is the only one to which
recourse can be hud with permanent advantage.” To give full efficacy to this method of rescuing plants
from caterpillars, snails, &c., our attacks must be made upon them at particular seasons, which can only
be done from such a knowledge of their history, as shall enable us to destroy masses, in the destructiou
of an individual of the species. Without, however, much research into their natural history, we may,
from common observation, understand that in the winged insect we may free our plants from an
innumerable tribe of those which crawl, and which, in that reptile state, have th e capacity of devouring
th e whole produce of a garden. The two periods of change of form in the caterpillar species seem to
afford the most advantageous times to put an end to their existence. Nevertheless, the number of
insects injurious to the flower-garden alone are very few ; if we except the all-devouring aphides or
plant lice, and those small hut destructive caterpillars which disfigure the leaves and destroy the early
buds of our roses. T h e caterpillar of th e silvery moth (Nóctua gamma L . ) is, perhaps, the only one
th a t indiscriminately attacks all garden plants : it is of a delicate green colour, with white stripes down
the back, and one of yellow on each side of th e body ; it has twelve feet, and a brown head, and is
generally about H in. long. It only appears during the middle of summer, and from its size may be
easily discovered.
5143. Snails a n d slugs are much more universally destructive in the flower-garden than any other
vermin. Tlie injury they occasion to young seedlings, and to plants not yet in full vigour, is well
known ; and the mischief they effect is easily distinguished from th a t occasioned by caterpillars, from
the slimy track left by their bodies upon the leaves. During th e day they are seldom seen, as they
shelter themselves under leaves, or clods of earth, but in tbe night they issue forth ; and, if the weather
be moist or rainy, they may be seen and captured, at night, or early in the morning. The most effectual
way of destroying them is to place cabbage leaves near those plants th at appear to have suffered from
th e ir attacks : on examining this bait early in the morning, the slugs will be found upon it ; and, by
repeating this for several days, great numbers may be captured and destroyed. Any greasy matter, or
even dead snails or slugs, applied to leaves or haulm of any kind will greatly increase th e avidity with
which th e living animals resort to these baits ; for it is a fact, not perhaps very generally known, except
to gardeners, that live snails and slugs greedily devour dead ones. Snails and slugs may also be entrapped
by placing a common garden-pot over th e infested plant, to which the slugs will frequently adhere.
5144. The c ia tin g offJ low e r-sta lk s,d e ca y in g flow e r s ,lea v e s , &c., is to be done in most cases immediately
after the flowers are faded ; but th ere are exceptions, where the leaves on the lower part of flower-stems
may be requisite to strengthen the root, and where, as in the case of 5tipa, some convallarias, eryngoes,
&c. th e parts o fth e flower are persistent, or the fruit or seed-pods are objects of beauty. The leaves of
bulbous-rooted plants, and such others as are not prolific in foliage, should be carefully preserved till
they have begun to decay ; and, indeed, the base or root-leaves of no plant whatever should be cut off till
this is the case, unless for some particular object. Every single flower, as soon as the petals begin to
droop, should be pinched off, and especially every flower of the double kind. Every rose, when it begins
to droop, should be clipped off near to the footstalk of the one which is about to succeed it ; and when
th e last of the corymb has done flowering, then the common footstalk should be cut off back to the first
strong leaf-bud : nothing is more unsightly in a flower-garden than rose-bushes where this has not been
attended to. By employing women or apprentices to go over the whole pleasure-ground every morning
during th e four summer months, to attend to this business, it may be completely accomplished at very-
little expense. These and other points of management, we know, are considered needless niceties by
many gardeners : but what is a flower-garden unless it is kept with th e utmost nicety ? Others will
tell you, they have not time for such things ; but, where there is a real taste for neatness, time will be
^°5145. G a th e rin g fio w e r s . Gather, if possible, only from the reserve garden : for. if the main borders
and compartments are managed as they ought to be, much gathering will disfigure the plants. Always
use the knife, and prefer such as are coming into fiower, ra th e r than such as are fully expanded. If
possible .jathér from crowded plants, or parts of plants, so th a t every gathering may operate a t the same
time as ajudicious pruning and thinning.
5146. The French rose -gathe re r presents a refinement in floricultural instruments highly characteristic
of its origin. The general form of this little engine is th a t o f a pistol : it has a handle and trigger like it,
and a cutter in the manner of the wire pliers, or flower-gatherer, disguised as a barrel. A rod, answering
to the ramrod, connects the pincers with th e t r i g ¿ r , which last, being pressed, opens the pincers, that
is, charges the pistol : th e operator then presents th e pistol to the rose to be gathered, and so that, when
th e cutter operates, it may separate it a t the precise point of the stalk deemed proper : things being thus
adjusted, the trigger is drawn, and the deed is done. Of course, this instrument, like a number of other
horticultural toys manufactured by the Parisians, is chiefly jso«»- les dames.
