242 



THE GARDENER. 



[May i8Si. 



supply wheu ready to transplant : give 

 them plenty of moisture at their roots 

 to start with, and when growth is 

 started mulch over the roots with rot- 

 tea manure : mowings of grass may be 

 used sparingly. Shading may be used 

 to begin with. Lettuce, Turnips, llad- 

 iahes, Spinach, and all small salads, 

 may be sown between other crops 

 every ten days, or weekly, where such 

 are required ; and we think these are 

 the most ditheult crops to have at all 

 times in abundance. If ground is dry, 

 a deluge with water the night before 

 it is to be used will make it easily 

 worked. Lettuce may be thinned to 

 inches apart each way, and the thin- 

 nings planted in the shade for succes- 

 sion. Salsafy, Scorzonera, and Chic- 

 ory may now be sown. The two for- 

 mer may be treated as Beetroots : the 

 latter may be grown anywhere. Early 

 thinning of crops ; free, open surfaces 



well hoed ; water in good soakings 

 when it is really wanted; and vermm 

 kept in check, — are matters of con- 

 siderable importance at this season. 

 Tomatoes should be hardened gradu- 

 ally, never stopping growth entirely, 

 and planted out at end of month or 

 early in June. Mushrooms are not so 

 easily kept from maggots at this sea- 

 son. Beds formed out in cool posi- 

 tions, well protected by litter or straw 

 mats, answer well for growing this 

 much-valued crop. Capsicums do well 

 in frames planted out, or along back 

 walls of pits. Ridge-Cucumbers, Vege- 

 table-]\[arrows, and Gherkins may be 

 planted onbeds of warm manure, leaves, 

 or other material, covered with good 

 soil, and protected by " protectors " or 

 hand-lights. Weather is often decep- 

 tive during May, and no risk should be 

 run, M. T. 



|lo tires i Cnrr cspontrents , 



All business communications and all Advertisements should be addressed to 

 the Publishers, and communications for insertion in the ' Gardener ' to David 

 Thomson, Drumlanrig Gardens, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. It will further 

 oblige if all matter intended for publication, and questions to be replied to, 

 be received by the 14th of the month, and written on one side of the paper 

 only. It is also requested that writers forward their name and address, not 

 for publication unless they wish it, but for the sake of that mutual confidence 

 which should exist between the Editor and those who address him. We 

 decline noticing any communication which is not ac3ompanied with name and 

 address of writer. 



W. Allison. — Dendrobium Pierardi. 



Beginner. — The following Masdevallias are to be recommended as the most 

 showy, M. Harryana, ignea, Lindeni, Tovarensis, Veitchiana, Davisii. Keep 

 Tovarensis at the warmest part of the house. 



J. F. — We suspect the roots of your young Vines are being devoured by 

 wire- worms. Place a thin layer of horse-droppings on the surface, and cover 

 it closely over with boards : examine beneath the boards and you will 

 soon find the worms, if our suspicion be correct ; and if so, turn over the 

 boards every morning and pick up the worms. Pieces of carrot or potato 

 thrust into the border and examined daily is also a good way of getting rid of 

 them. If wire-worm is not the cause, we cannot say what is, seeing your 

 soil is fresh and good. 



