234 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR MAY. 
to form a very good shading ; but even stout 
canvas has proved too thin for the growing 
plants at this season ; some efficient shade is 
indispensable. 
Soils. — Sphagnum has been largely used in 
some places for fastening on to the blocks and 
in the baskets with the roots, but when used 
in a decayed state, it has in many cases been 
attended with bad results ; it also affords har- 
bour for insects. The mosses and other plants 
growing with Orchids in their native places 
appear to be most of them alive in the neigh- 
bourhood of the best roots, and must form a 
very different substance to dead sphagnum, 
many of them being Hypnums. Nothing is 
better about the blocks than growing mosses 
and lycopodiurns. 
Imported plants. — Be very cautious in the 
use of water until they have made a decided 
push ; their treatment may then be gradually 
assimilated to that of the established ones. 
Carefully collect the dust and rubbish intro- 
duced with them, and sow it about in a damp 
corner, or among some of the plants ; many 
new plants have been obtained by this means. 
A'erides, Saccolabiums, andVandas. — These 
plants should be kept in the hottest and damp- 
est part of the house, so as to encourage a 
vigorous and early growth, that they may be i 
dried off in good time before the bright sun- 
light of the autumn is too far gone. 
Cymbidium. — This genus does best in pots 
in rather loamy soil ; and they may now be 
shifted, if not previously done. 
Ccelogyne. — Some of these plants make two 
growths in the course of the season ; and those 
that are now going out of bloom should be 
grown on so as to complete their next growth 
early, and then have a rest. 
Dendrobiums. — These should be grown on 
as rapidly as possible, but the supply of mois- 
ture should be shortened as soon as they show 
signs of maturity in the young shoots. - 
Oncidiums should be kept growing freely, 
and should be shifted from their blocks or pots 
if necessary, before the new roots are so far 
advanced as to suffer from removal. 
Stanhopeas must be repotted as soon as they 
commence their new growth, and should be 
grown on freely. 
Zygopetalums require to be kept in the 
coolest part of the house, where the heat does 
not exceed 80 degrees. 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 
Transparent Cloth. — The cheapness of 
glass will render this material less sought for 
than formerly. It will still, however, be 
sometimes used in covering pits, and for other 
temporary purposes of shelter, such as harden- 
ing off plants before planting them openly. 
Slight wooden frames should be made, and 
these covered with holland or calico, stx*ained 
tight ; they are then to be painted over with 
a mixture of four ounces white resin, one 
ounce of sugar of lead, and three pints of pale 
linseed oil, the sugar of lead being ground up 
with a small quantity, and then applied to the 
remainder, and the resin incorporated with 
the oil by the aid of a gentle heat. The com- 
position is to be laid on with a brush ; and 
one coating annually is sufficient. This makes 
it both transparent and waterproof. 
Thrips are very troublesome little insects — 
in hothouses at any season, and even out- 
doors in summer — where plants are subjected 
to a hot arid atmosphere. A genial moisture 
is the great remedial resource ; but when they 
are numerous, it is best to paint the flues or 
pipes, if indoors, or the walls, if outdoors, with 
sulphur vivum, mixed with water : the flues 
must be done when they are cold ; the heat 
either of the fire or the sun gives rise to fumes 
which destroy the insects, The plants — par- 
ticularly the under side of the leaves — may 
also be frequently syringed with water in 
which sulphur is mixed. 
Docks and Dandelions, and other perennial 
thick-rooted weeds which sometimes occur in 
lawns, particularly when newly formed, may 
be got rid of by continually cutting off their 
leaves ; this must, however, be done each time 
as soon as they spring up. No plant can long 
survive a continuance of this treatment. 