5147. Flowers m a y be p re se rv ed , wh en g athered, by inserting their ends in water, moist earth, or moss ;
and may be freshened, when withered, by sprinkling with water, and putting them in a close vessel, as
under a bell-glass, hand-glass, flower-pot, or in a botanic box : if this will not do, sprinkle them with
warm water, or with spirits of wine, or ether ; and if this fails, insert their ends in water heated to 80°
or 90°, and cover them with a glass.
5148. Flowers m a y be s e n t to a n y distance in a cylinder of tin, or other metal, about 9 or 10 inches
in diameter, with a tube in the centre, to which they are tied as to a maypole. T h e tube unscrews, so as
to be taken out and charged with flowers ; and it is hollow, in order th at it may be filled with water, for
the purpose of preserving th e flowers fresh. This ingenious utensil is the invention of Mr. Cooper,
at one time gardener to the Duke of Wellington, at Strathfieldsaye.
Ope ra tio n s o f th is so r t r e q u ir e to b e p e rfo rm ed in th e flowe r,
shi-ubbery, for e n la rg in g , ren o v a tin g , a n d o th e rw is e im p ro v in g sh ru b s a n d p la n ts , o r in tro -
M Y f ; th e y a re a lso r e q u ire d for th e common p u rp o s e s o f p ro p a g a tio n . ’
v u i. ^ c d s . bulbs, a n d p la n ts . T h is b u s in e s s is m u c h s im p le r in th e flower th a n in th e
k i t f o c n - g a r d ^ . l o r flower-seeds o f m o s t so rts , a n o rd e r is s im p lj» g iv e n for a « a L / o f a 5 o rt
YYnlY Y® ’ /'tpra®®' p e a s . ^ d a few o th e rs , may be o rd e re d by th e o u n c e ; b u lb o u s ro o ts a re
h ! o rd e re d by n um b e r, e ifo e r o f m ix tu r e s o r sin g le s o r t s ; a n d h e rb a c eo u s p la n ts , sh ru b s &c
S u r/e rym a n ” ” “ he r. o r by th e h u n d r e d o r d o z en in m ix tu r e . See th e p ric e d c a ta lo g u e o f a n ^
5151 Neatne ss ha s b e en a lr e a ty a good d e a l in s is ted on in diffe ren t p a rts o f th is w o rk . W e r e o e a t it
IS th e d re ss a n d v isage ot g a rd e n in g , and it ne c e ssa ry a n yw h e re , is m o re e spe c ia lly so in th e flower ia rd e n
to m an ag e a flow e r-g a rd en w ith o u t th e m o s t v l] ila n t ta tc n tlo n to th is p'oint“ ;
a ll tim e s , is u nw o r th y th e ch a rg e . T h e f irs t th in g is, to have a q uick in te llie e n t eve so as instanttxrfe/
p e rc e iv e w h a t is w a n tin g ; a n d th e se cond is to be possessed o f th a t p rin c ip le o f a c tiv ity which imme
d ia te y se ts a b o u t su p p ly in g th e w an t. Man y g a rd e n e rs h av e c e rta in tim e s ¿ r c ? / « S S &c an d 7 iU
go fifty tim e s p a s t a weed, sto n e , d e ad leaf, o r some su ch a rtic le , -which d isfigure s o r iffiure s a scene
w ith o u t rem o v in g it, m e re ly be c au se th e tim e for c le an in g , & c., h a s n o t come. T h is is m ^ s t S o m i S v
'Y® rep ro b a tio n . A g a rd e n e r o u g h t to h av e h is eye J f s S h S
h e a r t, h is h an d , his k n ife , a n d ap ro n , re ad y for a c tio n a t a ll tim e s, places, a n d se a sons wh en w ith in H.f
p re c in c ts o f h is.ch.arge. L e t him d row n th is in c e s s a n t c a re in h is oVn way w h e X ” s 7 i t h o u r h i s / c S /
Terms r e f r e s h m e n t ; a n d le t h im n o t u L e r t a k e i t w ith o u t adequafo
Chap. VII.
G e iie ra l C u ltu re m id M anag em ent o fth e O rn am en tal o r B o ta n ic Hothouses.
