MAY.] 



THE GARDENER. 



115 



Never tread stiff soil round the roots, which should 

 be encouraged as much as possible to strike freely 

 through it. 



JtlAY. 



Stove^ Greenhouse^ Sfc. — Shift by degrees, as they 

 may require it, the newly-propagated plants ; sprinkle 

 water abundantly on the floor, for the diffusion of 

 moisture ir the air of the house ; throw some shading 

 over the glass beneath which are the young plants, 

 when the sun is very powerful ; ventilate and syringe. 



In the greenhouse, encourage the plants to grow 

 freely; finish the shifting and dressing, to prepare 

 plants for a change of quarters ; put out first the 

 most hardy, and those whose tops renew themselves 

 as it were annually, but be guided in this by the 

 weather and climate, and do not be too hasty, though 

 it be a great object to put out the coarser plants, in 

 order to make more room for the finer kinds. 



Prune Heaths that have done flowerings plunging 

 them, and Cape and Australian plants generally, in 

 moss, will cause them to retain more equable moisture 

 and warmth than if they were bedded in earth and tan. 

 Keep the temperature of the conservatory as low as 

 you can — but not too dry — to prolong the time of 

 flowering ; and as you will want room in this house for 

 many successions of plants in blow during the sum- 

 mer, you ought not to occupy it with any that do not 

 require its protection. Roses will now be blowing 

 under glass freely ; you may still graft some of this 

 tribe, and Camellias that have been early forced. 

 Give plenty of air to peaches that are ripening, and 

 remove leaves that shade the fruit. 



Frames and Pits. — Thin the laterals of the melon 

 plants, and if the early crop has been removed, you 

 may dress the beds for receiving a new set of plants. 



