110 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOG1ST. 
[ May, 
they answer well. The little tin case is partly filled with scraped or toasted 
cheese, butter, tallow candle, or anything the mice take readily. It should 
not be overloaded, on account of the weight, and as to getting it out, that is 
mousey’s business, not ours. A few spare traps may be always kept ready charged, 
and woe be to the poor mouse that attempts to unload them when set! If placed 
on shelves or where the sticks may be lost, it is well to run a string through 
them all; this will not at all interfere with setting, if the string is long enough. 
—F. Joynes, Bourton. 
HARDINESS OF CENTAUREA CANDIDISSIMA. 
« IMAGINE that it is not generally known that this species of Centaurea , so 
much in use, and so essential in .the modern practice of flower gardening, 
is in reality perfectly hardy. I have had it tested through the last winter 
in different situations—one of them behind a north wall, where the 
sun’s rays could not reach from September till March, and another at the base of 
a south wall, with full open exposure. The frost was long and severe, and a 
better trial of its power of endurance could scarcely have been had, as we had 
little or no snow to cover the ground. In some open and exposed place the frost 
penetrated a foot or more into the ground. Notwithstanding all this, the Cen - 
taureas stood unscathed. It was interesting to observe, when a thaw came, that 
while an adjacent quarter of Globe Artichokes was killed to the surface, the 
Centaureas stood up quite erect and firm. As a proof that it is not necessary to 
coddle up these plants under glass, I may add that we obtained our best batch of 
spring cuttings from those at the bottom of the south wall, for although we 
had some six or seven dozen pots under glass, the cuttings from them were not so 
sturdy and firm as the out-door ones. It will be an important matter to many to be 
able to save the winter room these plants occupy.—J. Webster, Gordon Castle . 
GARDEN NOTES FOR MAY. 
NOTWITHSTANDING the long and severe winter we had, the present 
promises to be a forward season ; for the long continuance of fine dry 
weather has been very favourable for all out-door operations, which are, 
in consequence, in an advanced state, and vegetation, though checked by 
the cold winds and frosty nights, looks healthy and promising. 
At the beginning of the month plant the early-sown Celery plants into trenches 
four feet apart, filled within a few inches of the top with good rotten dung ; in 
the spaces between the trenches plant Cauliflowers, Lettuces, or Spinach. Plant 
out spring-sown Cauliflowers and Lettuces, also Savoys, Brussels Sprouts, Borecole, 
Broccoli, &c., in showery weather, should it occur ; but if the plants are fit and the 
ground ready do not wait for rain, but plant at once, and attend well to the 
watering of the plants, and when they begin to grow give them liberal doses of 
liquid manure. Keep the soil well stirred between all advancing crops. Thin 
