Calendar of Monthly Operations. 12 1 



plants are to stand during the summer. In the south all the 

 old plants should be taken up this month and divided, replant- 

 ing where desired. Plants standing in cold frames or out of 

 doors should be placed upon boards or coal ashes to prevent 

 the worms from entering the pots. Keep also a sharp look- 

 out for the little black fly that is so prone to infest them. If 

 syringed a few times a week with clear soot water, it will keep 

 them away and give the foliage a vigorous appearance. 



MAY. 



Many varieties, especially the pompons, may yet be rooted, 

 all making convenient plants in the fall for decorative pur- 

 poses. Plants should all be in the open air by this time, 

 those in pots standing upon ashes or boards as recommended. 

 All plants not intended for pot culture must be now planted 

 out in a place prepared for them as has been directed. Place a 

 stout stake to each plant and secure it with some strong ma- 

 terial. Attend to the watering carefully after setting out until 

 the plants have taken hold in the soil. Specimen plants 

 should be in about eight inch pots at this time ; do not be in 

 a hurry to get them into their flowering pots ; give a little 

 weak liquid manure as soon as the plants are making a vigor- 

 ous growth. By cutting back a few plants at this season to 

 six or eight inches in height they will develop in season for 

 late-flowering, and by cutting back a few every week until the 

 middle of July, a succession of them may be had. If large 

 blooms are desired the shoots must not be stopped, but al- 

 lowed to grow unchecked. Select a shoot for each bloom to 

 be grown on a plant, put a firm stake to it, and nip away all 

 suckers and side shoots as they appear. Seedlings should also 

 be potted as they advance in growth. Prepare a compost 

 heap for the final potting into their flowering pots and see that 

 a sufficient stock of suitable pots is at hand, and have them 

 washed and put in readiness for the operation. Prepare tanks 

 or barrels for liquid manure, and stakes and wire for training. 



