72 THE FLORIST AND P0M0LOGIST. 



into larger pots when they need it. Keep a stojk of 

 soil, plenty of clean pots, crocks, and sticks always 

 ready. Softwooded Plants.— Pelargoniums.— The 

 early plants -will now be trussing-up for flower, and 

 should have every care bescowed on them. Give 

 them some weak liquid manure two or three times 

 a-week. Guard against green fly bv fumigation. 

 Give air freely in line weather. Shading will be 

 necessary in bright hot weather, as they come into 

 flower. Keep tue late-flowering piants well tied-out. 

 Give them plenty ot air and liberal s upplies of water. 

 Scarlet, Salmon, Horseshoe, and Variegated Gera- 

 niums. — If not already elonp, a good stock of cuttings 

 of these should be put in— they will be found very 

 useful' for autumn and winter decoration. They 

 should be kept in rather small pots, and tbe soil for 

 potting them should not be too rich. Cinerarias. — 

 For flowering plants attend to the directions given 

 last month. Continue to pot-otf seedlings. Those 

 potted-off last month will now require a shift. They 

 should be grown in pits or frames having a northern 

 aspect. Attend well to the watering, shift when they 

 require, give them plenty of air, ana keep them clear 

 of insects, and they will make stiff strong plants and 

 be very useful during ihe autumn and winter. 

 Calceolarias.— Attend to the training and tying-up 

 of the shoots as they advance. Be careful in watering. 

 When they require it give sufficient, to moisten the 

 whole of the soil. Fuchsias.— Those that had their 

 final shift labt month will now be growing freely, 

 and must be well supplied with water. After the 

 pots get pretty full ot roots, give them some weak 

 liquid manure two or three times a-weik. Shift 

 plants lor late flowering. Keep ihem shaded and 

 cool, and syringe daily to keep a moist growing 

 atu.osphere. 



Stove. 



A moist growing atmosphere is now indispensably 

 necessary lor the welfare of the plants. Under the 

 influence of a high temperature they get eaten up 

 with red spider it a due degiee of moisture is not 

 maintained. See directions last month. 



Pits aud Thames. 

 As these become emptied of the "bedding " plants 

 (hey will come in very useiully for the growth of 

 seedling Cinerarias, Calceolarias, Verbenas, Petunias, 

 Salvias, Fuchsias, Koses in pots, Balsams, &o. Pot- 

 off seedlings and cuttings. Stop established plants, 

 and shift when they require it. Keep a moist growing 

 atmosphere. 



Flower Gauden. 

 About the middle of the month, if the weather be 

 favourable, commence planting-out the "bedding" 

 plants, putting out the hardier kinds first. Varie- 

 gated, horseshoe, and scarlet Geraniums are very 

 effective ; and in dry, warm, sheltered gardens can- 

 not be too freely used. Attend to the staking and 

 tying of hardy perennials as they advance in growth. 

 Prick-out Asters, Stocks, &c, in beds preparatory to 

 their being finally planted. Sow annuals and bi- 

 enr.ials. Cuttings of China Roses now put in will 

 soon make fine plants. Protect Tulips and other 

 florists' flowers from the midday sun, the rain, and 

 the winds. Propagate by slips double Wallflower, 

 Rockets, &c. Keep the surface of the soil well stirred 

 about all plants. Hoe, rake, and clean borders. Clip 

 Box-edgings. If required, Bos-edgings may be 

 planted. Keep the glass well mown. Clean and roll 

 walks. Pleasure Grounds.— This is a good time to 

 plant Conifers. In dry weather keep all newly- 

 planted trees well syringed and watered. Mow the 

 iawn every week or ten days. 



Forcing. 



Fruit,— Pine Apples.— Pay every attention to the 

 summer fruit now swelling. Water well when re- 

 quired. Give air Ireely in forenoon on fine days, and 

 t-arly in the afternoons. Syringe the plant, and close- 

 up the houses. All the heavy fruit should be sup- 

 ported by stakes, otherwise they will lean downwards 

 and the crown will grow crooked. Watch the bottom 

 heat well— keep it about 85°. The temperature of the 

 house may range from 70° to 75° by night and 85' to j 



90° by day. The plants for fruiting next winter 

 should now be shifted into their fruiting-pots. 

