2l6 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Round the Year in the Garden; What to do 

 early in May 



AMONG THE FLOWERS 



TRANSPLANTING Evergreens. 

 This is an excellent time to lift 

 and move any evergreen shrubs. 

 Endeavour to lift each specimen with a 

 good ball of soil and roots attached. 

 Replanting must not be delayed so long 

 as to cause the roots to become dried 

 by sun or wind. If delay is inevitable, 

 moisten the roots and cover them with 

 damp bags or sacking. After planting, give 

 each shrub a good soaking of water, and 

 repeat this frequently during dry weather 

 throughout the summer. 



Double Arabis. This is a showy plant 

 when in full bloom, but its growth is really 

 too strong for rockeries, where it is often 

 planted. Here, if not cut hard back after 

 flowering, it quickly overgrows and chokes 

 other plants ; therefore cut it back now. 



Hardening Bedding Plants. In pre- 

 paration for planting out towards the end 

 of the month all young plants in pots and 

 boxes intended for bedding purposes must 

 be gradually hardened off. Where frame 

 accommodation is limited, it will be advis- 

 able to fix up temporary frames, sufficient 

 to prevent the plants being checked by too 

 sudden a change. 



Sowing Wallflowers. These are often 

 sown too late, and the result is seen in poor, 

 undersized plants that cannot give satisfac- 

 tion when in bloom. Sow seeds now in drills 

 8 inches apart, and cover lightly with fine 

 soil ; if the weather is very dry, water the 

 drills before sowing. The selection of varie- 

 ties must, of course, depend on individual 

 taste regarding the various colours ; but 

 among recent introductions Fire King should 

 be noted : it is especially effective when 

 massed and seen from a distance. 



Outdoor Chrysanthemums. Plant out 

 strong plants from pots into well-prepared 

 soil, 2 feet apart, and water them in. 



Planting Hollyhocks. Young plants 

 that have been thoroughly hardened off 

 .may be put out now. If planted in borders 



they must be placed among the tallest plants. 

 Dust around them with soot and lime to 

 keep away slugs. 



Clearing Spring Beds. As soon as the 

 display of spring flowers is past its best, 

 clear them out and prepare the beds or 

 borders for summer by digging in decayed 

 manure or leaf-mould. Daisies, Polyanthus, 

 and Primroses should be divided and 

 planted in spare borders for the summer ; 

 while Arabis, Aubrietia, and Alyssum are 

 propagated by cuttings inserted in fine sandy 

 soil in frames, and kept close until rooted. 



The Perennial Borders. If the plants 

 have produced a large number of young 

 growths it is advantageous to thin them con- 

 siderably, thus allowing those retained to 

 develop properly. Run the Dutch hoe 

 through the borders between the plants 

 occasionally, thus destroying all weeds while 

 they are small. 



IN THE GREENHOUSE 

 Sowing Primulas. The present is a most 

 suitable time to sow seeds of Primula sinensis 

 and P. stellata for autumn and early winter 

 blooms. Prepare sufficient pots by well 

 draining them, and after filling with light, 

 sifted compost, water by immersing them 

 almost to their rims. An hour or so after- 

 wards make the surface level, and sow very 

 thinly. Cover the seed lightly, and place in 

 a temperature of 60. A piece of glass and 

 paper over each pot will render watering 

 unnecessary for a long period ; but the latter 

 must be removed immediately germination 

 commences. Of the sinensis varieties, The 

 Duchess, Duchess hybrids, and Holborn 

 Coral can be recommended. The fern- 

 leaved varieties have attractive foliage in 

 addition to large blossoms. 



Chimney Campanula. Seed of this 

 plant, handsome alike for greenhouse or 

 border, may be sown now in the cool green- 

 house, in pots or pans. The seedlings should 

 be transferred singly to small pots when 

 ready. Both the blue (Campanula pyra- 



