1876. J 
GARDEN WORK FOR MAY. 
105 
planting is finished, a crop of Eadishes is sown, and these are off before the 
potatos very materially interfere with them. This lot comes in in June. As 
soon as this crop is dug, I have a lot of old whole sets ready to plant, and after 
the soil has had a thorough watering of liquid manure, I plant again, and put 
on the lights, placing a brick under each corner of the light, which insures a 
thorough circulation of air. This crop must never have a drop of water after 
planting, nor have the lights taken off. There is no fear of disease, if this is 
attended to. When winter comes, the lights are closed down, and the crop left 
undisturbed till Christmas, when they find their way to the table as new Potatos. 
I must mention that nearly half my lights are covered with sheeting at Sid. per 
yard, and two yards wide ; this, when stretched tight and well oiled, does capitally 
as a protecting material. 
The only Potato I grow is Veitch’s Improved Ash-leaf Kidney. Other kinds 
are grown on the farm, but of this I am not now speaking. This is the way in 
which I employ 50 lights, and the crops I get from them.—J. Eust, Eridge 
Castle^ Tunbridge Wells. 
GAKDEN WOEK FOE MAY. 
FLOWERS. 
®?he whole of the herbaceous plants should be now in their permanent quarters, 
the dividing and replanting being finished. Moses in beds should be pegged 
down after the surface-soil has been hoed and raked ; galvanised wire cut 
into lengths, with a slight hook at the end, forms the best crook, and will 
last for years, and is, moreover, neat and cheap. Violets that have been forced, 
may be divided, planted in beds of rich soil, and grown into well-developed tufts, 
for next year’s flowering ; cuttings of any that are scarce may be struck like 
verbenas, or any other bedding plant, and increased rapidly—in truth, these, as a 
rule, make the best flowering-plants for another season, if planted in beds of richly- 
manured soil 8 in. apart each way. Sweet Peas should be sown for late flowering. 
These and Tropaeolums make beautiful floral screens. Calceolarias., Centaureas., 
and such-like half-hardy plants may be planted out in their summer quarters, 
and these may be followed up, as the weather permits, with the other kinds of 
flower garden flowering-plants ; gradual hardening-off will be necessary. 
Conservatory: Shading all persistent-leaved plants must take place here, more 
especially such as Camellias., Azaleas., and Indian Rhododendrons. These will now 
have recovered from their repotting or planting-out, and plenty of air may be given 
on bright days. Syringe and water freely everything, giving to large Camellias., 
Oranges., Rhododendrons, and Acacias heavy waterings from the hose, allowing it 
to run five or ten minutes on the roots of each plant, regulating the time 
according to the quantity of water which runs through the hose. A thousand gal¬ 
lons of water is not too much for a dozen or so of very large plants of this kind 
planted out at this season, when making a free growth. Ferns must get a shift 
into larger pots—some being divided and made smaller; the sizes will require con¬ 
sideration, according to one’s decorative demands in autumn or spring. Ferns for 
house decoration should not be too much shaded; direct sun should be excluded, 
but not light, and after growth is made, a cool, airy atmosphere gives persistency 
and hardiness, which is essential for them. Filmy Ferns and such tender kinds 
