CARE OF PLANTS COMING INTO FLOWER. 



BOX EDGINGS. 



Where these have not been laid, this month is the proper 

 time. Do not delay the planting of such any later. For 

 ample directions, see March, under this head. Clipping 

 of these should be done about the middle of this month. 

 There will then be no danger of frosts to brown the leaves, 

 and the young foliage will not be expanded. To keep 

 these edgings in order, they must be cut once a year, and 

 never be allowed to get above four inches high and two 

 inches wide. What we consider the neatest edging is 

 three inches high, two inches wide at the bottom, tapering 

 to a thin edge, at the top. It is very unsightly to see large 

 bushy edgings, especially to narrow walks. 



The use of edgings is to keep the soil from the gravel, 

 and the larger they are allowed to grow, the more inef- 

 fectual they become ; growing more open below as they 

 advance in height. The operation may be done very 

 expeditiously by clipping the tops level, going longitudi- 

 nally along with shears for the purpose, called " box 

 shears." Strain a line along the centre of the edgings, 

 cutting perpendicularly from the line to the bottom on each 

 side, leaving only the breadth of the line at top. Edgings 

 cut in this manner, every spring, will always look well, 

 and the trouble, comparatively, is a mere trifle. 



GENERAL CARE OF PLANTS COMING INTO FLOWER. 



Every part of the flower ground should be put into neat 

 order, giving such plants about the borders as are shooting 

 up their flower stems, and are tender, and in danger of 

 being hurt or broken by the wind, proper sticks or rods for 

 their support. In doing this, endeavour to conceal the 

 rods, &c., as much as possible, by dressing the stems and 

 leaves in a natural-looking manner over them. Let the 

 stakes be in proportion to the height and growth of the 

 plants. It looks very unsightly to see strong stakes to short 

 and weak growing plants. The tyings likewise should be 

 proportionate. 



Examine all the beds and patches of seedling flowers 



