120 THE FLORIST. 



needed, strong ones firmly placed in the ground, and the spike well 

 secured, are all that is required. It is at the bottom the spike gives 

 way if it gets loose. 



Pansies in pots are in full flower, and beautiful objects they are, 

 if in good health and vigorous. The frames containing these should 

 now face the north, in a cool quiet spot, free from dust. The lights 

 should be quite off on all favourable occasions. Put in cuttings, es- 

 pecially of any promising seedlings. Top-dress beds with rotten 

 manure, mixed with a little loam. 



Pinks. Thin out blooming shoots to two, three, or four, accord- 

 ing to the known habit of the flower. Criterion should not be al- 

 lowed to carry more than a few blooms, while such as Great Britain, 

 Narboro' Buck, &c, must be disbudded but sparingly. 



Pelargoniums. The May specimens are now getting very gay. 

 The early plants, if not so good in quality as some we see in June, 

 are always more interesting. The canvass will now be regularly used 

 for shading the May house. Look over with the water-pot often on a 

 drying, harsh day. Give June and July plants all the room that can 

 be spared, to prevent their drawing, now they are growing so rapidly. 



Roses. The increasing warmth of the month will cause the Rose- 

 maggot (see p. 61, Vol. I.) to pursue its destructive operations ; the 

 earliest perceptible indications on buds where the leaves are not ex- 

 panded, are a small quantity of dark snuff-like powder at the points of 

 the shoots. Where this is perceived, a family of three or four are in 

 the immediate neighbourhood, and must be perseveringly destroyed 

 by pinching each bud, as if kept down in their young state much less 

 injury will be done to the early bloom ; a continuous search must, 

 however, be followed. Assistance may, however, be looked for from 

 some of the migratory birds, such^is white-throats, willow wrens, &c, 

 which be careful not to disturb. Green-fly w T ill also commence their 

 attack ; a strong decoction of tobacco-water made with hot soap- 

 suds (to be used when cold,) well syringed over them, followed by 

 clean water, will have the effect of keeping them down. Newly 

 planted trees should be mulched and watered, and if tall or tree Roses, 

 a coat of moss tied round the stems, with matting or a neatly twisted 

 hay-band kept moistened, will tend much to their success after re- 

 moval, which is often very precarious. Disbudding is also a desirable 

 operation to perform this month ; all shoots having a tendency to 

 grow in the centre of the head, or where too close, should be rubbed 

 off; this will materially reduce the labour of pruning in the spring, 

 which, to amateurs, is generally the most difficult process connected 

 with Rose-culture. 



