May 



MAY 



THIS is the chief month for bedding, and the crowded state of pits 

 and houses creates a natural anxiety to push forward the work ; yet 

 the exercise " of a little patience may save many a valuable lot of 

 plants from being injured past recovery. Although the days are 

 long, and perhaps sunny, the nights are often treacherous, especially 

 in the early part of the month. The first business is to prepare the 

 plants gradually for the change by free exposure whenever there is 

 a favourable opportunity. Take off the lights on genial days, and 

 by degrees open them at night, until they can be dispensed with 

 altogether. About the second week of the month it will generally 

 be safe to put the most hardy subjects on a bed of ashes, under 

 the shelter of a hedge or wall, before planting them. Begin with 

 Antirrhinum, Dianthus, Phlox Drummondii, Stock, and Verbena. A 

 little later on, others which are rather more delicate, as, for instance, 

 Balsam, Begonia, Dahlia, Petunia, Zinnia, &c., can be treated in the 

 same way, until the great bulk of them are in final quarters. Sub- 

 tropical plants, such as Ricinus, Solanum, Tobacco, and Wigandia, 

 had better be kept under control till the first or second week of June. 



Annuals. There is still an opportunity of sowing many varieties, 

 and also to make further sowings of others that are already showing 

 signs of promise. The practice of insuring a succession of all flowers 

 much in demand for vases, of which Sweet Peas offer the best 

 example, is on the increase, and deserves to be further extended. 

 Another point is that many annuals which require heat in earlier 

 months may be sown with confidence during May in the open ground. 



Antirrhinum is admirably adapted for a dry and sunny position, 

 in which it will thrive and flower freely. 



Balsam. Towards the middle of the month a final sowing may 

 be made with safety in the open ground. Former seedlings will need 

 potting on until they reach the 8-inch size, and at each transfer put 

 the plants in rather deeper than before ; this encourages the growth 

 of roots from the stems. While increasing the pot-room not a bud 

 will show; but immediately the roots are checked by the pots, 

 flowering will commence. The old method of stopping and dis- 

 budding not only spoiled the plants, but robbed them of the finest 

 flowers, which are invariably produced on the main stem. Since the 

 natural method of growing Balsams has been in favour it is usual to 

 see grand specimens covered with immense flowers. 



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