186 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS May, 1912 
Around the Garden 
A MONTHLY KALENDAR OF TIMELY GARDEN OPERA- 
TIONS AND USEFUL HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS 
ABOUT THE HOME GARDEN AND 
GROUNDS 
All queries will gladly be answered by the Editor. If a personal 
reply ‘s desired by subscribers stamps should be enclosed therewith. 
0000%50000 (O) coac$s0000 
MAY-TIME IN THE GARDEN him that he should not attempt to gain an early start by 
transplanting either flowers or vegetables of the tenderer 
AY is a month of exciting things for the gar- sorts until the danger from frosts is quite past. I suppose 
den-beginner. If, for the first time, he is our first thought, if we are poetically inclined, is for the 
|| engaged in the delectable occupation of coax- flowers we associate with the thought of May-time. The 
-ing Mother Earth to be kind to his efforts clouds of April’s showers now appear to the vision as Mil- 
to make his back yard an Eden, or his front ton’s 
yard a paradise of lovely growing things, 
his enthusiasm must not permit him to overlook the fact ne 
that the old-time enemy of all garden-makers since gardens which, in Heber’s words, “Spring unlocks to paint the laugh- 
first were—Jack Frost—may still be lurking in the ambush 1ng soil.” oy others—the prosaic or the practical—the 
of the promise of an early season. Indeed, I know of no first thought will be of vegetables. If, then our gardens 
greater discouragement that besets the garden-beginner or are to Join the hands of poetry and prose before great 
the experienced gardener than that of encountering late Nature's altar it will behoove everyone who has a garden 
frosts unprepared for them. Indeed, the experienced gar- to give attention to “flower and food for garden’s good” 
dener will hardly ever permit himself to be caugnt in such as an old-time rhymster puts it. ‘Therefore, though we start 
a trap, but for the amateur entering upon his first season with the more beautiful we shall not neglect the subject 
one must urge especial diligence in this matter, and remind of the just as useful. 
F your Sweet-Peas have been planted early, you must ar- 
range to have on hand brush or trellis support for 
them, which should be set up just as soon as the new vines 
reach a height of from five to six inches. Wire will prove 
an excellent material for the supports and may be strung 
between posts driven into the ground for the purpose. The 
writer remembers having seen an arrangement of two posts 
driven into the ground four feet apart, between which wires 
were tautly strung (a piece of chicken wire would have 
been better). On top of each post was placed a circular 
box in which Sweet Peas of low-growth were also planted. 
The high-growing plants reached to the top of the wire in 
due time and this little corner of the garden presented a 
fence of exquisite, fragrant bloom throughout the Summer. 
If you have not a cold-frame, you may sow seeds of such 
flowers as will require planting in some sheltered spot, tak- 
ing care to cover the ground on any indication of frost. 
One should bear in mind that the latter part of May is the 
time for planting the Dahlia, the Gladiolus and the Tube- 
rose. Gladioli planted the last week in May should bloom 
in August. The last week in May will find it safe to trans- 
plant old perennials for border re-arrangements. One 
must not forget to spray Rose bushes the second week in 
May. Whale-oil soap is excellent for such purposes. Then 
the pruning of all the Spring-flowering shrubs must be at- 
tended to immediately after they are through blooming. 
A for the vegetable garden, May is the time for plant- 
ing Bush Beans in the open ground, Lima Beans in 
cold-frames, Beets for succession, setting out Cabbages, 
planting Cucumbers (the last week in the month), Let- 
tuce for succession, Melons (last week, or when settled 
weather is assured), Onions (they may be transplanted 
now also), Peas for succession, Squashes (settled weather), 
aaa as — Sweet Corn for succession, and for setting out Tomatoes 
A May-time flower, the Lily-of-the-Valley, Convallaria majalii when the ground is warm. There are a number of 
a3 
PC LOUdS 
That shed May flowers.’’ 
