92 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



fore, no need to pay double the price of 

 Erglish to make sure of a good crop ; but 

 in all these matters the diillculty with 

 many is to get the seed true, and as all de- 

 pends on that, it is advisable to obtain it 

 through the post from a first-class house, 

 rather than trust to the cornchandler and 

 dealer in penny j)acket5. Sow in heat 

 tomatoes, capsicums, egg-plants, celery, 

 vegetable marrows, pumpkins, and cucum- 

 bers for ridging out. 



FEUIT GAEDEK. 



Nail in any trees that have been left 

 loose, to keep them back ; be careful how 

 you handle the branches, or fruit-spurs and 

 pushing buds may get broken ofT. Use as 

 few shreds as possible, and those as narrow 

 as you dare cut them. Pruning ought to 

 have been finished long ago ; if any trees 

 were neglected, and are in a dense state, 

 thin them out, and rub a little clay paint 

 over the cut parts to encourage the closing 

 of the bark over them. Green-fly will ap- 

 pear on peaches, and must be syringed off 

 ■with tobacco-water. Cover peach-walls 

 ■with netting during the prevalence of cold 

 winds. 



FLO'tt'ER GAEDEX. 



Evergreens may still be planted ; this 

 is as good a season as any for moving 

 Americans. Give all flowering shrubs plenty 

 of water if the weather is dry, and occa- 

 sionally a good drench of weak liquid ma- 

 nure. Herbaceous plants of all kinds may 

 still be got in. Get ready the beds for the 

 summer flowers, and, if short of stock, put 

 cuttings into a brisk heat. Begin to harden 

 off bedders that are forward, but be care- 

 ful not to expose them to bleak winds by 

 carelessness in managing with frames. 

 Trim up grass-plots with roller, broom, and 

 edging-iron, and mow as soon as there is 

 sufficient growth to promote the formation 

 of a good bottom. Poor lawns may still 

 be improved by a sowing of fine grasses 

 and clovers, and dressing with a mixture of 

 quiok-lime and loam where moss has got 

 ahead to the detriment of the grass. 



GEEENHOTJSE. 



The heat in all plant structures may be 

 increased where quick growth or the speedy 

 production of bloom is needed. Repot 

 hard-wooded plants that have flowered ; 

 pot firm, and give only small shifts. Give 

 abundance of water to genistas, epacrises, 

 acaetas, hoveas, chorozemas, and other 

 plants in flower, and as much au- as the 

 state of the weather will permit. Soft- 

 wooded plants for specimen -flowering 

 sbpuld be got into blooming-pots. 



Increase the amount of humidity in the 

 atmosphere by sprinkling the walls and 

 floor, but be careful not to overdi-ench any 

 plants that have not yet got into full sea- 

 sonal growth. Be ready to shade orchids 

 and stove -ferns on bright suuny days. 

 Shift into roomy pots plants of quick 

 growth, and shade for a week after, and 

 keep only moderately moist till they make 

 fresh roots. 



Give air early on fine mornings, and 

 get the foliage dry before shutting up, 

 which should be done early. Thin out 

 the berries on well placed bimches, and 

 remove the bunches altogether from weak 

 shoots, or where there are more produced 

 than the strength of the vine is sufficient 

 to ripen. Pines must have plenty of 

 water, and a moist air, with a brisk bottom- 

 heat. 



Auricidas . — Shade during bright sun- 

 shine, give liquid manure once a-week, 

 plenty of air, and keep the plants regularly 

 turned about, so as to have the trusses 

 upright. 



Camellias will now want extra atten- 

 tion to get good and early growth. Keep 

 them well syringed, and warm and close. 

 Remove any ill-placed buds at once, to 

 throw the strength into thosebetter placed. 

 Camellias left to grow their own way inva- 

 riably become lanky. This may be pre- 

 vented by removing the wood-buds that 

 come beside the flower-buds at the ends of 

 the shoots as soon as such buds make their 

 appearance ; if neglected they may be 

 nipped back now, and the lower side-buds 

 will push, and make the plants full and 

 bushy. 



Cinerarias. — A little shading will 

 prolong their blooming. Give plenty of 

 water, and watch vigilantly for green-fly 

 on the under sides of the leaves. Mark 

 any seedlings that give extra good flowers, 

 and all of middling or inferior quality de- 

 stroy as soon as their bloom is over. 



Dahlias must have extra attention 

 this mouth, Strike cuttings of kinds 

 wanted in quantity, and repot as fast as 

 those already struck requii-e it. 



Fansies. — Take ofl' side-shoots for au- 

 tumn-blooming. Give liquid manure to 

 plants coming into flower, and give a little 

 protection dui'ing the prevalence of easterly 

 winds. 



Ra7iimculusei>. — As soon as the rows 

 are perceptible, break the surface of the 

 soil with a small ladies' fork or spud, and 

 then mulch with rotten dung. 



