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CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR MAY. 



Auriculas. — The cooler the situation the plants are placed in at the 

 present time, the longer they remain in flower. As soon as the blooms 

 begin fading, remove the plants to a more exposed yet cool situation ; a 

 raised bed is best suited to stand them on, with lights placed over them 

 during wet weather. Give the plants a good fumigating before they are 

 taken from the pits or frames to be stood out of doors. 



Azaleas. — Examine carefully for thrips, and if you discover any, 

 fumigate immediately. As soon as the large specimen plants go out of 

 flower, pick off the seed vessels ; if any of them require a shift they 

 should have it, as they will be commencing to grow ; when potted, keep 

 them rather close for a time and syringe daily. Young plants will 

 require attention in stopping and training of the shoots. 



Camellias. — Keep a tolerably high temperature to assist the forma- 

 tion of flower-buds. Give liberal supplies of water, and occasionally 

 some liquid manure ; syringe daily. 



Carnations and Picotees. — There will be but little to do for the next 

 three weeks with these plants, excepting watering in dry weather. 

 Choose a mild day for this. Towards the end of the month, stake 

 them permanently. Keep the plants trimmed of all dead fohage, and 

 clear of aphides. 



Cinerarias. — Procure seed from the finest kinds, a little of which 

 should be sown as soon as ready, and the plants will bloom about 

 Christmas next, giving plenty of bloom at a time when flowers are 

 scarce. As soon as the named kinds are past their best, stand them 

 out on a shady border to produce cuttings, which should be taken off in 

 a young state, and struck in sand in a cool situation. 



Cold Frames. — Leave air all night when plants are hardening off; 

 and in very mild weather the lights may be left quite off all-night. Pot 

 off spring-struck cuttings, also seedlings of all kinds ; propagate all 

 desirable plants. 



Conservatory and Show-house. — Attend to the regulating and 

 training of climbers. Keep a watchful eye for insects, which are 

 generally troublesome at this season, if once allowed to get ahead. 

 Remove all plants as soon as the flowers begin to die away. Examine 

 the soil around all plants in beds, and see they do not suffer for want of 

 water. Syringe plants not in flower. Give abundance of air, and 

 water freely. In fine weather, towards the end of the month, leave 

 some air in all night. 



Cucumbers. — Regulate the growth of the plants, and never let the 

 shoots become crowded. Water freely, and do not let the plants carry 

 too many fruit at one time. Prune back plants that have been in 

 bearing for some time ; and when they make a fresh growth regulate 

 the shoots, but do not stop them too fi-eely. Keep a watchful eye to 

 insects, particularly red spider, which, if not kept down, will soon over- 

 run old plants. Keep a steady bottom heat and a moist atmosphere. , 

 When grown in pits and frames, attend to the Hnings, and renew them 

 when the heat declines. 



Dahlias. — Re-potting and growing on the young plants in cold 



