120 
OPERATIONS FOR JUNE. 
species with small and narrow foliage need much less water, for the converse reason. The latter, 
nevertheless, by imperfectly shading their roots, often require more fluid than, from a glance at 
their leaves, they would appear to do. 
Plants should invariably be watered in this part of the year towards the evening of each day. 
The danger from frost is now, it is to be expected, at an end, and evening waterings allow the 
plants time to absorb the water gradually, and appropriate those portions that contribute to their 
nourishment ; whereas, water administered in the morning is immediately exhaled from the soil 
as well as the leaves, and both its refreshing and nutrimental properties are largely wasted. 
Roses to watering-pots, save in particular cases, we invariably look upon as the masks of indolence. 
Their use tends to deceive the superintendant, when the workman is indifferent and careless, or 
the operator himself unless possessing great experience, and they also harden the earth, and 
prevent it from imbibing water in those places where it is chiefly needed. A free use of the 
syringe will now be highly advantageous in houses, in addition to the ordinary applications of 
moisture. If it merely purified the leaves, it would be of great service. But it does more. It 
gives them a supply of food at their surface, and enables them to elaborate more effectually the 
absorptions made by the roots. It is of the utmost importance that none but rain or soft water 
be employed. 
Many cultivators avail themselves of the genial warmth at present produced by the sun, to 
thin the collections in their greenhouses, and place the inferior plants in the open air. Here, we 
must confess, there is a good motive in operation. Others, however, turn out the whole of their 
greenhouse plants in June, thinking that they are benefited by the change. We have endeavoured 
to explode the last notion by a recent paper on the subject ; and we would recommend individuals 
of the former class to remove their best specimens to frames or pits, (of which there will most 
likely be some vacant,) where, by elevating them on pots till they almost touch the glass, standing 
them at a reasonable distance from each other, and admitting plenty of air beneath the frame as 
well as at the top, they will be much improved. The remainder of the collection can be left in 
the greenhouse till August or September. 
Those tender plants that were not transferred to the flower-garden or borders last month, 
may be planted out now with impunity. The hints we gave in our May calendar on transplanting 
them can be again referred to. Those varieties which are destined to trail over the ground and 
cover the beds should have their shoots pegged down at the time of planting. They will thus 
sooner and better fulfil the object for which they are planted, and by putting a small quantity of 
soil on the shoots at the spot where the peg is inserted, they will be excited to emit roots there, 
which will alike strengthen the plant, and make the whole mass, when formed into a bed, more 
equal and vigorous, and will further provide strong and healthy plants to propagate from in the 
autumn, or to take up for keeping through the winter. Stakes for upright-growing species that 
need support, and trellises, or whatever else it is determined to apply to them, for climbers, should 
be furnished as soon as they are established ; and weak specimens of every kind should be 
timely staked. 
Half-hardy and hardy annuals may still be transplanted or thinned, and it is not yet too late 
to make additional sowings for the flower -borders. For the greenhouse, the like provision should 
be made, selecting, of course, the rarest and most beautiful of the tender kinds. 
Propagation ought to be carried on extensively this month. Pelargoniums, or other plants in 
flower, must be slightly shaded in the middle of the day, and Orchidacese must be kept duly 
shaded. Insects should be properly kept under by water, by fumigation, or by the frequent 
application of a small brush. 
