80 
CARTER AND CO.’S GARDENER’S VADE-MECUM FOR 1862. 
Peach House. 
As these will now be swelling off the fruit, see that they are properly supplied with tepid water, and sometimes manure 
water, more or less according to the state of the drainage. As soon as the shoots aro long enough, begin training them to tho 
trellis: at. the same time remove every shoot not actually required ; but if the disbudding has been gradually carried on, as so 
often advised, there will not be many to remove. Give abundance of air early in the day, but close early, with solar heat, and 
syringe abundantly; tho temperature should range from 55° to 00° ; and a little top air left on at night will bo beneficial. 
Remove superfluous shoots from Cherries, and stop luxuriant ones which arc loft on ; lessen the quantity of water as the fruit 
ripens : the samo remarks will apply to Pigs. Let Strawberries ripening their fruit have abundauco of heat, air, and light. 
Pits and Frames. 
Look well to the advancing crops of Melons and Cucumbers ; thin out the vines, and keep them constantly stopped ; 
encourago the swelling of early Melons by a good supply of tepid water, and a brisk bottom heat by frequent changes of 
liiungs ; ridge out more for succession, and sow more seed : towards tho ond of the month throw up a ridgo of dung and leaves ; 
level tho top, cover it with garden soil, and sow on it somo Vegetable and Custard Marrow under hand-glasses : pot off 
Tomatoes, Capsicums, and Cliilics ; give Turnips and Carrots in the frames a good supply of water to assist the swelling of 
the roots. 
Now send for J. Carter and Co.’s General List of Bedding and other Plants. 
MAY. 
Kitchen Garden. 
Considerable exertion will now bo required to keep up with the work, which will increase every day : the hoe must bo kept 
constantly at work among all advancing crops ; and as soon as they can ho well handled, thin out the beds of Onions, Carrots, 
'Parsnips, Parsley, Red Beet and Turnips, to the proper distances ; afterwards run a small hoc through the beds : sow Scarlet 
Runners, the first week for the main crop, and the last week for succession : make t wo more sowings of late Peas this month, 
and see that they get plenty of water if dry weather sets in : sow also more Dwarf French Beans and Broad Beans, also a small 
sowing of Carter’s Matchless Cabbage. Keep up suecessional sowings of Spinach, Lettuce, Radish, and Salading as before 
advised. Chicory is a very useful-plant for salads in winter, and should be sown this month" in drills, and thinned out. to 
about six inches apart. Sow Green Curled, Mossy Green, and Batavian Endive tho third week for first crop. Kohl ltahi 
should be sown early this month, also large purple Cardoon in trenches prepared the same as for Colery. Make another 
good sowing of Turnips, such as Stone, Orange Jelly, and Policy’s Nonsuch. Plant out tho earliest Brussels Sprouts and 
Savoy Cabbage : all the Brassica tribe, to be grown tender and fine, should ho planted in well-manured, deeply-trenched 
ground. Plant out more Cauliflowers and successions of Lettuce, also the earliest Celery as soon as it is ready, and see that 
it is liberally watered. Prick up tho soil between tho rows of Potatoes, with a steel digging fork, previous to earthing ; it is 
far better than hoeing. Manure and trench up tho ground intended for the main crops of Broccoli and Winter Grcons. 
Fruit Garden. 
Disbudding wall-fruit frees will now bo in full action, and is an operation so important that we would call particular 
attention to it ; for, by following it up carefully and judiciously during this and next month, scarcely any winter pruning will 
be necessary, which is of great advantage, more particularly to stone fruits, which are in general so impatient of the knife: 
all over-luxuriant shoots should be timely and entirely removed, unless they aro required for filling up blanks, in which case 
they must, be kept stopped, so as to throw strength into the weaker branches; let this process of disbudding be followed at 
each manipulation by powerful syringings with the garden engine for the dislodgmcnt of insects and cleansing the trees ; 
clean soft water will answer for most purposes ; but if aphides arc numci’ous, a solution of tobacco water must be added. If 
the weather is dry, water and mulch newly planted fruit trees. 
Flower Garden. 
Early in this month commence planting (lie rooted runners of Neapolitan, Russian, and Tree Violets, in beds previously 
prepared by the addition of fresh compost, at from seven to nine inches apart, and take care diuing the season to give them 
abundance of water : propagate also Spring-flowering plants, such us Alyssum, Iberis, Arabia, Wallflowers, and Arenarias, 
to be planted in the reserve garden when rooted. Sow a bed of German Asters and some Hardy Annuals in pots plunged 
in a shady place, for the purpose of filling up vacancies later in the season. The last week in the month will be the proper 
time to commence planting out the bedding-plants: begin with the hardiest and well-hardened plants, particularly Verbenas 
and Calceolarias, leaving the tenderer sorts, such as Heliotropes, Petunias, Salvias, and others likely to suffer even from a 
slight frost, until early next month. Towards the end of tho month, when the plants are large enough, commence planting 
in the mixed borders the Tender Annuals mentioned last month ; choose dull days for the operation, and water through a fino 
rose to settle tho earth about the roots. Roses should now have plenty of liquid manure and frequent syringings overhead. 
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and other choice (lowering shrubs, must be constantly watered in dry weather to secure a fine bloom. 
Keep Ficotees and Carnations carefully tied to neat stakes, and protect choice Tulips from drenching rains. 
Conservatory. 
The great abundance of plants which will be in flower at this season will render this house very gay and attractive; great 
care should be used to keep everything very neat and clean, so that the enjoyment may be perfect. Insects at this season 
