MAY. 



expanding their flowers. Shade for these will 

 be a very essential requirement, and plenty of 

 water must be kept about the paths and stages. 

 The top and bottom ventilators should also be 

 opened when the weather is warm so that the 

 house may be kept as cool as possible. Den- 

 drobiums of the densiflorum type, that is, all 

 those with persistent foliage, will be going out 

 of flower. As soon as the flowers are faded the 

 plants should be potted in order that their roots 

 may be as little injured as possible. After this 

 operation they should be subjected to a tem- 

 perature of 70° by night and from 80° to 90° by 

 day, according to the weather. Syringe the 

 plants over the foliage twice daily during warm 

 weather, and shade should be afforded at all 

 times when the sun is bright. 



Hothouse. — Most of the plants that were 

 potted in March will by this time have got 

 well rooted, so that liquid manure may be given 

 where it is intended to keep them growing. 

 Plants of Allamandas, Stephanotis, Dipladenias, 

 &c, will produce more flowers if liberally treated 

 thus. Many of the fine-foliaged plants and 

 palms will also be benefited by applications of 

 some description of stimulant. With increased 

 heat various insects will become troublesome. 

 It will therefore be necessary to prevent their 

 ravages. Syringe or dip the plants frequently 

 with some insecticide. Start plants of Poin- 

 settia, and when the young shoots are forward 

 enough they should be taken off and rooted in 

 close, moist heat. Euphorbia jacquiniceflor a may 

 also be propagated now. The temperature at 

 night should be about 70° Fahr., with an in- 

 crease of 10° to 20° by day under sun-heat. 

 Shade in bright weather, but draw up the 

 blinds early, and close the house so as to main- 

 tain a good night temperature without the 

 assistance of much fire-heat. 



Intermediate House. — Pot on Bouvar- 

 dias as they require it, and towards the end of 

 the month, when they are well rooted, remove 

 them to a cooler structure where they may get 

 more air. Gardenias will be flowering freely, 

 and when new growth is made cuttings should 

 be taken off and rooted to give young plants. 



Many Ferns Avill now be resuming active 

 growth. Shade should be afforded these, or 

 the young fronds may get scalded. Pot up 

 any which require it, and keep remainder well 

 watered. 



Forcing House. — It will not be found 

 necessary this month to push forward any hardy 

 shrubs for decorating the conservatory, as plenty 

 of flowers will be in bloom under the natural 



I influence of the sunshine. There is, however, a 

 number of useful plants that may be caused to 

 flower which would not otherwise do so till a 

 much later period of the year if not forced. 

 Take, for example, Tuberoses, Lilium Harrisii, 

 and some other choice flowers. It will there- 

 fore be necessary, if a quantity of flowers are 

 required for cutting, to bring them forward 

 artificially. 



Greenhouse and Conservatory. — Hard- 

 wooded plants of various kinds will now be in 

 bloom, and when their flowers are over the 

 plants should be cut back to induce them to 

 make a clean growth for another season. The 

 potting of plants of this kind should be attended 

 to, especially Azaleas, Pimeleas, Cassias, Heaths, 

 &c. The soil must be pressed down firmV, as 

 otherwise the roots will not take hold of it. The 

 plants must be well syringed to keep down in- 

 sects. The conservatory should be kept shaded, 

 and air admitted night and day, in order that 

 the flowers may last as long as possible. Any 

 plants, as, for example, Pelargoniums, that are 

 subject to the attacks of aphides, should be 

 cleansed thoroughly before their introduction to 

 the conservatory, as at this time of the year 

 these pests increase very rapidly. 



Pits and Frames. 



Violets that were rooted in these should be 

 planted out in the open ground early in the 

 month, and their places reoccupied with bed- 

 ding plants. Perpetual Carnations, which Avere 

 rooted early in the season, will now require to 

 be potted, and various plants from the green- 

 house may be placed in the pits, &c, as space 

 becomes vacant. Begonias of the tuberous- 

 rooted section will need potting, and no more 

 suitable place can be found for them than in 

 these structures. Towards the end of the month 

 Chrysanthemums will require to be put into 

 their flowering-pots and removed to the open. 

 See that these pots are properly drained, for 

 without this precaution they may become water- 

 logged. Various kinds of herbaceous plants 

 which were propagated from cuttings put in 

 during the autumn should now be transferred 

 to the open. This will give space for other 

 occupants of a more tender nature, such as 

 Balsams, Celosias, Solanums, Ricinus, &c. 



Flower-garden and Pleasure Ground. 



The present is a busy time with gardeners 

 as many summer-flowering plants may now be 

 placed in their permanent quarters. In warm 

 and sheltered situations Calceolarias, Verbenas, 



