The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-21
THE sPRINC FLOWERS.


"a FEW HINTS FOR TILE. LADIES' IN THE
e MASAGEMESToF OF THEIR RGARpENs-wHEN
AND HOW, TO PRERARE THE. GROUND
soWDRYANDP DPLANTWET-T
| NG-ABeUT WATERING THE PLANTS, &C.
:.-f1ze Il .----r-rr- .---r-rr---- y s.-5=-r-7 5=--r-7
In a. few days now, when the ground be-
comes warm, all flowers except the more
tender varieties, such as mignonette, hello
trope, &C., may be safely transplanted, and
many of the seeds Of Sthe more hardy, or
| even those termed hail hardy, may be sown.
Amateurs in Horticulture would do we'll to
adopt the suggestions condensed from the
/ instructions OF one of the most successful
florists OF New Y ork.f
PREPARATION OF THE GROUND. Il
I Dig or trench the ground at least twelve
inches deep, adding where possible to do so
liberal allowance Of rich, welt-decayed
manure or poudrette, fhtermingling well as
the work proceeds, as for many Of the more
slender-growing and tender varieties the
soil can hardly be made too rich. Annals,
like all quick growing plants, require deep
soil and an open situation, being unable to
bear checks in their growth. The ground
should therefore be well prepared; which
time and trouble will be amply repaid by
the increased duration and beauty of the
/! flowers. : E3Er
TINE AND MANNER OF SOWING.
The proper time for sowing hardy an
nuals depends entirely on the period at
which they are wanted to bloom. As q
general rule, the first sowing may be made
during the month OF April, and continued
at intervals until the middle of June, the
latter sowings taking the place OF the earlier,
as they become unsightly. "SoW dry and
plant wet" is an old adage in gardening,
and one it is. well to bear always in mind,
for many seeds, il sown in wet, cold soil,
will decay for want of sufficient vitality to
resist the cold and moisture.
WHEN THE PLANTS MAY BE WATERED.
II the soil be very dry and the weather
sunny it will be beneficial to water the seeds
slightly with fine rosed watcring-pot, re-
membering, however, that this If once be-
gun must not be neglected till the plants are
well established, for whenever the seeds
have begun to swell they are particularly
susceptible to injury from drought, and
will speedily perish unless the soil is kept
in moist conditlon-many failures result
ing from neglect of this important precau-
. ton. A slight shade to the soil for few
days with branches, or even paper, will
consequent necessity OF frequent watering,
which cakes the soil, and often destroys seeds
of slow growth, Most OF the failures of the
inexperienced arise from sowing the seeds
too deep, the scotsman often having to bear
the blame Justly attributed to the sower.
: Large seeds, as sweet peas, marvel OF Peru,
ssfour o'clocks," lupins, &C., may be sown
about three quarters Of an inch deep; other
varieties, as balsams, astcrs, phloX drum
mondii, &C., from one eighth to one half
inch deep, according to the size or nature
of the seed; while such fine seeds as portu.
laca, petunias, digitaIis, &C., require to be
sown on the surface, slight pressure being
all that is requisite. Indeed, for the ma
. jority Of seeds q very thin covering is sufh.
cient. IELG r. ~
TRANSPLANTIHG.
A piece of ground may often with great
| advantage be used wholly for raising the
best varieties OF ANIMALS for transplantine
, to the flower borders, to fill the vacancies
occasioned by bulbs or autumn-sown, an
/ nuals, &c. Successive sowings should here
t be made at short intervals, keeping the
well 1thinned out, SO as to keep then
/ "stocky'' and in good order for removal
E By adopting this system the beds and Dor
E ders Of the fower-garden can be kept filled
up the whole season with plants in full
beauty. The plants should be taken VI
T carefully, retaining as much soil abou
q them as possible. II the ground is dry a
the time Of transplanting the bed in which
e the plants are growing should have goot
l soaking with water at least twenty-foul
e hours previous. They should also be libe
: rally watered after planting, making basiI
3 around each plant, giving them thorough
t soaking, and then, after the water ha
8 drained away, drawing the dry soil close VI
around the neck Of the plant. OCCASIONAL.
r watering with weak guano-water VII
e heighten the color of the flowers, and in
Y crease the vigor OF the plants.
e HaH-hardy and tender ANIMALS should b.
D sewn very thinly and be covered with abou
: their own thickness OF soil, and crowded
= seedlings thinned out early, more air being
admitted as the plants progress in size ant
vigor. After termination has commenced
] the soil should on no account be suffered Il
become dry. .
AFTER-MANAGEMENT.
,, Tie tall-growing varieties to neat stakes
!. to prevent winds and rains from prostratine
: them. Remove decaying plants, and re
place with young ones from the nursery
Z bed. Keep beds and borders free from
weeds, and stir the surface occasionally tt
prevent evaporation.
SURGICAL OPERATIONS PERFORMED AT THE
ALNsHoUsE.-Th following is a Statement
showing the number Of surgical operations
: performed at the city almshouse, with re
!, suits, during the past year: Anuerism o.
!, femoral artery Qigation Of f. Az, cured
strangulated hernia, / died; hypertrophy O
d. n