96 
OPERATIONS FOR MAY. 
grounds with summer climbing plants. The numerous beautiful herbaceous 
climbers at present known, and their very striking effect when judiciously disposed, 
render the employment of them for some such object imperative. To occasion a 
due variety, long erect rustic poles, various forms of iron or strong wire supports, 
and stakes of about three or four feet high, with an abundance of branches, may all 
be used for sustaining the plants. Specimens planted under the latter description 
of supporters, can be allowed to grow to the top of them, and then throw their 
branches around them in all directions, so as to trail on the border or turf. An 
agreeable appearance, and one which we deem somewhat novel, would thus be created. 
Petunias are plants that are not commonly seen trained to trellises, and yet, 
when they are not higher than three or four feet, nothing makes a more 
brilliant show than the taller-growing varieties, so treated, on small and circum- 
scribed lawns. The fittest trellis for them is a wire tubular one, a foot in diameter, 
expanding at the top like a trumpet, and curving under at the edges, as the volutes 
of a capital of the Ionic architectural order. The flower-buds of the plants ought 
all to be removed till the branches reach the top of the trellis, when they can be 
left untouched, and a fine blaze of bloom will immediately burst forth. They will 
sometimes form an apparently entire mass of flowers more than four feet across ; and 
a succession of blossoms will be unfolded for many weeks. 
With numbers of plants that are retained in the greenhouse, the destruction of 
the flower-buds will be alike advantageous, provided the reason for doing so is 
always as clear. By repressing the flowers of a few specimens of Pelargoniums , 
shrubby Calceolarias , Fuchsias , and plants related in habit, they may be grown to 
almost any desired height within certain limits, and will afterwards flower quite as 
freely ; while the same tribes, and other herbaceous varieties, can be retarded by 
such means so as to begin blooming when the rest fade, — thus perpetuating the 
succession of them far into the autumn. 
Nor are measures of that class to be confined to flower-buds. To procure bushy 
specimens of certain species, the cultivator will find his efforts much aided by 
pinching off the extremities of the young shoots when they grow too long or too 
slender; thereby impelling them to develop a considerable quantity of lateral branches. 
In the stove and orchidaceous house, the grand points requiring attention are, 
the copious administration of water, free syringing, shade where demanded, and the 
preservation of a high temperature. If Orchidacese happen to be so covered with 
insects as to require fumigation with tobacco, the flowering specimens should be 
taken away during the process, for tobacco-smoke destroys the delicate tissue of 
their blossoms. 
Continue to sow and plant out hardy and tender annuals ; make similar sowings 
in pots for the greenhouse ; multiply forced pinks by cuttings ; plant out Chrysan- 
themums ; protect tulips if needful ; propagate all sorts of in-door exotics ; dress 
climbers ; and attend promptly to the more ordinary operations which the daily 
observation and experience of all show to be essential. 