5152. T he general culture o f flo ric u ltu ra l hothouses respects soil, choice of plants,
piarnmg in pots or beds, and arranging : after offering some remai-ks on these heads, we
shall submit a few as to what is general in the management of the principal floricultural
habitations, as the frame, the greenhouse, and the stove.
o p e ra tio n o f th e g a rd e n e r, a fte r a c o n s e rv a to ry o r sto v e is
bL lisiV hY i. i f l 4 , i f lY® Y / " / 4 p r e p a re d e a r th . T h e s e , b e in g n h e le ss th a n a rrow , sh o u ld seldom 3 ft. m d e p th ; th e b o ttom sh o u ld g e n e ra lly be paved, a n d slopiiiff to a d r a in o r d ra in s •
/ T i Yr fh /® LY ''® 7 i pro v isio n m ay be m ad e for th e ro o ts e x te n d in g th em s e lv e s b eyond th è
¿ e a o f th e h o u s e . In gen e ra l, h ow eve r, th is is n o t d e s ira b le in stove s, as th e ro o ts m itrht hp pHì i IpH
n/ifYf-Yr®*'® Y M p ro v isio n may be m ad e for th e ir ex te n s io n u n d e r th e p a th s , a n d ev e ry o th e r
p a r t oi th e a re a p t th e .h o u s e . W h e n a v a r ie ty o f p la n ts a n d tr e e s a re to be g rown inréuch f f i t f n o soil
c an be fixed on th a t w ill su it th em a ll ; b u t if th e m a in bod y be a sandv loam th e n as .
fuf® ^ Z®'"' fe e t o f th is loam may be removed, and rep la c ed by th e soil b e st su ited to th e
S / u m s t a im e ? b f f i n ™ lY / S 'o '“ « , «^her
snSYY' i n Òf species a ru ip la n tin g . T h e species o f sto v e o r g re e n h o u s e p la n ts m u s t d ep en d on th e
¿ r t o f ho u se , and a v a rie ty o f c ircum stan c e s which n e ed n o t be e n te re d in to . F o r common nurnosps
choose th e shqw y -flow en n g , easily cu ltiv a ted , a n d v ig o ro u s -g row in g g e n e ra , as P e la rg ò n ium (Lm e lh 'a
tu c h s i f l /a sm m um &c. ; o r ev e rg re en s , as th e M y rti, P ro te a c c ^ rf& c .. c h è o s in / (frYm th è table s ìà
C h ap . X I I .) ¿ m e p la n ts th e p rin c ip a l c o lo u rs to flower in eve ry m o n th . In p la n tin g b ro a d c e n tra l b e d / -
in a ho u se , glass on a ll sides, th e h ig h e s t-g row in g k in d s will be pla c ed a lo n g th e m id d le o f t h i b id hnf
w h e re th e r e is a wa ll to th e n o rth , th e h ig h e s t k in d s w ill be pla c ed n e x t it. W ith r™pe c l Tl a r r a n lem lm
fo e lim ite d space adm its o f v e ry little ; in g en e ra l, it will p ro d u c e th e m o s t showy a n d im m ed ia fe effei-t
tr a in e d on ro d s .o r u p such p ro p s as m a y b e n e c e s s a ry to fu p p o r t th e ro o f ; o r a l o S t h e sides o f acenfrYl
wa lk in a h o u s e s ta n d in g n o r th a n d so u th , a n d tra in e d o » e r th e walk on a n a r c ld e o f r l L •
¿m i l a r a rc a d e o v e r fo e ba ck p a r t o f a sin g le -ro o fed ho u se , o r o n th e back™ a ll? f t is a Terv’ c om m a /
lYlYfol ®OT® f f t ra g re en h o u se s, a n d th e fru it-b e a r in g passionflowers in stoves d a rk ^ n in s thp
S p l T r / l T . l L m® ^ 4 4 4 P e lo n g a tin g fa s t en o u g h b u t we?k a / d ! f I I
t e S S i S - f e r ' f e t e f e r i t o ^
a r e N q r i o u s l t y S i S
If Y f®Y'” I'^'rable e conomic a l re sidenc e s, w h e re a g re en h o u s e , p e rh a p s , i s th e o l i r R U s r i r S l f o r e
ta f l ® f ” » “ 'e l i t 1» r e p re s e n te d by l i ie s (A ri. 884, 8 8 5 .) , in which bv t ]
S r f f t h . ’ 5 »oloiirs a re as re g u la rly a r ra n g e d as ch e q u e r-w o rk , w hile , by th o g ro u p in g m id e f &r
t a ? »“ ■ « ! » j “ rg e ir r e g u la r m a sse s. l!y th e first mode; tlie re i f o n i i o ] e r f a l t K
] ? ] u p a ]V t h ] ¡>iams! re r e " t e e n , a c co rd in g to th e s fre o f th e
5156. By e ith e r mo'de re g a rd m u s t be h ad lo p ta c e the p la n ts in g ra d n tio n a c co rd in g to th e ir s is e , from.
3 u 3