158 THE FLORIST. 



frames is of more importance than early planting. Planting may be 

 commenced towards the end of the month. We do not plant ourselves 

 before the first week in June. See that the points of the young plants 

 are not mfested with green-tiy when planting time arrives. Fumigate 

 before they leave the pits, if this troublesome insect is visible, as it will 

 not be easy to get them under after the plants are in the ground. Seed- 

 lings will require considerable care, watering, &c., the first few weeks 

 after being planted. 



Flower Garden. — This is a busy month here. We presume the 

 arrangement has long since been determined on ; if so, and the weather 

 be favourable, you may begin to " bed out " after the middle of the 

 month, planting first, of course, such things as have been well hardened 

 off, and the more tender plants towards the end of the month ; a nice 

 showery day after all are planted would save a deal of trouble ; if the 

 weather sets in dry you will be obliged to water. Propagate by slips 

 double Wallflowers, and divide the roots of Violets and similar plants. 

 Roll and mow the Grass weekly ; roll the walks frequently, and keep 

 every place neat.and tidy. 



Forcing Ground. — Plant about the middle of the month ridge 

 Cucumbers and Vegetable Marrows under glasses, on a bed of fermenting 

 materials. We generally plant ours in turf pits where we grow 

 early Potatoes. As soon as the Potatoes are taken up in May we 

 plant the Cucumber, and on the same bed, placing glasses over them. 

 But the following plan answers equally well : Take out the soil in any 

 open situation about one foot deep, four or five feet wide, and as long as 

 may be required. Fill this trench with the fermenting materials, and 

 raise the bed twelve or eighteen inches above the soil ; on this place 

 the earth that was taken out of the trench, always putting about a 

 barrowful of fresh soil under each glass for the young plants to strike 

 root into. If4he weather be bright and sunny, the plants will require 

 shading for a few days, and air must be admitted freely on fine days. 



Fruit (Hardy). — Apricots are with us, this season, a most extra- 

 ordinary crop ; they have set in clusters of ten, fifteen, and twenty in 

 a cluster. Thinning is indispensable, and it must be done with no 

 sparing hand. The young leaves of Apricot trees are often devoured by 

 little caterpillars ; their presence is plainly indicated by the curling up 

 of the leaves ; the only way to get rid of them, and to save the trees 

 from serious injury (for they make sad havoc when not looked after), 

 is to unfold the leaves and kill them. This is rather tedious work ; but 

 as it is the only effectual way of getting rid of the caterpillars, and as 

 the present and future well-being of the trees is by this means secured, 

 the labour is well bestowed. Peaches and Nectarines appear to be 

 setting pretty well : the trees will require disbudding, but do not 

 remove too many at one time, but go over the trees often. In dis- 

 budding Peach and Nectarine trees, the general rule is to divest the 

 bearing wood of the present year of all shoots except the terminal one 

 and those issuing near the bases ; when there is no fruit, the buds 

 should be rubbed clean off; but when there is fruit at the base of the 

 buds, instead of rubbing the buds clean off, merely pinch off the point 

 between your finger and thumb nail, leaving two or three of the leaves 



