108 . THE GARDENER. [March 



and those required fastened over vacant spaces neatly. There should 

 be no crowding; clean rods trained out with short stiff wood are what 

 give fruit with certainty. Mulch old bushes. "We have cleared the soil 

 from the surface of the roots of a number of old bushes here, and 

 replaced it with a quantity of good rotten manure, which cannot fail 

 to renew the vigour of the plants ; lime may be dusted all over the 

 bushes when wet with dew, but not while rain falls. Strawberry-beds 

 should be hoed, and kept free from weeds ; a quantity of rotten manure 

 placed over the surface and slightly forked in among old plants will 

 help them much. 



Lawns will now require to be well swept and rolled preparatory for 

 mowing ; clean gravel-walks, turn and roll them if it can be done ; 

 repair turf edgings ; sow grass-seeds where lawns are thin and patchy — 

 but birds are ready to devour the seed. The pruning of shrubs may 

 be done with all speed. Cut out all dead material: those getting naked 

 at bottom are renewed most effectually by being cut well down ; manure 

 given freely at the roots encourages free growth. Shrubs and trees 

 may now be planted without delay : those requiring stakes should have 

 attention ; mulching and watering should not be neglected if dry wea- 

 ther should set in. Auriculas, Polyanthus, and other plants of a similar 

 nature under glass, should have their drainage examined, or be potted 

 on, if necessary ; fresh surfacing may do much to help them to bloom 

 well. Carnation and Picotees, and Pinks, may be planted out soon 

 if ground is in good order ; those to flower in pots, should be shifted 

 on. Any plants, however hardy when under glass, should be well 

 inured to air before they are turned out. 



Top-dress Pansies in pots, and plant out cuttings which are well rooted ] 

 sow Mignonette, Sweet-Peas, and hardy Annuals to flower early in 

 summer. Pot off Chrysanthemums as they become rooted, and pre- 

 vent them from being drawn up by heat ; put in more cuttings, and 

 divide old plants. Early Cinerarias and Primulas may be potted 

 and grown on without coddling them : Cinerarias do badly with heat 

 or a dry atmosphere : good turfy loam, a little leaf-mould, and sand, 

 suits them well for first potting. Primulas require more vegetable 

 mould ; a little good peat in the soil helps them to root freely. Pot 

 Dahlias as they become fit to handle, and roots are formed : put in top, 

 with a " heel " to each if it can be practised ; prevent all cuttings 

 from being drawn up for want of light and air : put in all kinds of cut- 

 tings as they can be had ; pot on plants which have been stored into 

 boxes. Hollyhocks may be planted out when weather is fine ; soil 

 may be placed among Violets to allow the runners to root preparatory 

 for planting out fresh beds. Ptoses should be planted out if not done 

 already : prune the greater part of the stock from the middle to the end 



