302 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



HINTS TO AMATEUR GARDENERS. 



THE CALENDAR FOR JUNE. 



FRUIT. 



Cherry-trees on walls usually become infested 

 with black fly at this season, which, if not 

 checked, will extend to the fruit. An effectual 

 and simple remedy is, immediately they arc per- 

 ceived mix some clayey soil with water in such 

 proportions as will form a thin puddle, into 

 which dip the infested points, leaving them to 

 dry in the sun. After the inclosed insects have 

 perished, the clay may readily be washed off; 

 but it will do no harm in remaining. Roses 

 and many other plants may be cleaned in the 

 same manner. Vines trained against the house 

 or walls must now be looked over weekly, and 

 all weak and superfluous shoots removed. The 

 earlier this is attended to the better, and more 

 likely to forward the ripening of the fruit. A 

 common fault committed in the management of 

 Vines, is leaving too much wood, which not 

 only hinders the fruit of the current year from 

 receiving due nourishment, but prevents the 

 fruiting wood for next season from maturing its 

 buds, to assist which all the sun and air pos- 

 sible should be permitted to penetrate. This 

 should be borne in mind when thinning out 

 young and useless shoots : do not allow one spur 

 to support two bunches of grapes, but remove 

 the smallest or uppermost one, and stop the 

 shoots at an eye above the fruit. Continue to 

 water Strawberries, if necessary. Keep newly- 

 grafted shoots securely tied, and the summer 

 shoots of trained trees fastened in. 



FLOWERS. 



Small plants of Pelargoniums or Fuchsias in- 

 tended for the windows in autumn will make fine 

 specimens for that purpose, if planted out early 

 this month ; or they may be potted at once into 

 their winter pots, and plunged out of doors, taking- 

 care that they have good drainage, and using pre- 

 cautions against their rooting through the bottoms 

 or over the tops of the pots. 



Annuals. — Some of the quick-flowering kinds 

 may yet be sown, as Virginian Stock, Venus's 

 Looking-glass, Clarkia, Collinsia, Gilia, &c. 

 Some of those thinned out from the border may be 

 potted for flowering in the window, or be placed 

 in a shady place, to form a succession. They will 

 require plenty of water. Some of the more ten- 

 der kinds which were sown in pots, and raised in 

 the cucumber-pit, may be planted in the open bor- 

 ders, as French and African Marigolds, Ten-week 

 Stocks, China Asters, Zinnias, and Phlox Drum- 

 mondii. 



Bulbs of Ranunculus, Hyacinths, Anemones, 

 and Tulips, as soon as the foliage has turned 

 yellow, must be taken up, if they are choice kinds, 

 and stored away when dry in paper-bags until the 

 planting season. If suffered to remain in the 

 ground, they shoot again in the autumn, which 

 weakens the bulbs, and spoils their blooming at 

 the proper season ; and Tulips, when left in the 

 ground, become run in their colors. The soil 

 should be carefully cleansed from them, but none 

 of the skins removed. Care must be taken in 



handling Ranunculuses and Anemones not to 

 break their claws. 



Carnations should have neat sticks placed to 

 tie their flower-stems. This should be done 

 loosely, to admit their elongating without break- 

 ing. If aphides infest the young buds, they may 

 be brushed off with a stiff feather, or dusted in 

 the morning, when damp, with Scotch snuff. Pale- 

 colored kinds will be much benefited by applica- 

 tions of liquid manure, once or twice a week. 

 Liquid manure will be found of great advantage 

 to other florists' flowers when putting forth their 

 flower-stems — namely, Pinks, Ranunculuses, 

 Polyanthuses, and Hyacinths. 



Dahlias. — Keep them neatly and securely tied 

 up, and water them if necessary. 



Fuchsias, Verbenas, Heliotropes, and similar 

 plants, readily strike by cuttings now. 



Roses may be budded towards the end of the 

 month. 



Perennials and Biennials, raised from seed, 

 may be pricked out, to strengthen before their 

 final transplantation. 



Pinks .-^-Many kinds of choice Pinks, in expand" 

 ing, are liable to burst their calyx, either from ro- 

 bust growth, or a naturally short calyx. To pre- 

 vent this, a narrow strip of parchment or bladder 

 may be passed round them, and secured with a 

 little gum-water; or if bladder is used when moist, 

 it will adhere of itself, and can be readily removed 

 before exhibition. Some circular pieces of card 

 should also be cut of the same width as the 

 flower, to arrange the petals upon ; for although 

 the petals of a first-rate Pink do expand even and 

 level, they are better secured by this contrivance. 

 Slit the card to the centre on one side, and in the 

 centre make two or three cross-cuts, to admit its 

 being fixed upon the calyx without bruising it. 

 As the flowers expand, the small or irregular 

 petals must be extracted, and the others laid out 

 horizontally, so as not to interrupt the circular 

 lacings. Some short-calyxed Pinks burst in de- 

 fiance of these precautions. To prevent this being 

 done irregiilarly, it is better to slit the calyx of 

 such kinds a short distance down at each of their 

 segments before placing the ligature round them. 

 Expanded flowers must be shaded from the sun, 

 if it be wished to retain their beauty any length 

 of time. Various means in the absence of an 

 awning will suggest themselves for this, as caps 

 of stout paper, painted, and supported above 

 them with a stick, like a miniature umbrella — 

 or square pieces of thin board, about six inches 

 wide, fixed upon a stick. The best time for 

 piping is when the plants are in full bloom ; if 

 delayed much longer, the shoots get hard, and do 

 not root so readily. They should be taken off 

 when about two inches long, and have the leaves 

 from the two lowermost joints stripped off. Do 

 not shorten the remaining leaves, as is frequently 

 practised. Then in a shady part of the garden 

 prepare some light soil, by digging it fine and 

 level, watering it until it becomes a puddle. 

 Whilst in this state plant the pipings, but do not 

 water them after they are planted. To ensure 

 success, a hand-glass should be placed over them ; 

 or they may be planted in wide-mouthed pots with 

 a piece of flat glass over, as recommended in 

 April ; or place them at the front of the Cucum- 

 ber-pit. These early pipings make handsomer 



