48G 
THE PETUNIA. 
to prick out an inch apart in pots or pans, 
and must be done accordingly, and be gently 
watered, and replaced in the same hotbed, 
which will have declined a little. 
April. — Shift the potted plants into larger 
ones if not done last month, and as the plants 
will begin to grow fast, they will require 
occasional watering. The plants which were 
pricked out in autumn from the September 
sowing, may be potted into small pots, and be 
placed in the cold frame, or put back again 
into the greenhouse. All the plants in pots, 
shifted and unshifted, must be occasionally 
watered if the weather be at all warm, and if 
showery all the plants may have the benefit of 
a warm rain. Towards the end of the month 
the plants pricked out in pots and pans in the 
hotbed from the spring sowing, maybe potted 
singly into the small pots if they are to be 
bloomed in pots ; if they are to be planted 
out make up the beds, clumps, and borders 
for the reception of the plants, and let them 
be ready by next month to receive the plants 
— the ornamental beds for approved varie- 
ties, and large beds for trying the quality of 
seedlings. 
May. — Continue the management of last 
month, until the middle, or towards the end 
of the month, when you may plant out all 
that are to be in the open ground ; take the 
pans and pots that have the young plants in 
them, and with a piece of wood cut something 
in the form of the blade of a knife, lift up the 
roots, mould and all, separate the plants as 
carefully as possible, and plant them six 
inches apart all over the beds made for bloom- 
ing them in, water them in gently to settle the 
earth about their roots. In the ornamental 
parts of the garden, when the clumps and 
borders are to be undisturbed, plant the 
approved varieties nine inches apart, and 
according to the way in which you wish the 
colours dispersed. 
June. — Whatever was left undone of last 
month's directions must be completed without 
delay. Look well to the watering, and do 
not half do it by watering merely at the roots, 
but water the bed all over, as complete as if 
it were a shower of rain. The plants in forty- 
eight sized pots will require another shift if 
they are to be bloomed fine ; the roots will be 
found completely matted round the balls, 
which should be carefully knocked out into 
the hand, and placed in the thirty-two sized 
pots, which should have crocks or other drain- 
age at the bottom, and earth enough to raise 
the surface of the ball to the edge of the pot ; 
fill the soil in well round, and water them ; 
they may be placed in a sheltered spot in the 
garden a week after they are shifted, but a 
few days in the frames, pits, or greenhouse 
after they are shifted, will be of the greatest 
benefit ; they ought not to be placed in the 
burning sun, but in some place where they 
may miss the hottest of it, or they must be 
sheltered. All the pricked out seedlings rau^t 
be now planted or potted ; there is no ex- 
cuse for keeping them out of their blooming 
places. 
July. — Little more is wanted this month 
than weeding and watering ; stirring the earth 
between the plants is useful : when the plants 
are in ornamental clumps you may either let 
them have their own growth, or peg down 
their shoots to keep them dwarf. Any seed- 
lings that come into flower must be adopted 
or condemned at once ; harbour no doubtful 
thing : if it be not better than we have, or 
different from what we have, throw it out, 
and if necessary for appearance, mend the 
place with a potted plant ; but it is better to 
have a place for the seedlings, where neatness 
and completeness are of no consequence. 
Look over potted seedlings as well as bedded 
ones, and the instant a flower of second-rate 
or ordinary qualities has opened, discard it, 
turn it out of the ground, whether to market 
or the dunghill is not half so important as the 
getting rid of it, so as not to spoil other seed. 
The potted named, or approved varieties may 
be removed to wherever their beauty is re- 
quired, whether the dwelling-house, conser- 
vatory, show-house, or standing about in the 
garden. 
August. — A continuance of last month's 
management is all that is required, for the 
progress and wants of the plants are much 
the same ; mark any very desirable thing to 
seed from, and if any are worth naming and 
propagating, take off all the likely shoots in a 
young state, close to their base, and strike 
them as directed for the cuttings at the cutting 
down time, except that the young shoots may 
be taken off short enough to strike without 
any more preparation than merely taking off 
the lower leaves. Watering, weeding, pegging 
down, or tying up stragglers, will fill up this 
month's work well ; if, however, you are 
saving seed, pick it off as soon as the pods 
turn yellowish. 
September. — Sow seed as directed, and 
cover it with a hand-glass before putting it 
into the greenhouse ; take care that it be not 
allowed to dry ; continue picking seed where 
you are saving it, constantly watch for the 
opening of seedlings, that you may dispose of 
the worthless daily, as fast as they appear ; 
towards the middle of the month cut down all 
those that it is desirable to propagate, and pot 
up the roots, strike the cuttings, and put the 
roots into a frame ; carefully water, and shut 
them up a day or two well shaded, before 
they have air, so that they may be established 
in their new place ; pot up all that you mean 
