FlovEr 



AND LAWN 



TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR-XV. 



HERE is no season of the year that 

 taxes more severely the energfy and 

 skill of those who take an interest in 

 their gardens, than the month of May and 

 the early part of June. Neglect or careless- 

 ness in garden operations at this season, is 

 certain to be followed by disappointment 

 and regret, later on. 



Not only has the ordinary spring and 

 early summer work of rolling lawns, cutting 

 grass, getting the walks in trim, and other 

 routine work to be attended to, but the 

 vegetable and fruit garden also demand 

 their share of attention. 



The vegetable garden, more especially, 

 must not be neglected. Unless successive 

 and late crops of vegetables are sown or 

 planted, there will be a dearth of vegetables 

 during July and August, as well as a short- 

 age of autumn and winter vegetables. 



Always endeavor to sow and plant gar- 

 den crops when the ground is sufficiently 

 dry to work easily. Tramping about on 

 the ground when in a wet and soddened 

 condition, is detrimental to plant growth, 

 more especially on stiff clayey soils. If 

 planting is carried on in wet or showery 

 weather, always loosen the soil up with a 

 fork or hoe where it has been tramped about 



on. A loose, friable surface soil is con- 

 ducive to rapid growth, and much heavier 

 crops will be secured than by allowing the 

 soil to become hard and packed. 



Another important point in garden work, 

 is never to allow the roots of any tree or 

 plant that is to be transplanted, to be ex- 

 posed to the air any longer than is really 

 necessary. If the roots cannot be covered 

 with earth, cover them with damp straw, or 

 a piece of matting, so as to exclude air from 

 the roots. More plants and trees are lost 

 by neglecting this important point than is 

 generally supposed. Plants that can be 

 kept from w'ilting for a few days after being 

 transplanced, by judicious shading and wa- 

 tering, will well repay the extra care be- 

 stowed on them by responding with quick 

 root action, and a vigorous, healthy top 

 growth. 



The transfer of tender flowering and foli- 

 age plants from the greenhouse, or perhaps 

 from the hot-bed or window, to the changed 

 conditions of out-door life, is a feature of 

 spring work that is often very carelessly 

 and thoughtlessly conducted. Tender ex- 

 otic plants, such as coleus, cannas, caladium 

 esculentum, etc., are often hurried out into 

 the cold soil of bed or border, without any 



