May June 



choose a sunny border sloping to the south, and make the soil 

 rich, fine, and rather firm. Drop seeds in little groups of three 

 or four at each spot, allowing fifteen or eighteen inches between 

 the groups. Cover lightly, and eventually thin the plants to one 

 at each station. 



JUNE 



THE days are now at their longest, and plants in pits and houses 

 should have the full benefit of it. By opening the lights early, and 

 shading in good time, the flowering period will be greatly prolonged. 

 Ply the syringe over plants infested with aphis until they are quite 

 clean. In some instances, it may even be wise to pinch off young 

 shoots which are covered with the fly. 



Keep Verbenas, Petunias, and the taller varieties of Phlox 

 Drummondii pegged down ; this furnishes the beds, and helps to 

 check evaporation. 



Rain and watering alike tend to harden the ground ; and as this 

 condition does not favour growth, the surface should be frequently 

 broken with the hoe. 



Anemone. Those who grow this flower from seed should make 

 another sowing now or in July, even if they have thrifty plants from 

 the February sowing. By this arrangement the flowering period is 

 prolonged, and the finer blossoms will probably come from this 

 month's sowing. 



Aquilegia seed will germinate now in the open ground, and the 

 plants need no protection during winter. 



Balsam. As a rule, it is unwise to put Balsams into beds or 

 borders before the first week of this month. The plant revels in 

 warmth and light, and should have an open, sunny position. Its 

 succulent nature will indicate the necessity of giving abundant 

 supplies of water. For so fleshy and apparently fragile a plant, it is 

 astonishing how well it stands in a strong wind. From good strains 

 the separate colours come so true that the design of a bed can be 

 accurately arranged. As pot plants Balsams need no support, 

 provided they are kept dwarf and stout, and they make admirable 

 decorative subjects. But for indoor use it is easy to grow them in 

 the open ground, and when well advanced they can be lifted with 

 care and potted. This procedure offers the advantages of a choice 



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