126 
THE FLORIST. 
forthwith, with'proper and care attention ; cuttings of Verbenas, Lobelias, 
and other things, put in at once, make good plants by the middle of 
May; cuttings struck last month should be well stopped back, and 
should be gradually hardened off. Be careful to propagate only plants 
of good habit, that will produce a succession of bloom of decided colour, 
from the beginning of the season until they are killed by the early 
winter frosts. Aim at a good selection of the best things in each class. 
The following Verbenas are gooi:—Whites, Mrs. Halford, White 
Perfection. Scarlets: Defiance, Mrs. Woodroffe, Louis Napoleon-, Miss 
Trotter, Noel. Rose and pink: Loveliness, Rosy Gem, Cardinal Wise¬ 
man. Purple and violet: Prince of Oude, Sims Reeves, Andre, Purple 
King, Tyrian Prince, Matchless, Standard Bearer. Crimson: Attraction, 
Crimson King, Emperor, Prince of Wales, Geant des Batailles. Lilacs, 
Haidee, Mrs. Mills, Duchesse de Aumale, Nelly. Sow hardy 
annuals in light soil, they should be covered very thinly ; sow half- 
hardy annuals towards the end of the month, in the open ground, or 
they may be sown under glass, or on a slight bottom heat, to be after¬ 
wards transplanted; sow tender annuals in heat. Finish pruning 
Roses, plant Hollyhocks, sweep and roll gravel walks, roll frequently 
lawns before mowing commences, mow as soon as the grass is fit. It is 
a great mistake to let the grass grow to any length at the beginning of 
the season. 
Fruit (hardy ).—See that the trees are well covered at night, and 
during hail and snowstorms. The covering should be removed during 
the daytime, unless in very severe weather. Owing to the fine weather 
last season the wood is in good condition, and promises a most abundant 
crop. It is a good practice to thin well the flowers and the young 
fruit; keep down insects. The young shoots of Peach and Nectarine 
trees are very subject to the attacks of green-fly, which, if allowed to 
get ahead, will seriously injure them. Syringing occasionally with 
tobacco water is the best remedy for them. If the weather be dry, 
all newly planted trees should be well watered, and then have a good 
mulching of rotten dung. Towards the end of the month, if the weather 
be mild, uncover Fig trees. Destroy, by all means, every wasp that 
is seen during the month. 
Greenhouse (hard-wooded Plants ).—Every plant requiring a shift 
should be potted forthwith. Take care that the ball, at the time of 
potting, is in a proper state, as to moisture, and that the compost is not 
too dry. Press the soil firmly down between the ball and side of the 
pot. Drain the pots well, but, bear in mind, it is quite possible to 
overdrain. When potted, the plants will not require watering for a 
few days, and they should be kept rather close until they begin to root 
into the fresh soil; they should be syringed two or three times a week. 
When the plants begin to grow freely, and the weather gets milder, 
air should be admitted more abundantly. Specimen plants in flower of 
Chorozcmas, Genistas, Epacrises, Pulteneeas, Acacias, Hoveas, Boronias, 
&c., should have liberal supplies of water; they should have abundance 
of air when the weather permits. Soft-icooded .—This is a good time 
to put in cuttings of Verbenas, Petunias, Cupheas, Salvias, Ageratums, 
&c., for autumn purposes. The strongest of the plants, intended for 
