152 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



THE GARDEN GUIDE FOR MAY. 



Sweetly breathing Vernal Air, 

 That with kind warmth dost repair 

 Winter's ruins, from whose breast 

 All the pums and spice of th' east 

 Borrow their perfumes ; whose eye 

 Gilds the morn, and clears the sky ; 

 Whose dishevell'd tresses shed 

 Pearls upon the violet bed ; 

 On whose brow, with calm smiles drest. 

 The halcyon sits, and bnilds hi r nest ; 

 Beauty, youth, and endless sprinji;, 

 Dwell upon thy rosy wing! 



Thou, if stormy Boreas throws 

 Down whole forests when he blows, 

 With a pregnant flowery birth 

 Canst refresh the teemio;,' earth. 

 If he nip the CHrly bud, 

 If he blast what's fair or good. 

 If he scatter our choice flower.**. 

 If he shake our hall or bowers, 

 If his rude breath threaten us. 

 Thou canst stroke great CEolus, 

 And from him the (jra^.e ohtain 

 To bind him in an iron chain. 



TaoMAS Caesw. 



jjCHIMENES, Gloxinias, and Gbsneras will rejoice in a moist at 

 raosphere with a generous temperature. They must have some shade- 

 Train out hetimes, and give air to keep the growth robust. 



Asters, Stocks, and Balsams for decorations to he shifted 

 frequently as required ; give tbem plenty of air and water, or they will 

 he eaten up with fly. The hot weather will throw balsams into bloom if they are 

 at all pot-bound or dry at the root ; and those not yet sufficiently grown, and which 

 are showing bloom, should have the buds nipped out as fast as they show, and he 

 shifted in rich compost to the next size, to encourage growth. 



Azaleas which bloom naturally and are now making their new growth, to have 

 abundance of water, and to he kept in a close pit, shaded ; and water to be frequently 

 sprinkled about, to cause a moist atmosphere. 



Balsams and Cockscombs for exhibition to have a good shift in rich light soil, 

 and a little extra heat to promote new roots. They must have abundance of water 

 to prevent green-fly, which are sure to attack tlieni if they are starved. 



Bedding-out, — Dull weather is the best for this work, and if it can be done 

 just before rain, much labour of watering will be saved. But when the ground is 

 absolutely wet, bedding cannot be done properly, and had best be deferred a few 

 days. When the plants are counted off and sorted for their places, let them go 

 moderately dry ; they will then turn out better than if the balls are wet. Plants 

 that have not quite filled their pots with roots, turn out in complete halls, remove 

 the crocks, and close in without breaking the balls ; but those that are absolutely 

 pot-bound must have the ball slightly loosened, to enable the roots to push out easily 

 into the free soil. 



Broccoli and Cauliflower to be sown for succession, choosing both early and 

 late sorts, the first for use in the coming autumn, and the others for supply in the 

 spring. 



Camellias that have finished growing for the season to have less water and 

 more air. They must not go absolutely dry, because that would punish them 

 severely. It is too soon to put them out yet, so give them airy positions in the 

 house. 



Chrysanthemums lately struck to be potted off, and to be relui'ned to the pot 

 for a week or ten days, and after tliat to be plunged in beds of coal-ashes or cocoa- 

 nut waste. 



Cinerarias that are thoroughly good to have a little sandy compost placed 

 around the stool, into which the suckers will throw roots, so that when taken off 



