1 16 THE FLORIST. 



Dahlias. Endeavour to have tine plants ready to plant out 

 by the end of the month ; they will not be safe sooner, unless they 

 are protected at night. Shift, therefore, all that have been struck 

 in small pots into 5-inch pots. The soil should be light and rich. 

 Great care should be exercised in haidening-off seedlings ; keep them 

 growing, without allowing them to draw. The old roots which have 

 been en)ployed to produce cuttings may be divided ; they will form, 

 when putted, strong plants with little trouble. Level ground that 

 has been ridged- up during winter, preparatory to its being finally 

 dug at planting-time, and have plenty of rotten manure prepared 

 to set the plants in. Free from slugs and green-fly the moment 

 they appear. 



Epacrises. Give them a general shift, as the plants have made 

 new growth, and are hardened off. Give a few days' shading, and 

 shelter until there is no longer fear of frost : a cold frame is the most 

 fitting place ; then the shady side of a hedge or shrubbery for the 

 remainder, of the summer, taking care that they never suffer from 

 drought or saturation. 



Ericas. Small plants, not arrived at a flowering state, may now 

 be shifted, as also those varieties that bloom in July and onwards. 

 Aristatas, Odoratas, Vestitas, Ventricosas, and their varieties, must 

 be deferred for six weeks or so. Tie any straggling branch requiring 

 support; remove decayed leaves, weeds, &c. ; attend to watering; 

 give all the air the weather will permit ; and the moment mildew 

 presents itself, kill it with sulphur. 



Flower-Garden. If any thing can be done to the soil in order 

 to render it more suitable to the early growth of the plants which 

 are soon to be consigned to it from the frames, proceed with it at 

 once, so that every tiling may be in readiness, and in the best pos- 

 sible order for the reception of the plants. There is one very material 

 point in the arrangement of the flower-clump too frequently neglected 

 by amateurs, viz. the proper arrangement of the plants. Space will 

 not admit of directions about their proper distribution as regards 

 colour, height, &c. ; but this is the less to be regretted, for amateurs 

 can arrange those things in a very superior manner, if they will only 

 give their attention to it at the proper time. It will be found of 

 great assistance in deciding upon the arrangement of the colours 

 to use a rough sketch of the ground to be planted ; upon this pieces 

 of coloured paper may be arranged and re-arranged until they are 

 suitable ; but due attention must be paid to the height of the plants 

 which are to produce the different colours, otherwise the arrange- 

 ment may be very perfect as respects colour, and still be far from 

 satisfactory. As regards the proper time at which to commence or 

 finish planting out the half-hardy plants, so much depends upon cir- 

 cumstances that no definite time can be stated. Most persons com- 

 mence early in the month, if the weather is favourable ; but it will 

 be safe to reserve the less hardy portion of the stock till after the 

 middle, especially if they have not been well inured to sun and wind. 

 After planting, it will be necessary to give a gentle watering to settle 

 the soil about the roots, and, should the weather prove as dry as it 



