THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
21.3 
Annuals (hardy). — Continue to sow a few 
seeds of some of the most distinct and showy, 
to keep up a succession and variety of bloom 
through the latter part of the summer. When 
they have been sown in beds for transplanting, 
and are now large enough, they may be moved 
to where they are wanted to flower, choosing 
either a showery day , or doing it in the 
evening, and afterwards well watering 
them. 
Aquilegia. — Sow a portion of seeds to obtain 
flowering plants for next season. Look after 
the best varieties when they are in flower, and 
save seeds from them. There are several very 
distinct kinds, of which A. glandulosa and 
A. Skinneri are among the handsomest. 
Aubretia cleltoidea is a dwarf hardy plant, 
and blooms early in masses ; the flowers are 
purple : it may now b>: extensively propagated, 
either by cuttings or division, for flowering 
next spring. 
Auriculas. — Pick off the decaying flowers, 
unless the seed is wanted, but do not remove 
the main stalk, but let that die away naturally. 
Give the plant more exposure, when the bloom 
is p:ist. If seed is wanted leave one or two of 
the earliest anil strongest pods. 
Bulbs. — Where the leaves of Crocuses and 
Snowdrops are in the way of other plants, and 
it is not intended to take them up, take them, 
two handfuls at a time, and give them a single 
tie together; this keeps them off the ground ; 
and although not quite so well for the plants 
as leaving the leaves fully exposed, yet it is 
very much better than cutting them off, as is 
too often done. Water the Hyacinths, and 
other bulbs in bloom, if the weather is dry. 
As the different kinds go out of flower, if the 
ground is wanted, they may be carefully taken 
up, and removed to the reserve garden. 
Calceolarias for beds should be finally bar. 
dened off, and treated as Salvias. 
Carnations. — Those in pots require to be 
well attended ; they must not be over watered, 
and probably will require but little water, as 
the large bulk of soil keeps moist for a long 
time. The beds should be stirred up, and 
hoed occasionally, and perhaps watered, if the 
weather isdry, but they must not have too much 
wet. Set traps for earwigs. 
China asters may be sown for a succession. 
Dahlias. — I'lant out the seedlings towards 
the end of the month, in any by-corner. As 
they chiefly turn out to be rubbish, they are 
hardly fit for any other place, unless there is 
plenty of spare ground. The blooming plants of 
choice varieties will probably bear planting 
out by the end of the month : it should be 
done if the weather is at all favourable. 
.Should there be any subsequent risk of frost, 
protect them by inverting a pot over them at 
night. Watch for and destroy earwigs in- 
cessantly, for if not removed they do incalcu- 
lable injury. 
Draba nivalis, is a handsome hardy plant 
for forming a mass of white in flower gardens, 
during the spring months. It may be propa- 
gated extensively now from cuttings, planted 
in a north aspect. 
Gravel walks. — Sweep and roll these fre- 
quently ; the simple operation of sweeping is' 
often badly done, being usually performed far 
too heavily ; they cannot be swept too lightly. 
Greenhouse climbers. — Many of the hall- 
hardy climbers, as Lophospermum,'Rhodochi- 
ton, Maurandya, Calampelis, Cobasa, &c. are 
exceedingly useful out of doors, to cover fences, 
walls, trellises, and other similar situations; 
they require hardening off before planting 
out, the same as other half-tender plants. 
Half-hardy Plants, generally, must be 
thoroughly hardened off and prepared for 
planting out by the end of the month, or as 
early as the season will permit. Much of 
their success depends on their being gradually 
but thoroughly inured to bear exposure to the 
open air. Bad weather for planting out 
should, of course, be avoided : it is better to 
wait a little than to risk too much. 
Hardy creepers. — Carefully attend to these, 
and keep them properly regulated, and tied or 
nailed in, before they get into confusion. 
Herbaceous perennials. — Many of the. early 
flowering kinds, if cut down as soon as their 
beauty is gone past, will frequently throw up 
another lot of flowers ; and it is ten to one if 
they do this if the old stems are left until 
they are quite dead before they are removed. 
Thus, we have an instance of neatness and 
good order bringing satellite advantages in 
their train. 
Hyacinths. — Shelter the beds from heavy 
rains, as the plants advance towards blooming, 
and while they are in bloom. When they are 
past blooming, remove the seed pods, unless i( 
be a few from which seed is wanted. Take 
up the roots, and carefully remove them to 
the reserve garden, if the ground is wanted ; 
but if they are where this can be avoided, it 
will be better for the roots. 
Lawns. — Mow every week, if possible, or 
at the farthest. once a fortnight ; in fact, they 
can hardly be either rolled or mown too 
often. 
Lobelias. — The perennial species which 
were separated and potted a month or two 
back, and have been kept in frames, may now 
be planted out, giving them a rich loamy soil, 
and a situation somewhat damp and a little 
shady. 
Mimulus. — These may be planted out, and 
make showy beds; they also bloom early, if 
they have been forwarded in pots; they prefer 
! a loamy soil. 
