MAUCH. 71 



for this purpose. Use the spade sparingly among the latter. Half- 

 hardy annuals should be sown during the present month. These 

 afford a variety of colour which cannot be obtained in the flower- 

 garden without them. Tliey will require a little warmth to get them 

 established, and should be placed in the propagating-frame until 

 potted off, when they must be gradually inured to air and sun. 



FucnsiAs. Continue the treatment recommended last month. 

 Seedlings should be potted off singly into 2i-incli pots, shifting as often 

 as the roots make their appearance on the outside of the ball. Keep 

 up, indeed rather increase the temperature recommended last month. 



Grekn HOUSE. Repot all plants which require it, but be care- 

 ful before potting to have the balls in a proper state as to mois- 

 ture. Never pot a plant about whose existence you care any thing 

 while the ball is either too dry or too wet. Hard-wooded plants, 

 intended to form specimens, should now be encouraged to make free 

 growth. Plants in a growing state will require an abundant supply 

 of water ; but be careful, for it is easier to over water now^ than it will 

 be two months hence. Wash and clean the foliage of all plants 

 which require it. Fumigate as soon as green-fly make their appear- 

 ance, and spare no exertions to keep the stock healthy. 



Hardy Fruit-Trees. Finish pruning and nailing. Protect 

 trees in blossom from frost : branches of the Spruce Fir or Yew will 

 be found useful for this purpose. We use a light canvass, which 

 costs 4^(1. per square yard. This is easily arranged so as to be let 

 down at night and removed in the morning, and with care it will last 

 for many years. It is an excellent plan to bring this into use as soon 

 as the weather tempts the blossom-buds to swell ; but in this case it 

 should be let down during bright days, and removed at night, so as 

 to retard the blossoming as much as possible. Trees so treated will 

 often be from a week to a fortnight behind others upon the same 

 wall which have been exposed to the sun. This advice is, however, 

 too late for this season, except in very late localities. Top-dress and 

 lightly dig the ground among small fruits, but use the spade spar- 

 ingly in such places. Trees intended to be grafted should be headed 

 down at once, and the grafts may be put on as soon as the sap is 

 in motion. 



Pansies will now begin to be very interesting. Grow them in 

 pots as hardy as possible ; turn them round occasionally ; M'ater 

 sparingly, unless in very growing weather. As soon as sufficiently 

 dry, the beds will require top-dressing with rotten manure, previous 

 to which fill up all vacancies, and look w^ell for young slugs, and 

 destroy them before they have commenced their depredations, as a 

 small piece eaten out of the bud in a young state will be a great dis- 

 figurement in a fully-expanded bloom. Seedlings wintered in pans 

 should now be planted out, and side-shoots taken and put in as cut- 

 tings, if increase is required ; there will be httle trouble in striking 

 them, if put in early in this month. 



Pelargoniums. About the second week stop back the plants 

 required for blooming in July. Give air ut all opportunities, opening 

 early in the morning, and shutting up early in the afternoon, say 



