MAY. 159 



thick, to prevent their drawing up weakly, but a quiet dull day should 

 be chosen for this. 



Floicer Garden. — May is a busy month with the flower gardener, 

 as the final arrangement and planting of the beds for the season's 

 display will have to be carried out. Very much of the harmony and 

 effect of a modern flower garden will depend on the tasteful distiibution 

 of colour, provided by suitable plants over its area, for it should be 

 borne in mind that so much of every garden, comprised within the 

 area of vision from the principal point of inspection — whether the 

 garden be large or small, or in one or more compartments — should have 

 the primary colours so placed that they may balance each other, and 

 that the subordinate and complimentary colours should be added 

 agreeably with their position on the chromatic scale ; to carry this out 

 correctly, requires a plan with the beds arranged and coloured, and 

 then selecting the plants of the desirable colour to fill them ; in this, 

 the habit of the plants will have to be studied as to height, time of 

 flowering, &c. ; begin with planting the hardiest kinds first, and as they 

 may yet suffer from cold cutting winds, small branches of evergreens, 

 stuck between them, will form a good shelter, as they are easily 

 removed when the warm weather arrives ; above all, let the soil be 

 well pulverised, by frequent turnings over before planting. As a rule, 

 Scarlet Geraniums and their allies grow dwarfer and bloom more 

 profusely in poor shallow soils ; the variegated class like peat or rotten 

 leaf soil, mixed with the compost. Calceolarias, with us, do best in 

 sandy loam, without mixtures, as do Petunias ; Verbenas are not 

 particular, but like light rich soil. 



Fruit (hardy). — We noticed in our last calendar that Apricots had 

 then set their fruit, and Peaches were in full bloom ; alas ! how soon 

 all the gardener's care and trouble have been frustrated by the severity 

 of the frosts of the two last days in March. In many situations, the 

 Apricot crop has been totally destroyed ; in others partially ; and all 

 have suffered more or less. Peaches, we believe, are in a still worse 

 plight, from the effects of frosts, and the attacks of green-fly which 

 followed the frosts, in countless myriads. The check given to the 

 trees by the above, and the cold weather of the present week, will 

 go far to ruin the Peach crop of 1859. Plums, Pears, and Cherries, 

 have also suffered. Disbudding must be proceeded with as the growth 

 advances, and insects kept down ; tobacco water, well diluted, is by far 

 the safest remedy for the fly. Strawberry beds should be cleaned, 

 and the space between the rows filled with stable litter ; the rain will 

 wash the surface clean by the time the fruit begins to swell, while the 

 litter will act as mulching, and assist the fruit in swelling. 



Kitchen Garden. — The principal work here will be a routine of 

 thinning out, hoeing, &c, between the advancing crops. Sow on well 

 prepared beds the main crops of Borecole, Cottager's Kale, Broccoli, 

 Savoys, &c, for the main autumn and spring crops. Cauliflowers and 

 Walcheren Broccoli may also be sown twice during the month. Prick 

 out Cauliflowers and early Broccolis from the seed beds, as also Celery. 

 The main crops of French Beans and Scarlet Runners should be sown. 

 Peas and Broad Beans sow every fortnight for succession. Stick 



