A YEAR'S GARDENING 



Vegetable and Fruit Garden. — Dust the young shoots of the Goose- 

 berry and Currant bushes, by means of a dredger, with a mixture 

 of dry lime, soot and guano in equal parts, as a preventive of the 

 attacks of caterpillars. Tobacco water and soap-suds is another 

 specific. 



Flower Garden. — Lift and store the spring flowering and other 

 bulbs as (but not before) their leaves begin to decay. 



MAY 8 



Greenhouse and Frames. — As the sun's heat is now making fire 

 heat almost unnecessary, make provision to benefit by this, admit- 

 ting more air as soon as the temperature reaches 55°, but closing 

 the greenhouse between four and five o'clock. 



Vegetable and Fruit Garden. — Give a similar dredging to the young 

 shoots of any Fruit trees showing the presence of green or black fly. 



Flower Garden. — Devote to-day's and to-morrow's time in the 

 garden to general tidying up — ^mowing the lawn, clipping the edges, 

 weeding, etc., as the garden should now show a perfection of neat- 

 ness. 



MAY 9 



Greenhouse and Frames. — Examine the Orchids carefully to see 

 if thrips be present, and when found, dust with tobacco powder. 



Vegetable and Fruit Garden. — ^A proper amount of moisture is 

 imperative at this time of year for the production of a good crop 

 on the Fruit trees and bushes. See, therefore, that they are watered, 

 if dry, and mulch the roots with manure, cocoa-nut fibre or moss 

 to prevent evaporation. 



Flower Garden. — Continue yesterday's work. 



MAY 10 



Greenhouse and Frames. — ^Thin the Grape Vine, remembering 

 that a small number of good bunches of fruit is more satisfactory 

 than a large crop poorly developed. 



Vegetable and Fruit Garden. — Water the Strawberry beds plenti- 

 fully, if they are at all dry, and nip off the runners continually, ex- 

 cept from those plants which are reserved for propagation. 



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