MAY. 119 



pANsiES. Examine seedlings, and weed out inferior plants; assist 

 promising' ones by placing a little dung round them. During the 

 first two weeks of this month most varieties will exhibit their true 

 character. Put in as many cuttings as can be procured. 



Pelakgoniums. The plants which have not been stopped back 

 since they were cut down will now be fast coming into flower. Bees 

 must be excluded from the house by netting; for if allowed access, 

 they fertilise the flowers, and they soon fall. Fumigate the May 

 plants, whether you see green- fly or not ; and if you have several 

 houses, smoke them all ; for we are apt to carry plants from one to 

 the other without thought, and so introduce tenants whose room is 

 better than their company. 



Pinks. Keep the beds clean. The surface of the soil must be 

 kept open, and in dry weather water liberally, and mulch in light 

 soils ; the bloom-stems may be thinned out when about four or five 

 inches long. If fine blooms are required for exhibition, those varieties 

 that produce but few petals may be reduced to one stem, such as 

 Hedge's Gem, Headley's Duke of Northumberland, and others. On 

 the more robust sorts, that produce a superfluous number of ])etals, 

 two or three may be left^ according to the strength of the plants. 

 While putting this into practice, remember the number of shows yuu 

 have to attend, and leave some backward shoots to come in late, and 

 some for the early exhibitions. Prick out seedlings an inch apart. 



PoLYANTHusKs. Part and transplant them. Plant out early- 

 sown seedlings. Water them, and keep them free from slugs and 

 snails. 



Ranunculusks. The Ranunculus, though hardy, will be bene- 

 fited by a slight protection from late frosts ; one unfortunate late frost 

 is sufficient to blight the hopes of the cultivator. Imperfectly formed 

 buds are to be attributed to frost. A close covering would weaken 

 both foliage and blooms. Flake-hurdles, which admit air and light, 

 will be found sufficient. They should be supported just above the 

 foliage, on short stakes driven into the beds. The Ranunculus 

 delights in a moist soil; and if there be deficiency of rain during the 

 month, water must be liberally supplied. Apply it between the rows, 

 and not over the foliage. If the weather be mild, water in the even- 

 ing. Stir the beds, and trap wire- worm by means of moist bran, or 

 sliced potatoes or carrots. About the middle of the month plunge the 

 .seed-boxes or pots in the open ground in a sheltered place. 



Roses. Plant out Bourbon, China, Tea-scented, Noisette, and 

 Hybrid Perpetual Roses on their own roots from small pots ; in light 

 sandy soils a dressing of rotten manure, about four inches in depth, 

 well mixed with the soil with a three-pronged fork to a foot in depth, 

 will be all that is required. In stiff soils the following is an excellent 

 preparation: cover tlie bed to be planted with luunt earth, well sa- 

 turated daily a week before it is used with strong liquid manure, two 

 or three inches in depth ; then stir this into, and well mix it with the 

 soil with the fork, as directed above for the manure. Roses in pots 

 to bloom in June will want frequently looking over for the maggot, 

 even if you have cut out all the old spurs. Any plants of China, Tea, 



