MAY. 115 



sand. Never allow a curled leaf to esca])e attention, but see if the 

 green-fly does not occasion it. This pest must be ke])t down by 

 fumigation. Before smoking, elevate the large lower leaves with 

 sticks, to ensure the tobacco-smoke reaching them. 



Caiinations and PicoTKES. Thcsc should be staked. The foliage 

 will now be fast decaying, and should be removed. Many of the 

 strong plants will throw up blooms from the bottom, which should 

 be stopped. The surface-soil will require stirring; top-dress with 

 rotten manure and loam mixed. 



CiiVEiiAuiAs. Make notes of the varieties you see in bloom. 

 " Whatever you cultivate, let it be the best of its kind." Air well, 

 shade from bright sunshine, and keep down insects. 



Cold Frames. " Bedding plants" must be prepared as speedily 

 as possible for planting in their summer quarters. Such portion of 

 the stock as may be already well established should be freely ex- 

 posed to sun and air, merely guarding against the effects of frost at 

 night, which may yet occur. Should we experience the bright sun- 

 shine and parching winds which sometimes characterise the first 

 weeks of May, the exposed plants must be very carefully and libe- 

 rally supplied with water, otherwise the small quantity of soil in 

 which their roots are confined will become so dry, as to be unfit to 

 afford sufficient nourishment, and the result will be a severe check, 

 which will greatly retard their progress after planting out. If any 

 portion of the stock is not yet sufficiently established to be risked in 

 the open air, considerable care will be necessary, in order to encourage 

 it to make rapid growth, without at the same time rendering it too 

 tender. Such plants should be freely supplied with air on all favour- 

 able occasions ; for it will be found that there is no object gained by 

 keeping plants in a close moist atmosphere until within a few days 

 of their exposure to our changeable climate. Aim at obtaining well- 

 rooted, hardy plants, and if they are small when planted out, with 

 ordinary care they will strike root, and grow without any seasoning- 

 time ; whereas plants hurried along in a close warm frame will, heed- 

 less of all care, for weeks after planting out, refuse to move, save in 

 the way of growing smaller. Before the work of planting out is 

 commenced, carefully examine the whole stock, and if it is found to 

 be the least infested with aphis, fumigate with tobacco-smoke directly. 

 After planting their beds, SiC. gardeners invariably have a consider- 

 able reserve stock, with which to supply the place of any plants that 

 may die ; therefore, should any remain after the beds are filled, take 

 care of them until it is clear that they will not be \v anted. As the 

 frames become empty through the removal of " bedding things," 

 they may be used for the growth of plants for the autumn decoration 

 of the greenhouse ; for which purpose they are far more suitable than 

 more expensive structures usually are. Balsams, Lobelias, Globe 

 Amaranthus, Fuchsias, Salvia splendens, Japan Lilies, and the lovely 

 varieties of Achimenes, will, with a little management in the way 

 of giving less or more air according to their various habits, thrive 

 luxuriantly in cold frames. Indeed most plants will do so during 

 the summer months. 



