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Sinensis alba (Fl. P1.)—It is noted for having fine double white 
flowers. sees 
Double-flowering Sloe.—It is a large shrub; its height is found 
to average from 10 to 12 feet, with quite slender shoots and leaves, 
but it is thickly sprinkled every spring with the prettiest little 
double white blossoms, being about as large as a sixpence, 
resembling the Banksia rose. It is one of the greatest favourites 
among Chinese and Japanese—those unbounded flower-loving 
eople. 
5 ee Pisardi.—The beauty of this tree is that the leaves 
are of a dark-red colour. When in flower it bears a small white 
blossom, and also bears fruit. 
Sinensis rosa (Fl. Pl.)—Double-blossomed plum. 
MONTHLY ESSAYS. 
MAY. 
The month of May is invariably admitted to be the grandest 
time of the year by both artist, poet, and horticulturalist, on account 
of the lovely autumn tints that meet the eye at every turn. 
The brown, red, and yellow leaves of the English trees stand 
out prominently in front of our noble native gum-tree. Visitors 
to the gardens cannot pass the pavilion without admiring the 
beautiful patch of Virginian creeper, the leaves of which are 
just now turning to a dark-red tint. 
On entering the nursery the visitor or student cannot help 
stopping to admire a very fine specimen of the persimmon tree 
(native of Japan) shedding its leaves, and leaving the golden fruit 
to ripen later on. 
This month is one of the most important for the student, as 
planting is now being carried on, and every opportunity is afforded 
him to see the preparation of the soil, which must be well broken 
up by spade work. It is also most important to have the ferti- 
lizers properly mixed with the soil before planting time. 
The fertilizers most frequently used are bone dust, superphos- 
phate, and blood manure. It should be remembered not to use too 
much of the latter, on account of its burning nature. 
Pruning keeps many of the students busy. The plum is the 
first to be operated upon, but it does not require much pruning 
if the tree has had a summer pruning, 
