1S69. ] SEASONABLE HINTS FOE AMATEURS. APKIL. 87 



patch, of seed, then to put a little rotten dung into the bottom of the holes, filling up 

 with the soil that was taken out, pressing it down firmly, and finishing off by 

 levelling a little below the adjoining surface. Then the seed is sown, and covered 

 lightly with soil passed through a fine sieve, and the name of the plant written 

 on a label and stuck in front. Some attention is necessary in covering the seeds, 

 as all the smaller kinds require only a light covering. As great a variety of 

 annuals as possible should be sown in mixed borders, leaving room for Dahlias, 

 Fuchsias, Salvias, &c, as previously recommended ; they come into flower early, 

 are extremely beautiful and interesting, and by the time they begin to fade the 

 other plants will be spreading fast and coming rapidly into flower. Tender 

 annuals should be sown in pans and boxes, and put into a little heat. When the 

 plants are up they should be pricked off, either into boxes which can be put 

 under cover, or into frames or beds specially prepared for them. 



Alpine plants will now be coming into flower. Tulips, Hyacinths, and other 

 bulbs must be protected from frost, hail, and cutting winds. Pansies, Pinks, 

 Carnations, Pentstemons, and other plants, kept over winter in pits, should be 

 planted out at once, if not already done. Those who wish to have a fine show 

 of Chrysanthemums next autumn should now attend to their plants. Perhaps 

 the easiest method for the amateur to adopt, is to shake the old plants out and 

 divide them, then pot three or four slips into a small-sized pot, and put them 

 into a frame where they can be kept close for a few days until they begin to 

 make fresh roots, which they soon will do ; afterwards they will do best in the 

 open air. As soon as the plants begin to fill the small pots with roots, they should 

 be all shifted into larger-sized pots, using a compost of loam, rotten dung, leaf 

 soil, and river sand. When potted they should be set in an open airy situation, 

 and should be well attended to in watering. They will require another shift in 

 about six weeks' time, when more dung and less leaf-soil should be used in the 

 compost. This shift will in general do to flower them. 



The directions given last month for Bedding plants should be attended to this 

 month. Spring-struck cuttings should be potted off, and pushed on. Many of 

 the hard-wooded greenhouse plants will now be in great beauty ; air must be 

 admitted freely in mild Aveather. The plants will now require liberal supplies of 

 water. Plants not in flower, and beginning to grow, should be carefully shifted 

 into clean well-drained pots. Soft-wooded plants should be encouraged to grow 

 by liberal shifts. Young Fuchsias should be shifted as they seem to require it. 

 Cinerarias should be kept well-watered. Pelargoniums should be tied out as they 

 advance in growth, and green-fly must be kept down by fumigating. 



This is a most important month in the Kitchen Garden, and every advantage 

 should be taken of favourable weather to get in crops, and to push on operations. 

 The main crops of Carrots, Parsnips, Beet, Salsafy, and Scorzonera should be got 

 in early in the month. The ground for these should be trenched deeply. Broc- 

 coli, Borecole, Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, and Cauliflowers should be sown on beds 



