402 GARDEN 3IANAGE3IE^^:. 



tions intended for exhibition ; for, though they may mark prettily, this defect 

 is fatal to competition : thos^ having long disproportioned cups or pointed 

 petals are also defective for that purpose. Whenever addition is made to the 

 bed, make the selection when they are in bloom. By this means you are cer- 

 tain of the strain. If seed is required, let the hybridizing or crossing be done 

 now, selecting finely-formed and pure flowers on both sides ; do not, however, 

 cross a rose or byblomen with a bizarre. 



1170. Dahlias. — Dahlias already planted out should be watered in the 

 evenings with soft water overhead, the soil being previously stirred, and others 

 planted out for later bloom, taking care, in hot weather, to mulch round the 

 i-oots, where it can be done without being unsightly, with short well-decom- 

 posed dung. As the shoots advance, train and tie them up carefully, and 

 search for earwigs and slugs in the mornings. A ring, or circle of copper, 

 placed on the ground round the stem, it appears, will prevent this latter pest 

 from approaching the leaves of plants. 



1 17 1. Ranunculuses will be making rapid growth. Always water in the 

 evening, and with water which has been exposed to the rays of the sun. When 

 they begin to show colour, the awning, or other shade, should be placed over 

 them : a few hoops extended over the bed, with mats on the sunny side, for 

 a few hours in the middle of the day, will suffice, and greatly prolong their 

 beauty. While the bloom is fresh, give water ; but as it fades, discontinue 

 it, and keep them from rain. 



1172. Carnations, Picotees, and Pinhs, as they advance, should be 

 tied to their stakes, reducing the number of the shoots according to the 

 strength of the plant. Care should be taken that the flower-pods of pinks do 

 not burst ; and those having ligatures round them will require easing and 

 re-tying. Shade any forward flowers, giving plenty of water and liquid manure. 

 The larger stalks of the pink, or grass, as it is technically called, when sepa- 

 rated from the parent plant, may be "piped" now ; that is, the upper part 

 of the stalk may be drawn out of its sheath or spathe, and struck in light 

 sandy soil, under a hand-glass. This being done for the larger stalks, the 

 plants will put out abundant stock for later cuttings. At the end of the month, 

 or early in July, the main crop of pipings or layers should be got in. See thi& 

 is done by making a slight hotbed, and covering it with six inches of sandy 

 soil, in which the cuttings or rooted pipings may be planted, covering them 

 with small hand-glasses, or they may be struck on a shady border. The 

 delicate operation of fertilizing should be performed on such as it is desired 

 to keep for seed. This is the only true way of getting first-class seedhngs, 

 and both parent plants selected for experiment should be the most perfect of 

 their kind. 



1173. Auriculas and Polyanthuses should be removed into a northern aspect, 

 all decayed petals taken away from the seed-pods, and as the capsules turn 

 brown, they should be gathered. Water as they require it, and keep the pots 

 Iree from weeds. Stake and water hollyhocks freely. 



ii74« Pamics struck fi-om cuttings in April and May will produce fine 



