146 THE COTTA G" 
may be given by applying liquid-manure to swell off 
the remaining fruit. 
Turnips should now be more fully sown wherever 
ground can be spared, as the quality of those sown 
now will he good, and they will come in at a time 
when a change of table vegetables is desirable. 
Routine Management. —All spring sown crops 
should by this time have had their final thinning; so 
long as the hoe or scarifier can he used among the 
plants, it should he kept steadily in operation. All 
kinds of autumn and winter crops must now he got 
out, between the crops of peas and beans, and on all 
spare ground that may become vacant. Growing 
crops of Dwarf Kidney beans should he earthed up 
in good time, to prevent the wind from breaking 
them. Successions of Scarlet Runners, too, should 
now he planted. Those that have sticks or strings 
for climbing should have attention by leading up a 
shoot to each; and those intended to he kept dwarf 
must he regularly attended to, by stopping the lead¬ 
ing shoots. When the crop is well established the 
application of diluted liquid-manure will he found 
beneficial. A short row of Scarlet Runners may he 
made, by due attention to stopping or pinching out 
the tops of the shoots, to produce enough for the 
regular consumption of a good-sized family, particu¬ 
larly if the beans are gathered when in condition, 
and are not allowed to rob the plants by being left 
until they become too large for cooking. 
James Barnes. 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
MY FLOWERS. 
(No. 31.) 
During May, the whole country maybe called a- 
garden. Wherever we turn our eyes we are charmed 
with glowing blossoms, among which the apple-tree 
stands almost unrivalled. Nothing can be more 
lovely than its delicate clusters of flowers, so perfect 
in form, and deliciously fragrant. It has even been 
chosen by Solomon to describe the perfection of 
Him whom man rejected, and thus gives it a sacred 
interest in our hearts. Whenever we see the rich 
bloom of an orchard, we are sure that a cottage 
nestles near it; it gives us a feeling of comfort and 
brotherhood, and peculiarly distinguishes the snug, 
happy homes of old England. Let us, as we gaze 
on the beauty, inhale the sweetness, and expect the 
future treasures of these valuable trees, remember 
Him, who is “ among the sons of men” as “ the 
apple-tree among the trees of the wood.” When the 
cottage gardener goes forth to his work in the early 
morning, the rich scent of his blooming trees should 
raise his heart with double praise to God, for they 
speak of much more precious things than winter 
store, if he will listen to their voice. The wild 
cherry is silvering the woods, the wild clematis deck¬ 
ing the hedges, the fields are glittering with butter¬ 
cups and daisies—those first of infant joys,—and 
our country rambles are now only embittered by a 
muddy lane, or a rustling snake. All else is beauti¬ 
ful ; the thickening meadows, the rising crops, the 
soft deepening tints, and the snowy May, which 
almost gives a wintry whiteness to the scene, form 
such a world of loveliness, that we almost ask our¬ 
selves if sin and sorrow do indeed dwell within it ? 
In the simple gardens of my readers, there is not 
much to do just now, except to weed and clean. The 
annuals are sown and coming up, therefore the beds 
should not be much disturbed, unless to remove 
GARDENER, June 
weeds, or prick out perennials and biennials from the 
seed-beds. Let sticks or stakes be placed soon to 
sweet peas, convolvulus, &c., as they should receive 
support the moment they require it; and 1 have often 
found sweet peas, &c., so entangled together, by for¬ 
getting the sticks at first, that I have injured them 
by trying to untwist them, and they have not done 
well in consequence. In borders, where seeds are not 
sown, rake continually, in order to keep them clean and 
neat; rake well under plants and shrubs; it looks very 
slovenly to see a neat appearance kept up as if for 
show, witli a dry, hard, untidy space within the leaves 
or boughs. Clip box edgings, if old and rough; 
always let them be neat and close, and clean at the 
roots; weeds should never be suffered to spring up 
among them. Box is beautful as a shrub, it is 
beautiful as a bower, it is beautiful as a high screen 
to gardens, it is beautiful as one of the vivid scrip¬ 
tural emblems of the glory of the Church of Christ. 
Rich, aromatic, and evergreen, it is joined with “the 
fir-tree and the pine-tree,” to picture forth the beauty 
of that “sanctuary” which was opened “to all be¬ 
lievers,” when the “ worldly sanctuary” was done 
away. It continues to clothe the heights of Leba¬ 
non, it still “ beautifies” the forsaken land, that shall, 
ere long, “ blossom as the rose, ” and flourishes in a 
wild state in Europe, Asia, and America, thus bring¬ 
ing before the eyes of many nations the promises of 
God. The box opens its delicate green flowers du¬ 
ring this month, as do the pink hawthorn, the lilac, 
and the laburnum. The pink hawthorn is a beauti¬ 
ful addition to the lawn or shrubbery. Its rich co¬ 
lour mingles well with the laburnum, the gueldre 
rose, and the wliite and dark lilac, and it is very 
ornamental when standing singly, if the lawn admits 
of it. If a white and pink variety are budded on 
the same stem, the effect is good, or planted so 
closely as to interlace each other. The labiunum is 
a very gay and graceful tree; when in full flower it 
looks almost like a golden fountain. How beautiful 
the hills of Switzerland must look, covered witli its 
rich blossoms, for there it grows wild and abun¬ 
dantly, and must often remind the English traveller 
of his happy home. The Scotch laburnum has larger 
leaves and flowers, and blossoms later in the season. 
The lilac, that sweet cottage shrub, is one of the 
loveliest and most spicy of the treasures of the soil. 
We received it first from Constantinople, about three 
hundred years ago, and it still continues to decorate 
the palace and the cottage—a general favourite. It 
blooms in some parts of Africa and Asia in a native 
state, and yet it will grow well even in London; 
though in the close and crowded yards, where no 
fresh air can enter,.it only puts forth leaves, yet they 
are almost flowers to those who live in such unlovely 
precincts. There are several common varieties of 
the lilac, all beautiful, and there is the Persian lilac, 
a very elegant shrub, both in leaf and flower. Its 
leaves are more pointed, and its flowers more fea¬ 
thery in their form than the common kind, which 
gives the shrub a less formal air, but in fragrance I 
do not think it can surpass them. I sometimes see 
the lilac mixing itself in the cottage hedge, and form¬ 
ing a lively, pleasing ornament to the bowery lane. 
If they were sometimes planted among clumps in 
parks and paddocks, they would add much beauty to 
the home scenery, and so would the laburnum. I have 
seen them in such situations, and admired the group¬ 
ing much. Flow brightly, too, does the country 
glitter with that sweet and brilliant plant, the furze ! 
It is quite the pride of May and June, in spite of 
many rivals, and spreads itself, like a rich carpet, 
