236 



DICTIONARY OF SEASONABLE GARDEN WORK. 



pipes. Secure plenty of loamy turf, manure, refuse 

 hops, etc., for potting-soil. Shift all plants as they need 

 more root-room. Keep the pots clean. Always wash 

 the old pots before putting plants in them again. The 

 glass over all plants liable to spot in full exposure to sun- 

 light, such as camellias, azaleas, fuchsias, primroses, 

 caladiums, callas, ferns, etc., paint lightly with white- 

 wash, or with naphtha and white lead. 



General Laiun Directions. — When new lawns are to 

 be made, get them ready and seed down as early as pos- 

 sible. Kentucky blue and red-top are the best grasses 

 for this purpose. Use plenty of seed, and apply it while 

 going over the area repeatedly and in different directions. 

 Roll after sowing. New lawns bordering on paths and 

 drives should be given an edging of turf, nicely and 

 evenly laid down. Some of the lawn weeds, especially 

 plantain and dandelions, need attention while the ground 

 is still soft. Pull them up now or cut them off with a 

 sharp knife just below the crown. Destroy chickweed. 

 When the grass on the old lawns gets to be two inches 

 high, it is time to start the lawn-mower. 



Gladiolus for early bloom may be planted. Continue 

 planting at intervals of a week or two until the middle 

 of June. Place bulbs not less than three or four inches 

 deep. 



Hardy pcretinials. if soil is dry, may be taken up, 

 divided and reset as required. 



Hedges may receive their annual pruning. 



Heliotrope needs plenty of root-room, and should 

 never be allowed to become pot-bound. Shift as needed. 



Hepaticas. — These harbingers of spring from the 

 woods might well be in every garden, in clumps or 

 borders. 



Herbs of all kinds — plant this month. 



Hotbeds aiid frames accommodate plants that are 

 crowding each other in the greenhouse, or of which 

 there is an overplus. 



Irises are easily grown, and charm by the variety of 

 their forms and coloring. They should be in every 

 flower-garden. 



Lilies. — It is not too late to plant summer-blooming 

 ones in rich soil. 



Maurandias, German ivy and other climbers for 

 summer are to be cut back. 



Mignonette. — Sow directly where wanted, as it does 

 not transplant easily. 



Monstera deliciosa needs heat, light and moisture, 

 and an abundance of water in summer. 



Nicotianas. — Sow now for fall and winter blooming. 



Oleanders. — Small plants may be taken out of the 

 pots and bedded out. 



Orchids. — Plants requiring it should always be re- 

 potted while in a growing state. Shade from the sun. 

 Provide moisture by sprinkling the paths and shutting 

 the house early. 



Ornamental Trees and .Shrubs. — The earlier planted 

 the better. Set evergreens when the new growth starts. 

 Be careful that their roots do not get dry. 



Perennials. — Be sure to plant a good variety. You 



want, amongst others, columbines, Lychtiis Haageana, 

 phloxes, Lobelia cardinalis, hollyhocks, foxgloves, 

 myosotis, bleeding-hearts, etc. 



Petunias in pots, if old and unshapely, should be cut 

 back thoroughly. 



Platycodon. — Both the blue and white varieties give an 

 abundance of bloom until frost. 



Primroses. — Pot the young plants of the double white, 

 and shade. 



Propagation of House-plants. — Cuttings may yet be 

 made and struck of abutilons, carnations, roses, etc. 

 Pot off as soon as roots are formed. 



Roses. — Plant out the hardy kinds as early as you can 

 get the soil in proper order. Procure plants without de- 

 lay. Prune the house roses, trimming side shoots back 

 to one or two buds. 



Seed-sozuin.q. — Flower-seeds should never be sown 

 broadcast into the border. Always sow in drills, rings, 

 or clumps. Draw shallow furrows, less than one-half 

 inch deep for fine seeds, scatter seed quite thickly, and 

 cover with fine earth. Dried or pulverized moss or fine 

 leaf-mold may be sifted over the seed in place of earth. 

 Never neglect to firm well. 



Stones. — The back yards of newly built houses, when 

 dug up, often have a largs crop of stones. Don't cart 

 them away, but pile them in some shady corner, throw a 

 little earth over them, and plant ferns, myrtle, sedums 

 and other plants, and make of them a thing of beauty. 



.Street trees. — Protect against injury from the teeth 

 of horses, etc., by some kind of guard. This may be 

 made of slats, or a piece of wire screen wound around 

 the tree-body. When trees are staked, bind thsm fast 

 with a strip of duck or leather, not with cord. Bring the 

 strip around the tree, cross on top of stake and fasten 

 there with a nail or two. 



Sweet-peas, nasturtiums and other hardy climbers, 

 may be sown this month, but not on the shady side of a 

 garden. 



Tuberoses. — Start bulbs in a warm place. 



Verbenas. Propagate for bedding purposes. 



IVindow Boxes. — Prepare plants now for stocking up 

 boxes in May with plants of some size. 



JVorms in Lazt-nis. — Take a quart of fresh-slaked lime 

 to six gallons of water, stir well and let it stand. Roll 

 the lawn one morning and the next apply the strained 

 liquor with an ordinary garden-sprinkler. The worms 

 will come out and can be swept up. 



II. GARDENING for TABLE AND MARKET. 



.4 pple orchards may now be cleaned from sap-sprouts, 

 dead and broken limbs, and pruned as needed. Cover 

 the wounds with some kind of paint. Prepare for spray- 

 ing ; it pays. Dispose of what fruit is yet on hand. 

 Remove decayed specimens from the cellar. 



.Asparagus may be given a dressing of nitrate of 

 soda, say at the rate of 200 pounds per acre. Mellow 

 the soil over the plants, avoiding injury to the crowns. 



Blackberries. — In making new plantations have rows 

 eight feet apart and set plants three feet apart in the rows. 

 Soil need be of only medium fertility. 



