THE FLOEAL WOELD AJSD GAEDEN GUIDE. 



135 



solved gum arable, and a camel's-hair 

 brush. The brush is dipped in, and the 

 centre of everv flower tonclied with the 

 gum, where it forms a bright bead, and 

 prevents the distribution of the pollen. 

 Of course, the flowers should be touched 

 soon afttr they open, or Nature may have 

 accomplished her end before the preventive 

 is brought into operation. It is important 

 to keep the first blooms on specimen aza- 

 leas, pelargoniums, etc., in this way, so as 

 to get the wiiole plant covered by the time 

 the later blossoms open. Pelargoniums 

 done blooming should be cut in and allowed 

 to break before repotting. They should be 

 kept rather dry, so as to break slowly, and 

 ■when potted into small pots, put in a cold 

 frame, and kept close, till they begin to 

 make fresh root, when they must have 

 plenty of light and air. Cinerarias done 

 blooming may be propagated by side- 

 shoots and suckers ; if the plants are 

 turned out on a border, and heaped round 

 the collar with sandy loam, they will throw 

 out suckers, which may afterwards be 

 slipped oS" with a portion of root attached. 

 The time is now arriving for clearing out 

 the house, and give it any necessary clear- 

 ing and repairs, and cold frames should be 

 provided in good time to receive those 

 plants that are not to be turned out of their 

 pots for the summer. 



Stove. — Liberal waterings must now 

 be given, and abundance of air, especially 

 among hard-wooded plants. Pines, same 

 treatment as last month. New Holland 

 plants should be encouraged to grow, and 

 liberal shifts given as required. 



Auriculas will want occasional fumi- 

 gating, keep them in a cool place, on a 

 hard bottom, and pour water amongst them 

 on the ground surface to cause a moist air. 

 An old light may be rested on pots over 

 them during storms, otherwise let them 

 have the benefit of all showers. 



Asters may now be turned out in the 

 places where they are to bloom; make the 

 ground rich, and choose showery weather. 

 If the place is infested with snails, plant a 

 few small lettuces behind the back row, 

 which may be pulled up as soon as the 

 asters are well rooted. Those to flower in 

 pots to have a good shift and cold frame. 



Azaleas not yet done growing, keep 

 moist and shaded, but beware not to push 

 the growth too far, as unless they are well 

 ripened and rested, there will be few flower- 

 buds formed. There is not much danger 

 of that, however, just yet, except with 

 those forced early. Plants that are leggy 

 are likely to throw out shoots along the 

 stems if laid on their sides. 



Apricots to be thinned, young shoots 



nailed in, caterpillars destroyed, and water- 

 engino used smartly, if any sign of fly, 

 which rarely troubles them. 



Americans newly planted must have 

 abundance of water, overhead as well as at 

 the root. Remove by carefully snapping out 

 with finger and thumb the deadblooms of rho- 

 dodendrons and azaleas, to prevent seeding, 



Aimuals of quick growth, sown now, 

 will bloom late for succession. Nemophilas 

 never make a better effect than from sow- 

 ings in June, in moist, shady places. Asters 

 and balsams to be planted out during moist, 

 dull weather. 



Asparagus not to be cut after the 15th, 

 then to be cleaned over and allowed to grow. 



Begonias planted out in open ground 

 not to have a drop of water on their leaves, 

 and to be handled with great care. Shelter 

 from wind is greatly needed. 



Celery to be got into trenches as fast as 

 the ground can he made ready, by the re- 

 moval of other crops. Take up each with 

 a ball, and do not injure a single leaf. 

 Hoe over those that are established in 

 trenches, to break the surface that has 

 been hardened by watering. 



Cinerarias m.ay now be earthed up, to 

 promote the rooting of the sucker.-^. Throw 

 away all seedlings of inferior quality, and 

 propagate only the best. They require a 

 cool, shady place while making suckers, 

 which are to be removed as soon as rooted. 

 Sow seed for next year, and pot off rooted 

 cuttings. 



Camellias may be got out in a shady 

 place, on a bed of tiles or coal-ashes, and 

 kept frequently watered. If kept in the 

 house, there must be air on night and day. 

 This hot weather will ripen the wood to 

 perfection for next year. 



Dahlias planted out, to be staked before 

 the roots extend. Plant out all that are in 

 pots at once ; they will do better in the 

 ground now than with any more nursing. 

 The shoots of dahlias may be bent down 

 so as to render very short stakes sufiicient. 



Fuchsias, keep well shaded, well wa- 

 tered, well ventilated, and with a cool, 

 moist bottom. Plants from spring cuttings 

 will be useful in five and six-inch pots, to 

 keep the hoiises gay in company with bal- 

 sams and other summer flowers. 



Fruit. — Search among raspberries 

 every morning for snails, which take shel- 

 ter on the stakes and among the side- 

 shoots. If large fruit are required, thin 

 the blooms at once, and give liquid manure. 

 Stone-fruits look well this season, and no 

 blight yet, but it may come suddenly, and 

 must be prepared for. Disbud and nail in. 

 Pot trees to have plenty of water, and, if 

 weakly in their new growth, pretty strong 



