DICTIONARY OF SEASONABLE GARDEN WORK. 



I. PLEASURE-GARDENING. 



Alternantheras needed for bedding purposes may 

 easily be propagated by dividing up the stock on hand into 

 small pieces, each having a little root, and setting in a 

 close frame in high heat. 



Annuals. — In the more southern states many of the 

 common kinds may be most advantageously sown in the 

 fall ; but a few, such as asters, balsams, phloxes, larkspurs, 

 marigolds, etc., can be sown in beds this month. Sow 

 only part of a packet at a time. At the north the hardy 

 kinds, such as candytuft, sweet-pea, morning-glories, 

 mignonette, clarkia, sweet alyssum, etc. , may be started 

 now in open ground ; half-hardy and tender sorts under 

 glass, or in sheltered situations, where some extra pro- 

 tection can be given in cold nights. Thin the plants at 

 an early age. 



Aslcrs. — Start in a warm border or under glass now. 

 The tall ones, such as Perfection, Victoria, Cocardeau, 

 Quilled, etc., are splendid bloomers, but want rich 

 ground. They make fine beds bordered with the dwarf 

 varieties. Pots with two or three plants are pretty for 

 brackets on verandas. 



Ilt-<Jding Plants. — In the absence of a greenhouse, 

 the hjtbed will be a good place for most bedding plants 

 from now until planting-out time. Remove the sashes 

 entirely on warm days. 



Hfds and borders should now be spaded up or dug 

 over. Dig in some good compost or high-grade fer- 

 tilizt-r. 



H fonias. — For potting the tuberous-rooted ones, use 

 a mi ture of two-thirds of fibrous loam and one-third 

 of 1 ^mold. Also add a little sand. Give good drain- 

 age id pot moderately firm. Place in a fairly light 

 and iinny window, or in a similar situation in the green- 

 house. 



/ . ; onia metallica succeeds best in a somewhat shady 

 situation. 



Boxes. — Sow in them annuals that bear transplanting, 

 such as browallia, candytufts, calleopsis, gaillardia, 

 pinks, carnations, godetias, asters, etc. , and place in 

 windows till the nights are warm enough to leave them 

 outside. 



Prugmansia. — If the plants have grown too large for 

 pot or tub, they can be pruned back now and manure 

 be dug into the soil. 



Bulbs, such as hyacinths, tulips, lily-of-the-valley, etc., 

 may be brought in from coldframes and used as win- 

 dow-plants at this time of the year, needing little care 

 and attention. 



Bulb-beds are to be raked over and put in readiness 

 for the appearance of the plants. 



Callas. — Keep rather crowded for pot-room. Water 

 but sparingly after bloom. Later on, take out of the 



pots and plant in rich soil outdoors. Lift again in Au- 

 gust, removing the small bulblets, and repot the old bulbs. 



Camellias. — Syringe frequently and sponge off the 

 leaves. 



Carnations like rich soil. Give plants in greenhouse 

 a top-dressing of fine old manure. Plants in cold- 

 frames should be hardened off by considerable exposure, 

 and may then be planted in open ground. 



Cellar plants in pots maybe brought up at the end 

 of this month and put out in some sheltered corner ; a 

 few newspapers will be sufficient protection if the nights 

 are cold. 



Chrysanthemums should be encouraged to make un- 

 interrupted growth and must not be allowed to become 

 pot-bound. Strike cuttings for late plants. 



Clematis. — Trim the shoots of early-flowering ones 

 back to one or two buds. Cut those of the late-blooming 

 kinds back to near the surface of the ground. This will 

 insure strong growth from the base, and plenty of bloom. 



Cuttings may still be made of verbenas, petunias, 

 achyranthes, coleus, salvias, heliotropes, fuchsias, Ger- 

 man ivies, etc., for summer use, and of chrysanthemums, 

 stevias, roses, carnations, violets, etc., for winter-flower- 

 ing. They should be potted on the first appearance of 

 roots. 



Dahlias can be planted and the tubers divided. 



Eucharis Amazonica . — This lovely lily flowers well 

 if pot-bound, but needs an unlimited supply of liquid 

 manure. 



Ferns should be shifted or have the soil in pots re- 

 newed. In the woods the plants are just beginning to 

 show their fronds, and specimens are easily transplanted 

 if taken up with some earth adhering to their roots. 



Flozcer-beds in the lawn should have a fine margin of 

 turf around them. With the wealth of shrubs, peren- 

 nials, bulbs and annuals that grow and flourish with us, 

 a garden never need be without flowers, save in the win- 

 ter. If attention was paid last fall to the garden, by the 

 end of this month it should be carpeted with the tender 

 green shoots so pleasant and refreshing to the eye after 

 a long, dreary winter. 



Forsythias. — These golden-hued flowering shrubs are 

 now a blessing in every garden where grown. 



Fuchsias like warmth, moisture and a little shade. 

 Give plenty of water at their roots, and liquid manure oc- 

 casionally. Shift as needed. If bloom is desired at any 

 special time, cease to cut the plants back about six weeks 

 before. 



General Greenhouse Maiiagetnent . — With the ad- 

 vancing season and more light and heat, danger from in- 

 sects increases. Greenfly is liable to trouble roses, ver- 

 benas, etc. Fumigation must not be neglected, unless 

 you employ the more modern preventive of keeping 

 gutters well-filled with tobacco-juice upon the heating- 



