128 
CALENDAE OF OPERATIONS FOR MAY. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR MAY. 
The weather will now begin to be warm and settled ; 
use caution, however, in removing the covering from 
tender plants, or fruit-trees against walls, too soon ; it 
is better to keep the coverings open, but so that they 
can be let down in case of frost. Any time after the 
middle of the month, preparation may be made for 
planting out the half-hardy plants in the flower-garden ; 
but for all the northern parts of England, this business 
would be better delayed until nearer the end. See 
that the colours are so arranged as to produce a pleasant 
harmony. 
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. 
Glass. 
Cherry Trees which have ripened their fruit should 
be placed out of doors as soon as the wood is sufficiently 
matured. If the fruit on those remaining are beginning 
to ripen, keep the house dry and moderately warm, but 
give abundance of air early every fine morning. 
Fig Trees ripening their fruit, must not be sub- 
jected to syringing ; a moist atmosphere, however, 
should be supplied, or they will be injured by red 
spider. 
Cucumbers and Melons in full growth, must be 
regularly attended to with water and air. New plants 
may also be started for later crops. Cucumbers may, 
at the end, be planted in ridges, but must for the 
present be covered with hand-glasses. Good bottom- 
heat, plenty of water, freedom from insects, and judicious 
pruning, will effect all that can be wished with these 
fruits. 
Peach Trees now ripening their fruit, should have 
netting neatly tied to the wires, and made to bag in 
many places so as to prevent the fruit falling together, 
and becoming bruised as they separate from the tree. 
Dust with sulphur, if either mildew or red spider make 
their appearance, and fumigate with tobacco or tobacco- 
paper, if the Aphis should become prevalent. Give 
air early in the morning, and do not allow the atmos- 
phere to become too dry. 
Pines swelling their fruit, should be attended to with 
water and heat ; once or twice a week, a little weak 
liquid manure may be supplied. Where successions are 
grown in pots, potting may now be performed, and the 
plants replaced in heat, with a very moist atmosphere. 
Vines must still be attended to by stopping, tying 
in, and thinning the fruit. Give a moderately moist 
atmosphere, and plenty of air. 
Open Air. 
Apricot Trees should be looked over again, and 
the insects dislodged from their hiding places in the 
buds ; also the sooner these trees are disbudded, the 
better. 
Apple Trees have generally their fruit injured by 
a small white caterpillar during this month ; it is the 
larvae of a small grey moth, usually known by the 
name of the " codlin moth." In about a month after 
the eggs are laid, the small caterpillar becomes full 
grown, and eats its way out of the fruit, it then forms 
a cocoon in the chinks of the bark of the trees, and 
in about eight days the perfect moth emerges ; a 
second crop of eggs is laid, and the damage is thus 
increased. The only way to keep these depredators 
down, is to pluck off all the small infected apples as 
soon as they are seen, and before the grub is full 
grown ; if these be carefully destroyed, the second 
generation of moths will be much less numerous, and 
their injuries in consequence, lessened. 
Currant Trees against walls, are often about the 
end of the month, attacked by a beautiful little clear- 
winged moth, called the Currant Tree Sphinx ; the 
larvaj feed upon the pith of the stem and branches, 
and are the cause of the sudden dying of large branches 
without any apparent cause. The only remedy for this, 
is to cut off and burn the infested brauches as soon as 
the damage is perceived and before the larvae become 
full grown, otherwise there is danger of their making 
their escape. 
Disbud wall trees of all kinds. When the fruit is 
firmly set, use the engine freely, and when the frosts 
are fairly over, remove the nets and other covering. 
Cabbages and Cauliflowers hoe and earth up ; 
and about the 18th or 20th, sow a bed of the latter for 
use in the avitumn. 
Herbs, as Sweet Basil, &c., may now be safely 
planted out. 
Kidney Beans, both dwarfs and runners, may be 
sown after the middle. 
Sow a succession of beans, peas, radishes, small 
salad, lettuce and spinach, about every fortnight ; also 
a few endive may be put in towards the end. 
Turnips. Sow early Dutch about the middle, and 
some early stone, to succeed them towards the end. 
FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 
Olass. 
Conservatory and Greenhouse. Give abundance 
of air, and keep the plants well supplied with water. 
Stop the growing shoots of Ericas, Epacrises, and other 
similar plants, to render them bushy. 
Orchids not requiring to be fully potted, are bene- 
fited by adding a little new material to the old in which 
they grew last season. A humid atmosphere, a good 
heat, plenty of water, and effectual shade, are of great 
importance now. 
FOREST DEPARTMENT. 
Nursery. Finish planting Evergreens as early as 
possible, if the weather at all prove dry. Water and 
mulch all newly-planted ones. 
Forests and Coppices. Thin Oak and Larch. 
When bark is an object, as soon as the bark will run, 
proceed with this work with as little delay as possible, 
and select airy situations for drying it. When ready, 
have it carted off without delay. 
