MAY WORK 101 



CHAPTER X 



MAY WORK— FOR FALL GLORY 



THE refreshing showers of April and the bahny skies of May 

 bring forth such a riot of blossoms in gardens, fields and 

 woods that amateur gardeners are apt to feel content to rest on 

 their laurels. With Lilacs, and Spiraeas, and Deutzias lighting 

 up the shrubbery border, with bulbs gloriously beautiful in blos- 

 som throughout the cooler sections, while in the gardens of the 

 South the tall white Oleanders are masses of starry flowers, with 

 Crimson Rambler Roses vying with the Star Jasmine to see which 

 can be most beautiful, with bright-faced Pansies by the hun- 

 dreds in the borders, with Nasturtiums rich and glowing in their 

 places, with Sweet Peas delicately beaudful as Orchids in the 

 rows, with hedges of Hollyhocks, stately and tall, lending their 

 dignity of color and line to the garden picture, it is hard to realize 

 that eternal vigilance is the price of a garden, and that May must 

 be a busy month if Summer flowers and vegetables are desired. 



The Violets must be looked after, first of all. No matter how 

 luxuriantly they are growing, after the season of bloom is over, 

 every plant must be taken up, the leaves cut off and the roots 

 planted in permanent positions about three inches apart. This 

 is the only way to grow them successfully. If not separated 

 annually they multiply so rapidly that deterioration takes place 

 very quickly. Many do not think it necessary to cut the leaves 

 when transplanting, and the result is unsightly withered or dead 

 leaves on every plant, marring the appearance of the whole garden. 

 Planted with the leaves cut, not too closely, the strength of the 

 plant goes to form new roots, and when the leaves begin to unfold 

 they are fresh and green, and stay so. It is a great deal of trouble 

 to take up the Violets every year, separate the roots, and replant, 



