164 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



full action of tlie weather before tliey arc able to bear the exposure 

 without injury, and it is also desirable that the amateur should be 

 thoroughly impressed with the conviction that the plants require 

 just the same amount of care and attention as when under glass. I 

 would lay particular stress upon the importance of attending to the 

 plants regularly during the time they are out of doors, because of 

 the immense amount of mischief that is done annually through the 

 prevalence of the belief that the plants are then able to take care 

 of themselves, or at least that they do not stand in need of the same 

 constant and careful attention as when under glass. 



During this month the majority of the hard-wooded plants may 

 be removed out of doors, and in doing this, remove those first which 

 have completed their growth. A moderately open sit\iation should 

 be selected, so that the plants may enjoy full exposure to the light 

 and air to insure the thorough maturation of the wood. A partially 

 shaded position is perhaps preferable to one in which the plants are 

 fully exposed to the sun all day, but provided proper attention is 

 paid to supplying them with water, sunshine will do them no harm. 

 An exception must be made in favour of camellias, which require 

 shade for the preservation of that fine deep glossy green colour of 

 the foliage which so highly enhances their general appearance. 



Previous to placing the plants out of doors, make up a bed for 

 them to stand upon of coal-ashes not less than four inches in depth, 

 for the purpose of keeping the worms out of the pots. This is 

 most important, for if the worms once find their way into the pots, 

 they will contrive to choke up the drainage before they can be 

 ejected. When this happens, the plants must be turned out of the 

 pots, and the drainage set to rights, or the soil will become sour, 

 and the plants assume a sickly appearance, through the roots 

 perishing. If the plants are few in number, the pots may be placed 

 upon planks or tiles, whichever may happen to be the most con- 

 venient. Large pots containing specimens should be stood upon 

 three bricks to leave a hollow space underneath, for the double 

 purpose of allowing a current of air to pass underneath, and the 

 superfluous moisture to pass away more quickly. Plunging the 

 pots in the case of delicate-rooted subjects, such as those to which 

 special attention is now directed, is not desirable for reasons 

 which could be readily explained, were it needful to do so. 



After they are arranged in their summer quarters, they should 

 be examined every day, and all that are moderately dry supplied 

 with water. In watering plants potted in a compost consisting 

 principally of peat and sand, extra care is necessary. The water 

 soaks into the ball very slowly, and inexperienced cultivators fre- 

 quently suppose that the plant has been supplied with a sufficiency 

 before it has had lialf enough. It is a golden rule to apply sufficient 

 to soak through the bottom of the pot, and if one application is not 

 enough, repeat it as many times as may be necessary. If this rule 

 is not acted upon, the upper half of the ball will be soaked thoroughly, 

 and the other half become dust-dry, and in a very short time the 

 plants will either perish outright, or linger on in an unhealthy state. 

 WLea the lower half becomes dust-diy through careless watering, 



