158 THE FLORIST. 



day. The old foliage will be dying off, which should be cut away with 

 a light hand. Top dress towards the end of the month. 



Cinerarias. — Little can now be done with these, other than keeping 

 the plants that are in bloom in a cool shady situation. Select from the 

 best named and seedling flowers for seed for the ensuing season, which 

 sow as soon as ready if early plants are required. Place such as have 

 gone out of flower in a north or cool situation for early cuttings. Prick 

 off seedlings as soon as large enough to handle and place and keep them 

 in a moist cool situation, until large enough to place in single pots. 

 Prepare soil by putting equal parts turfy loam and well decomposed 

 manure in a heap, which turn occasionally, until required. 



Cold Frames. — Calceolarias, Scarlet Geraniums, Lobelias, 

 Pentstemons, &c, may now be shifted to situations where they can 

 have temporary protection if needed ; this will make room for tenderer 

 plants, requiring a gradual exposure to harden them for final planting, 

 towards the middle of the month ; indeed, the great success of an early 

 start with bedding-out plants will mainly depend on their being well 

 hardened off, previously to planting. Continue to prick into small pots 

 the recently struck cuttings of Verbenas, Salvias, Heliotropes, and 

 Petunias, to follow the early plants. Spring-raised annuals, as Stocks, 

 Asters, Zinnias, &c, may now be fully exposed, and finally planted 

 when the weather will permit. Where the frames are cleared of 

 flower-garden plants, towards the end of the month, their place may 

 be occupied by Balsams, Japan Lilies, Cape Bulbs, and Gladioluses, 

 &c, for decorating the greenhouse in August and September. 



Conservatory. — It will be very desirable at this season to lessen the 

 number of extra plants in this house, introduced for furnishing a supply 

 of bloom, that the permanent plants may not be overcrowded, now 

 they are commencing their growth. Such plants as are growing in the 

 open border must be well attended to with water, and the plants should 

 be frequently syringed overhead ; doing this early in the morning, for 

 the house to get dry before visitors enter. The display of bloom should 

 be kept up by Pelargoniums, Azaleas (greenhouse and forced), Rhodo- 

 dendrons, Roses, &c. ; and don't forget to introduce sweet scented plants, 

 as Orange trees, Heliotropes, and the good old Franciscea uniflora. 

 Although shading must necessarily be practised, it should not be 

 carried to excess, or to cause the young shoots of the permanent plants 

 to draw. Let the show-house be kept as gay as your stock permits, 

 and look to the successional plants to follow those now in bloom. 



Dahlias. — Prepare the quarters or borders for these, or any ground 

 that it is proposed to grow them on. The time is fast approaching for 

 planting them out, yet, if the weather is cold or unfavourable, it will be 

 best to delay this operation, particularly if the plants have pot room, 

 and can be kept growing. To accomplish this, repot the plants as soon 

 as they are received from the nursery, or, if home propagated, from the 

 small pots to others a size or two larger, keeping growing but gently ; 

 by no means draw the plants, on the contrary, give all the air possible 

 on favourable occasions. The fourth week in May is ample time for 

 planting, particularly if the soil and plant have been prepared, as they 

 should be. Seedlings may be put out a little sooner if they stand 



