Gardening for Amateurs 



325 



Round the Year in the Garden ; What to do 

 early in June 



AMONG THE FLOWERS 



THINNING Annuals. The chief 

 drawback to the sowing of annuals 

 in beds or borders where they are 

 required to bloom Is that they are seldom 

 thinned to the extent the}' should be, 

 consequently individual plants have not 

 room to develop properly. Those who have 

 not the heart to pull out strong-look- 

 ing seedlings should remember that thin 

 sowing is always recommended, but the 

 advice is too often ignored. 



Completing Bedding Out. The work of 

 filling beds with summer flowers should now 

 be completed. Even the more tender kinds 

 such as Begonias, Cannas, etc., may be 

 planted with perfect safety now. Begonias 

 will thrive in light, rich soil in a partly 

 shaded position, and make a glorious display. 

 Water all beds after planting, and do not 

 neglect those previously planted. 



Staking Plants. Where herbaceous pe- 

 rennials are extensively grown, staking and 

 tying the growths will take a considerable 

 time, but it should not be hurried. Judging 

 by examples often seen, the work of staking 

 and tying such plants is very little under- 

 stood. The object is to afford support in 

 as natural and inconspicuous a manner as 

 possible ; therefore stakes should be hidden, 

 and the growths caught up loosely, instead of 

 being tied tightly in bunches. 



Sowing Hollyhocks. To secure strong 

 roots by iM-\t .May seed of these stately 

 plants should be sown thinly now in drills 

 on a warm border. Thin the seedlings to 

 a distance of 6 inches in good time to pro- 

 mote sturdy growth. 



Spraying Roses. To keep Roses abso- 

 lutely free from that troublesome pest, 

 greenfly, the bushes should be sprayed every 

 week or ten days with a reliable insecticide. 

 Liquid manure should be given frequently 

 now, and where the beds are not carpeted 

 run the hoe through them regularly. 



Seeds for Present Sowing. Among 

 seeds for present sowing in the open for 



blossoming next season may be mentioned 

 Aquilegias (Columbine), Foxgloves, Pansies, 

 Violas, Antirrhinums (Snapdragons), and 

 Campanulas in variety. Antirrhinums sown 

 now will flower very early in the year. 



Window Boxes, Tubs, etc. Window 

 boxes planted with suitable flowers add to 

 the attractive appearance of any house, and 

 if properly attended to in the matter of water- 

 ing the display will last out the season. Tubs, 

 which can be filled with a large variety of 

 plants, are also very useful for standing in 

 suitable positions on walks, etc., or they 

 may be plunged to their rims, in which case 

 less water will be required. Both the above 

 should be placed in position now. 



IN THE GREENHOUSE 

 Sowing Cineraria Seed. Unless plants 

 are wanted to bloom very early, the first 

 week in June is an excellent time to sow seed 

 of Cineraria. Sow thinly in pans of sandy 

 soil, and place in a frame or cool greenhouse 

 where the seed can be shaded from bright 

 sunshine. These brilliant flowers should be 

 grown by all who possess a greenhouse from 

 which frost can be excluded during the winter, 

 as the leas heat the plants are given the 

 better for them. The prize strains produce 

 large blooms on dwarf plants, the Stcllata 

 being taller and with small, starry flowers 

 in many brilliant shades. Double-flowered 

 varieties can also be obtained, and compared 

 with the ordinary kinds they are very novel. 

 Azaleas. When syringing in the green- 

 house always be careful to give Azaleas a 

 good spraying, especially on the undersides of 

 the leaves, for if thrips once obtain a good 

 hold it is a tedious business trying to exter- 

 minate them. The plants must never be 

 allowed to get dry at the root ; but this often 

 happens because the water soaks through 

 very slowly owing to hard potting. To make 

 quite sure soak the pots in a bucket of water 

 occasionally. 



Top-dressing Lilies. Certain sorts of 

 I.ili.-x. notably Auratum and Speciosum, 



