158 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN -GUIDE. 



protected in the same way. There is no way of preventing the 

 ravages of the wire-worm, or julus, but by hand-picking ; it causes 

 considerable trouble, but it is the only way to get rid of them. 



B. D. 



THE GABDEN GUIDE EOR MAT. 



THE PLOWEB GABDEN. 



ilHRYSANTHEMTJMS not wanted for exhibition may be struck this 

 month, a9 May cuttings make very good plants. Strike the young 

 tops in a shady border, under hand-lights, and give them liberal cul- 

 ture as soon as they have got roots, when plant them out in good soil, 

 enriched with rotten manure. Plant out dahlias the first or second 

 week, and protect on frosty nights by inverting bell-glaspes over them. Should 

 you be unable to give them this protection, you must wait till the third week, and 

 then plant. Dahlia roots may be got in as early as convenient, and had better be 

 cut to one eye, as if they are allowed more than one stem, they grow rank and 

 bushy, and rarely flower well. Take cuttings from hardy border plants, and 

 especially from those which have double flowers, or are in any way difficult to 

 raise from seed, such as dielylras, double feverfew, &c. See. Take auriculas out of 

 the stage, and place them on a hard bed of gravel, or coal ashes, to enjoy air and 

 rain ; do not cut off the flower-stems till ihey are quite withered. Plant out 

 annuals from seed pans, and get out the hardiest of the bedding stock towards the end 

 of the month. Keep lawns and walks very trim,by means of scythe, roller, and shears. 

 Tender annuals such as asters, zinnias, etc., may now be sown in the open ground. 

 This is a good time to sow hardy and half-hardy perennials of all kiads, to gee strong 

 plants for winter, either to remain out or to have the protection of a frame or to 

 take up and pot for early blooming in the greenhouse. Chinese primula should be 

 sown now for the next spring. Carnations and picottees should be staked without 

 delay, and then shoots thinned. Part and plant polyanthuses and primroses that 

 have done blooming, and give them a shady aspect. Should it be intended to have 

 fresh gravel, it would be advisable to defer it until the beds are filled, when tbe 

 whole garden acquiring its full summer gaiety, a coating of fresh gravel then will 

 add much to its freeh and bright appearance. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



Sow in heat, melons and cucumbers, for succession, or take cuttings from 

 strong plants, for planting out on ridges at the end of the month, or early in June. 

 Transplant from seed beds, as fast as the young plants get at all thick, and use 

 the hoe wherever weeds appear, so as to keep them down before they have time to 

 flower. Choose showery weather, if possible, for transplanting, or else give shade 

 for a few days, and gentle waterings. Plant out capsicums and tomatoes, under 

 the hottest wall you have, and to promote their rooting put a spadeful of hot dung 

 a foot or eighteen inches deep under each, and cover with bell-glasses till they get 

 hold of the new soil. See that cucumbers have sufficient bottom-heat, and give 

 fresh linings if necessary ; a little dry litter, mixed with the dung, will tend to 

 prolong the fermentation. Trenches should now be made for celery, and six inches 

 of rotten dung forked into the bottom of each. A dull or showery day should be 

 chosen to put out the plants, and plenty of water given during dry weather. Put 

 sticks to rows of peas as soon as they require it and well bank up those that 

 are forward. Thin parsnips and carrots to eight inches apart. Fiat-hoe 

 potatoes, and draw but little earth to their stems ; the old method of moulding 

 them up has proved to be no benefit at all — rather an injury, as the heat of the sun 

 cannot have too ready an access to the roots. Sow beans and peas for succession, 



