June Flowers and Fragrance 



branches. Seed pods should not be allowed to form, or 

 the future blossoming of the shrubs may be affected. 



Thinning and Staking are two important tasks in the 

 flower garden. Annuals, seeds of which were sown where 

 the plants are to bloom, must be thinned so that each 

 seedling has sufficient space for development. If they are 

 crowded they become weak and their flowering season is 

 short. The blossoming period of Poppies, Sweet Peas, 

 Violas and others may be extended considerably if the 

 fading flowers are picked off ; if seed is allowed to form 

 the display soon diminishes. Faded Roses ought to be cut 

 off as soon as their beauty is past, otherwise the petals 

 fall on the soil and in rainy weather detract from the 

 display. This is particularly necessary with red Roses, 

 the blooms of which usually fade to magenta and spoil 

 the charm of neighbouring blooms. Each Rose should be 

 cut off with at least 5 or 6 inches of stem, so as to encour- 

 age the growth of other shoots. Plants that need staking 

 ought to be attended to without delay ; nothing is more 

 annoying than to have the results of a whole year's 

 work spoilt for want of a little timely staking. If the 

 finest flowers of Roses are wanted, the smaller side buds 

 should be removed. This practice is scarcely advisable 

 when Roses are grown for garden display, except when 

 the flowers are produced rather thickly in bunches. 

 Syringing occasionally with Abol or other insecticide 

 prevents the spread (5f greenfly and other insects, though 

 as many caterpillars as possible ought to be destroyed by 

 hand picking. 



Many beautiful hardy flowers can be raised with the 

 greatest ease from seeds sown now in well prepared soil 

 on a partially shaded border. Among them are Holly- 

 hock, Aquilegia or Columbine, Foxglove, Sweet William, 

 Snapdragon, Viola, Pansy, Delphinium, Lupin, Campan- 

 ula, Oriental Poppy, Erigeron, Iceland Poppy and many 

 more. The seedlings need only be transplanted once 

 before they are permanently planted in autumn, 

 p 225 



