1873.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 1G7 



edging out if it requires it, and then cut off any part which is out of 

 proper bounds. "Where turf has been unduly cut back, the earthy 

 margin may be taken away, a quantity of gas-lime strewn along, and 

 gravel made firm over it ; worms and weeds will be less troublesome 

 there, for one season. Let gravelling be finished as early as possible. 

 All should now have a neat and orderly appearance. 



Seeds of hardy annuals and perennials may be sown at once, if weather 

 will allow ; but many annuals, such as Virginian Stock, Xemophila, 

 Shortia Calif ornica, &c., do well sown late in May. Sow Asters, Stocks. 

 Mignonette, Sweet Peas, for late work ; the two former under protection. 

 Chrysanthemums should be potted into larger pots ; cuttings of 

 them newly struck should not be allowed to starve for want of pot- 

 room : keep the plants growing freely with plenty of air on the frames. 

 Dahlias should be hardened off after they are rooted and growing ; but 

 this does not mean starving in small pots and being exposed to cold cur- 

 rents of frosty air. Get plenty of cuttings put in of bedding plants while 

 there is yet time to get up stock. Plant out Gladiolus roots in rich 

 soil ; they may be placed in shallow boxes of earth and kept cool in 

 the shade, with the view of keeping them back. Select a good stock 

 of plants from the collection of bedding Pelargoniums, to be potted on 

 for summer flowering; also Petunias, Salvia patens, Lobelias, Verbenas 

 (free-growing kinds), shrubby Calceolarias ; these grown in good turfy 

 loam, rotten manure, leaf-mould, and sand, make a line display when 

 other plants are scarce. Keep herbaceous Calceolarias, late Cinerarias, 

 supplied with manure-water; good surface-dressings will help them 

 much. Keep young plants of Cinerarias, Primulas, and Cyclamens, 

 growing freely, but not in close temperatures. Seeds of these may be 

 sown in light healthy soil ; slugs are ready to devour them if allowed. 

 Where young seedlings are being raised they may be examined by 

 candle-light and the enemies may be found at their work of destruction. 

 Keep hard- wooded plants growing freely, and admit fresh air when 

 weather will allow ; a damp stagnant atmosphere will do them much 

 injury. Camellias, Cytisus, Acacias, Coronillas, Epacris, done flower- 

 ing, may be encouraged to make free growth, using the syringe freely 

 over them, and shutting up with sun-heat ; pot such as may require it 

 when free growth has commenced. Pelargoniums coming into flower 

 may be benefited by manure-water and rich surfacings ; but not till 

 their flower-buds are formed. Late successions should be potted to 

 larger sizes, staked out, and turned round to the light. 



Keep decaying leaves off all plants, stir and clean surfaces of pots, 

 water judiciously and liberally where drainage is good and roots plen- 

 tiful. Newly-potted plants (except when very small pots are used) 

 seldom require watering for some days after the shift : a moist, rather 



