94 
THE FLORIST. 
should now exhibit. Much attention is required in giving air, as they 
should be ventilated freely in fine weather, but cold currents of air 
should be avoided. Liberal supplies of water will now be necessary. 
Camellias, Acacias, and other strong growing plants that are growing in 
borders, will require to be well supplied with water; a little weak liquid 
manure occasionally will do them good. Use no more fire-heat than is 
necessary ; a temperature of about 46° by night, with a rise of about 
12° or 14° by day, will answer admirably. 
Cucumbers. —Give plants in bearing a good dose of liquid manure 
two or three times a week. Pick off all the fruit and blossoms that are 
not wanted ; by this means the plants will better swell out those that 
are left. Attend to the stopping, thinning, and tying of the shoots; 
when this is regularly done they will not get displaced by syringing, 
which should now be done daily to keep down insects. As the progress 
of invention has not as yet banished dung beds from all gardens, when 
the plants that are intended for these are ready, prepare a good bed for 
them. Cucumbers are much more tender when grown this way than 
they are when grown on trellises in houses, as they require great 
attention to keep up a regular bottom heat, also in giving air, watering, 
earthing up, covering, &c. Sow for successional crops. 
Dahlias. —Now is the time for the general propagation, this being 
the last month for putting in cuttings, which now strike readily in a 
little bottom heat. Towards the end of the month sow seed. 
Flower Garden. —Give all the attention possible to the stock of 
“ bedding plants,” so that there may be no scarcity when planting out 
time comes. All cuttings in store pans should be potted off; they 
should then be kept rather close for a few days, but as soon as they 
begin to root they should be gradually hardened by being freely exposed 
to the atmosphere when the weather is favourable. Prune and tie 
climbers of all kinds. Prune Roses. Look over herbaceous plants ; 
divide and fill up vacancies. Protect choice plants liable to injury 
from frosts or cold winds. Push forward alterations not yet completed. 
Walks generally require some attention at this season to keep them 
neat; merely sweeping and rolling will be sufficient for some, while 
others will require turning or fresh gravelling. 
Forcing Hardy Shrubs. —Continue to introduce fresh plants as you 
have room for them; always place them at the end of the house, where 
they can have a rather low temperature at first, and plenty of air. 
Water freely, and syringe mornings and afternoons. Though nothing 
can scarcely be more beautiful than some of the fine kinds of Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, Azaleas, and Kalmias, when in bloom, still variety is always 
pleasing—Rhodoras, Weigelas, Deutzias, Lilacs, Thorns, Almonds, &c., 
are all beautiful when forced. 
Forcing Ground. —Potatoes in pits should have plenty of air and be 
freely watered while in a growing state, but they must be rather dry 
as they approach maturity; plant some more to come in before those 
out of doors. The early kinds of Rhubarb now only require pots to be 
placed over them. Seakale and Asparagus need, however, a little heat. 
Sow French Beans twice or thrice during the month; attend to the 
earthing-up and watering of the earlier batches; syringe them occa- 
