232 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



The old strawberry bed to bear berries this year should 

 be given close attention. If no mulch was applied the pre- 

 ceding fall, cultivate the soil early this month and apply a good 

 mulch of marsh hay, clean straw or other fresh litter. Place 

 the mulch close around the plants and let it fill all the spaces 

 between. It will help to keep the berries clean, prevent the 

 loss of soil moisture, and keep down the weeds until after 

 the berry picking is over. 



Watch for the falling of petals on any fruit trees. This 

 is the best time to spray for codling-moth and plum eurculio 

 (see Chapter XX). 



After leaves have formed on trees and bushes many dead 

 parts may be discovered. Trim these out so that all that 

 remains will have a live green appearance. 



Spring flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, syringa, lilaf 

 and others, should be pruned as soon as the blossoming season 

 is over. Cut back the twigs and also remove the oldest stems 

 entirely. This will make them better bloomers next year. 



Do not neglect to mow the lawn early and often from now 

 on. Lawn-mowers should be used, if possible, as their rollers 

 help the sod. 



Flowers. — Finish the transplanting of any perennial 

 herbs this month. Do not move such plants after they have 

 made a vigorous growth of new roots. If the plants are trans- 

 planted to well-drained soil, water them freely to stimulate 

 the growth. 



Bulbs that have bloomed in the early spring may be either 

 left in the grounud or dug up to make way for other plants. 

 If dug up, they should ripen or dry well, and then be stored 

 for next winter and spring. 



Put the potted house plants out-doors late in the month, 

 or after danger of frost is over. If they have been hardened 

 off, as suggested last month, they are less likely to suffer on 

 cool May nights. The pots or cans in which they are grow- 

 ing may be plunged in the garden soil in an out-of-the-way 