 See they have a regular bottom heat, and be en- 

 couraged to grow freely. Most of the young Stocks 

 shifted in March will uow require another shift. Let 

 them have a bottom heat of about 85°. Keep up a 

 moist growing atmosphere: a temperature ot about 

 70° at night and 85° during the day, with an increase 

 by sun heat. Give air freely on tine days, and bo 

 careul not to give them too much water. Vines.— 

 In all houses where Grapes are approaching maturity 

 fire heat is necessary to keep a proper temperature 

 Air should be given treely during the day and a lit le 

 by night. In succession-houses attend to our previous 

 directions. Maintain a dry atmosphere a^d a proper 

 temperature in the late houses whilst the Vines arc 

 in flower. Attend to the stopping and tying-doun 

 of the shoots. Peaches and Nectarines. — When the 

 fruit in the early house begins to ripen maintain a 

 drier atmosphere and give all the air possible. Re- 

 move any leaves that cover the fruit, that it may get 

 the full influence of the sun on it. Much watering will 

 not now be necessary ; but the trees in the inside 

 borders must not suffer for want of it. In succession- 

 houses persevere in syringing the trees and keeping 

 up a moist atmosphere. Give air freely. Water well 

 inside borders. Thin, S'.op, and tie-m the shoots. 

 Figs.— Maintain a moist atmosphere. Keep plants in 

 tubs and pots well watered. Syringe frequently, but 

 be careful to avoid wetting fruit that is approaching 

 ripeness. Give air Ireely. Cherries. — Give plenty of 

 air, and water sparingly, as the fruit approaches 

 maturity. After the fruit is gathered remove the 

 trees, and see they are attended to in bemg syringed 

 frequently ana kept well watered. Strawberries. — 

 Introduce a fresh lot of plants once a-lortnight for 

 succession. Attend to previous directions. Melons. 

 —Keep the shoots well stopped and thinned out. 

 Place the fruit on piece of tile, slate, or glass. Bet 

 them have plenty of light. When nece-sary, give 

 water freely. See there is always a proper bottom 

 heat. Plant out for late crops. 



Vegetables. 

 Marjoram and Basil.— Harden-cff and plant out. 

 Tomatoes.— Harden-off and plant out. Gourds.— 

 Harden-off. Kidney Beans.— Attend well to stop- 

 ping the plants. Water freely ana syringe gently. 

 Cucumbers.— Keep a nice bottom heat, and a warm 

 growing ttmpeiature. Th:n the shoots well, and 

 waier when required. 



Hardy Fruit. 

 The late fine dry weather we have had has been 

 very favourable for the fruit crop. Bush fruit pro- 

 mises to be very abundant. Strawberries are looking 

 well. Apricots will be an average crop. Peaches 

 and Nectarines have set well, ana will be ahunuant, 

 Plums have been very full of blossom, and appear to 

 have set. Pears also promise to be an average crop. 

 Apples in general do not promise a great bloom. 

 Attend to the thinning of Apricots, Peaches, and 

 Nectarines. Disbud carefully, removing a few at a 

 time and going irequently over the trees. Give the 

 trees a good syringing occasionally. 



Kitchen Garden. 

 The long continuance of dry weather we have had 

 has been very favourable for destroying weeds, but 

 rather unfavourable to the germination of seeds 

 Attend in time to the thinning of the young crops. 

 Take advantage of showery weather to plant early 

 Celery, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Lettuces, Savoys, and 

 Brussels Sprouts. Peas,— Continue to sow for suc- 

 cession some of the best late sorts. Beans. — Sow for 

 succession. Carrots and Parsnips.— Thin as soon as 

 they are large enough. Beet.— Thin early crops, 

 ana sow for succession. Salsify and Scorzonera.— 

 Sow for succession. Turnips. — Thin and sow for 

 succession. Potatoes.— Earth-up. Kidney Beans. — 

 Sow for general crop. Spinach. — Sow for succession. 

 Lettuces.— Sow for succession. Onions. — Thin-ou 

 and hoe between the rows. Parsley.— Sow in shel- 

 tered situations. Asparagus,— Cut as they become 

 flt.-M. S. 



