THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 149 
but in warm, dry situations, plants trained to stakes in the open 
quarters will, in favourable seasons, ripen nice crops of really ex- 
cellent fruit. The principal point, whether they are to be grown 
against walls or in the open quarters, is to have strong plants ready 
for putting out as soon as it is safe to do so, which is usually about 
the end of the month. I find it good practice to have the stock well 
established in six-inch pots by the time of planting, and the shift 
into these pots is usually given either in the last week of April or 
the first week in May. They cannot have too much sun, and 
whether it is intended to cultivate them in the open quarters or 
against walls, the sunniest situation the garden affords should be 
set apart for them. Tomatoes may be very successfully grown in 
pots, and for small gardens this system of culture can be strongly 
recommended. It is simply necessary at the end of May to put them 
into ten-inch pots, and stand them upon bricks or planks in a sunny 
situation. As soon as the growth requires support, put a few stakes 
in the pots, and tie the shoots to them. Vegetable Marrows do so 
well when the seed is sown where the plants are to be grown that it is 
quite unnecessary 40 take the trouble to raise the plants in heat as is 
so generally recommended by horticultural writers. The third week 
will be soon enough to sow for main crops; but if Marrows are 
wanted as soon as they can well be had, sow at once, and protect 
the plants after they make their appearance above the surface, with 
bell or hand-glasses ; but if neither of these protectors are available, 
turn flower-pots over them. The protection must be continued so 
long as there is a risk of frost, and no longer. Sow three seeds in 
each station, and in due course the plants must be thinned to one. 
To allude to all the kitchen garden work that must have attention in 
the course of the current month, would occupy more space than 
could probably be spared, and it is hoped that these brief hints will 
be useful to amateurs who have not had over much experience in the 
cultivation of vegetables. 
es 
SUMMER FLOWERING BEGONIAS. 
ADERS of the Frorat Wortp who are desirous of: 
something new in the way of bedding, should turn their 
attention to the summer flowering Begonias, which now 
form a most valuable class of decorative plants. Of 
late years a very large number of new varieties have 
been raised by some of the leading English and Continental nursery- 
men, and there are now a very numerous assemblage of splendid 
varieties that may be obtained at a moderate price. Foremost 
amongst the raisers in this country are Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, 
of Chelsea, and Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son, of St. John’s 
Wood, and the leading raisers on the Continent are M. Lemoine of 
Nancy, and M. Van Houtte, of Ghent, and their efforts have been 
so successful, that we have in cultivation at the present moment 
upwards of a hundred really beautiful hybrids. 
From the above-mentioned number, I have selected the follow- 
ing as being in every way suitable for the amateur who is in want 
May. 
