THE CALI>~DAS. 



double rockets, and the perennial larkspurs, of which 

 Delphinium Hendersoni is one of the finest. Do your 

 best to obviate north-east winds and spring frosts. Attend 

 to your dahlias, and to everything else that is now in 

 the course of propagation. Sow successions of annuals ; 

 weed, rake, hoe, and trim. 



MAY. 



Don't cut off the long shabby leaves of crocuses and 

 other early bulbs. If you wish for flowers nest spring, 

 you must leave them to wither on the plants. Eemove 

 gradually their great-coats of straw, leaves, or fern, from 

 t'uschias, tea-roses, &c. <£c., which have been kept snug 

 during the winter. Towards the end of the month you 

 will be thinking about venturing out your bedding-plants ; 

 in fixing upon the exact time, the signs of the weather 

 and your situation must guide you. It is better to be a 

 week too late than a day too early. If you are near the 

 coast, learn whether the warm water from the Gulf- 

 stream has yet reached the shores of Britain ; if it has 

 (and the owners of bathing-machines will be able to tell 

 you), you may plant in safety, without nightmare dreams 

 of nipping frosts. Sow anemone-beds, as directed in the 

 body of the book. Eemove the awning from beds of 

 hyacinths and tulips that have bloomed ; the ranunculuses 

 will want it soon. Transplant half-hardy annuals to the 

 ground, and whelm a flower-pot over them at night 

 as a protection from frost, drought, and slugs, till they 

 have taken hold of the ground and have made their 

 start in life. Look over the patches of "hardies" 

 sown last month, and repair any failures by sowing 

 afresh. Plant out dahlias, if all is safe, on very rich and 

 well-prepared soil. Freshen up your gravel-walks in 

 dry weather, by chopping out with a hoe all weeds or 

 grass that have intruded themselves ; rake the surface 

 far several successive days, and then lay on a thin 

 coat of new gravel, which must be made to combine 

 the old by assiduous rolling. Save anemone-seed 



