220 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Melons need a brisk bottom-heat to ripen tLe fruit, and to be kept rather dry. 

 Those swelling fruit to be encouraged with a lining, and a moderate amount of 

 atmospheric moisture. Keep the vines regularly tramed, so that the leaves are 

 exposed to light, as wherever they are crowded the fruit will be found to damp off. 



Orchids require now a free circulation of air to ripen the spring growth. Use 

 as little shading as possible, an 1 keep the air moist by watering the paths and 

 borders in the afternoon ; after wliich shut up. 



Pansies to he propagated from cuttings of young wood ; the old hollow stems 

 are quite unfit for the purpose. Beds to be planted to stand over winter should 

 now be deeply dug and manured, which will tend to reduce wireworm, as they will 

 be turned up in the process and be destroyed. 



Peaches ripening off to be kept as cool as possible ; hot sunshine and close air 

 will spoil the flavour and cause the fruit to fall. 



Pelargoniums, as they go out of bloom, to be cut down, and placed in a warm, 

 sheltered, and rather shady place for a week, then to be put in the full sun, and kept 

 rather dry at the root, with occasional sprinklings of the stems and leaves till they 

 break, and then to be repotted back into small pots with sound lumpy turf to make 

 their new roots in. 



PiNRS should have every needful attention now, as at this season plenty of 

 growth may be secured for the succession plants. Those swelling their fruit will 

 need the help of liquid manure and atmospheric moisture, with a good steady heat. 



Raspberries to have their suckers reduced to three or four to every stool ; 

 those left will rise strong and ripen their wood well, but a forest of spray will be 

 all weak alike. 



Roses require now to be pruned back, and have a mulch, and plaaty of water 

 to assist the autumn bloom. Cuttings of half-ripe slioots of most of the perpetuals 

 maj- be put in towards the end of the month. Buds to be entered on briars with 

 discretion ; the bark must be firm, or the work cannot be done properly. 



Strawberries. — Plant out tbe first lot of well-rooted runners in ground well 

 manured, and shade for a week and keep well watered j these will at once form 

 good crowns, and bear well nest season. 



Tree Onions need a little support, as the crop is apt to fall over and be preyed 

 upon by snails. The top bulbs are the best of all onions for pickling. 



Vines in early houses to be kept rather dry to promote tbe ripening of the 

 wood, and to have plenty of air. In late houses encourage quick ripening, keeping 

 up the heat, and ventilate well to prevent damp and mildew. Water and mulch 

 the borders of late houses, and by all means abstain from cropping the borders, as 

 the practice is most injurious to the roots of the vines, the best of which are near 

 the surface. 



"Winter Greens to be planted out at every opportunity. It is most important 

 to put out good breadths of Brussels sprouts as early as possible. 



HOETICULTURAL AFFAIRS. 



jjRYSTAL PALACE FLOWER SHOW, on May 29, was a glorious 

 success, for there was an abundance of the staple subjects of a great 

 summer exhibition, and a large concourse of visitors. Stove and 

 greenhouse plants in bloom, which form such an important feature at 

 the May and June exhibitions, were largely represented. Azaleas 

 were so abundant as to make an attractive display. Pot roses were better than 

 usual. Orchids were more plentiful than is customary at the metropolitan exhi- 

 bitions, and materially enhanced the attractiveness and interest of the exhibition. 

 Fine foliage plants were numerous, and the specimens of which they consisted 

 remarkably fine. Pelargoniums wei e fairly represented, and made a fine display. 

 The groups of plants arranged for effect were more numerous, of greater extent, 

 and generally the arrangements were more tasteful than usual, and they in 

 •consequence lorm a more important element than in any previous year. Not the 

 least attractive feature of the exhibition was the group of fine-foliage plants in 



