What Amateurs Can Do in May 



BEFORE good work can be done in 

 any occupation proper tools must be 

 provided. One can garden quite 

 satisfactorily with a garden fork, spade, 

 rake, hoe and trowel. A wheelbarrow will 

 also be needed. A few other con- 

 veniences that are necessary are a gar- 

 den line that can be bought for fifty 

 cents, a pair of pruning shears can be 

 obtained for seventy-five cents. A hand 

 weeder and a few feet of hose will also 

 be required. 



When digging a plot of ground, al- 

 ways begin at one end and work back- 

 wards ; thus you will always have firm 

 footing on the unbroken surface. When 

 digging work in the manure or fertilizer 

 at the same time. 



IN THE FLOWER GARDEN 



Seed sowing and transplanting will be 

 the first work in the flower garden. 

 Plants that have sprung from seeds sown 

 earlier in the house should not be trans- 

 planted from the house to the open 

 ground without first" going through a 

 process of hardening-off. This is done by 

 gradually introducing the plants to the 

 changed conditions of outdoor life by 

 exposing them for a few hours a day at 

 first to outside influences. One of the 

 best places to harden tender plants is 

 a cold frame. This hardening can, how- 

 ever, be accomplished by setting the 

 plants outside where they can either be 

 lifted inside again or protected until 

 they become accustomed to the changed 

 conditions. 



Nasturtium, balsam and portulaca 

 seed can usually be sown outside with 

 success about the second or third we-K 

 in May. Sweet peas can be sown enrly 

 in May. Do not sow seeds where the 

 plants will be shaded by trees. If pos- 

 sible have the rows running north and 

 south. The soil should be dug over 

 deeply and a liberal amount of well rot- 

 ted stable manure worked in sufficiently 

 deep so that it will not touch the seed. 

 Plant the seed in benches at first, cover- 

 ing with only one or two inches of soil. 

 More soil can be raked in as the plants 

 grow. If the soil is of a clayey nature 

 do not plant the seeds as deeply as if it 

 is more sandy. 



Corms or bulbs of gladioli can be 

 planted towards the end of May and 

 even earlier in some localities. Plant 

 the bulbs three or four inches deep and 

 about six or eight inches apart, and 

 cither in clumps or rows. The ground 

 should be thoroughly prepared before 

 planting. Dahlias can also be planted 

 towards the end of the month. Canna 

 roots should not be planted until afte'- 

 the middle of June. 



Cobea scandens is one of the best 

 annual climbers for covering trellis 

 work, fences or rockeries. .Sow a few 

 .seeds at once and keep them in the.win- 

 ; dow or hotbed. About three seeds in a 



three or four inch pot will be sufficient. 

 It is better not to repot before planting 

 out as they do not transplant readily ii 

 separated. Use rather light, sandy soil 

 and keep the soil in the pots moist and 

 they will be ready to transplant outside 

 early in June. Plant the whole pot of 

 plants together, whether there be one 

 or two or three plants in the pot. 



If it is necessary to move spring 

 flowering bulbs when they have passed 

 their usefulness to make room for other 

 plants, the bulbs should be dug up and 

 heeled in just below the ground in some 

 out of the way place and left there un- 

 til July. The bulbs should then be lifted 

 and kept in a cool, dry shed until they 

 are required again for fall planting. 



Secure and plant some new perennials 

 in the herbaceous border. This class ot 

 plants are easily grown and will provide 

 a succession of bloom the greater part 

 of the season. 



LAWN MAKING 



Repair the bare patches on the lawn 

 by seeding or sodding. Soil from ex- 

 cavations and cellars should be removed 

 and replaced with a rich loam. If the 

 lawn is uneven or has never been pro- 

 perly levelled, dig it deeply all over. 

 Work the surface thoroughly, filling all 

 the hollows by raking, and then roll 

 thoroughly. 



Before sowing the seed have the sur- 

 face as fine and smooth as possible. The 

 creation of a good permanent sod de- 

 pends as much upon the preparation of 

 the soil as on anything else. 



Kentucky blue grass is the mainstay 

 of a durable greensward, but the best 

 plan is to buy a ready mixed lawngrass 

 seed from a reliable seed dealer. Sow 

 liberally and evenly, then rake and roll. 

 Great care should be given to all the 

 details, as a lawn is the basis of the 

 whole scheme of decorative gardening. 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



The soil should be thoroughly worked 

 and a liberal application of well rotted 

 stable manure mide at the same time. 

 Onions, peas, spinach and other hardy 

 vegetables may be planted as soon as 

 the ground is fit for them. Seeds of ten- 

 der plants, such as cucumbers, corn and 

 squash, should not be planted until all 

 danger of frost is past. Soak seeds of 

 beet, carrot, parsnip and beans over 

 night, when they will come up a few 

 days earlier. Care should be taken not 

 to plant the seeds too deeply in the 

 spring. If frost threatens, young seed- 

 lings should be covered with paper, 

 leaves, or soil. The cover should be re- 

 moved as soon as the danger is past. 



Radishes will thrive in any good soil, 

 but to be crisp and tender, should be 

 grown quickly. Sow every ten days oi 

 two weeks to provide a continuous sup- 

 ply. Good varieties are Scarlet White- 

 tipped Turnip and French Breakfast. 



A delicious plant for home growing is 

 salsify or vegetable oyster. Sow the 

 seed as early as possible. Handle the 

 crop the same as parsnips. Sandwich 

 Island is a good variety. 



Lettuce should be sown early in May. 



Palm Houae in Ailan Gardeni 



This is a view of the caacade in the palm house in Allan Gardens, Toronto, 

 but it conveys a poor idea of the pretty effect produced by the falling water 

 among the tropical foliage and flowers. The Garden is hound to become a favor- 

 ite place for visitors, already large crowds of people have visited it and are 

 asking to have the extension put In so as to provide more space for promenad- 

 ing. There is at present a fine display of Azal&a«, Begonias, Cineraria Hy- 

 brida and Shelda, Cyclamen. Schizanthus, G«ni8ta8 and Primulas, Keweneia and 

 Sinensis, also Orchidfi, Oattleya Trianae, Sophronitis Grandlflora, and N<>penthe8 

 Amesiana, also a fine collection of Stove plants, well worth seeing. The bous« 

 is open the following bonra: 9 till 6, week days: 1 till 6, Sondays. 



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