88 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
a good heat; fertilise the female blooms ; earth 
up as wanted ; bottom heat from 75° to 80°; 
top heat by day the same, 68° by night; water 
sparingly ; use pure loam without manure to 
grow them in, and make it rather firm. 
Close early on sunny days, damping the walls 
or soil at the same time. Cucumbers, stop and 
train carefully; keep the vines thin ; avoid 
taking off full- grown leaves of either Cucum¬ 
bers or Melons ; keep the fruit in a cool place 
when cut; the heat, both top and bottom, 
should be the same as for Melons. Sow hardy 
kinds towards the end of the month, for 
ridging out under hand-glasses. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Continue to plant out Cauliflower, Lettuce, 
&c., from the frames, choosing a showery day 
for the purpose. A deep rich soil should be 
afforded them. Earth up and stick Peas when 
sufficiently high, and sow the taller kinds for 
the main summer crops; keep sowing every 
fortnight Broad Beans, and earth up early- 
planted ones. Dwarf Kidney Beans and Scarlet 
Eunners may be planted in warm situations. 
The main crops of Borecole, Broccoli, Savoys, 
Brussels Sprouts, &c., should be sown forth¬ 
with. Complete sowing Carrots, Beet, Salsafy, 
and Scorzonera, &c. Prick out the early-sown 
Celery under a hand-glass, or in a frame. 
Sow in the open ground for winter crops when 
the weather is showery. Divide herbs, and 
make fresh plantations. Sow to make good 
for failures. Towards the end of the month 
get a ridge prepared for hand-glass Cucumbers. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Einish the planting of deciduous and ever¬ 
green shrubs without delay; the latter will, 
however, succeed till the end of the month, 
if the weather be showery. Mulching, how¬ 
ever, and frequent dampings overhead will be 
necessary. Turn over and prepare beds and 
borders, for planting the various bedding-out 
plants, that everything may be in readiness 
when the season arrives. Phloxes, Pentste- 
mons, Carnations, Stocks, and similar things, 
should be turned out into beds, &c., without 
delay. Sow annuals. Many kinds of peren¬ 
nial plants may yet be divided for increase, or 
where the plants are too large. Attend to 
neatness, and watch for vermin. Finish 
pruning Tea and China Eoses, and their hybrid 
varieties, and other shrubs, as danger from frost 
is nearly over. Climbing plants against walls 
and trellises should be pruned and neatly tied 
in, if not previously done. Hoses. —Planting 
is now becoming somewhat hazardous; but 
the danger may be obviated by carefully 
syringing the heads and stems, should the 
weather continue dry. Pruning should now 
he finished, both with hardy and tender varie¬ 
ties. In pots the maggot will require vigilance 
to prevent its doing much mischief; the 
first green fly, too. must be kept down on its 
appearance by fumigation. Where blossoms 
are making their appearance liquid manure 
should be given once or twice a-week. 
I florists’ flowers. 
Auriculas. —In some localities this chaste 
spring flower is already repaying the care and 
attention that have been bestowed upon it, by 
expanding its beautiful blo'ssoms. The frames 
should be shaded with thin canvas during the 
heat of the day, and about the middle of the 
month remove them to a cool situation facing 
the north. This will prolong the bloom con¬ 
siderably. Water rather freely now when 
the plants are growing. Carnations andPicotees 
—Finish potting for bloom without loss of 
time. The pots should be raised from 2 to 
3 inches from the ground, on strips of wood. 
If there are any plants left after filling all the 
pots required, they may be planted out in 
well-prepared beds, which should be elevated, 
in case it be a wet summer, as well as for the 
convenience of layering. Sparrows at this 
season often do much mischief by eating the 
points of the young shoots; pieces of grey 
worsted tied along the rows, a few inches 
above the plants, will prevent the mischief. 
Dahlias. —This will be a busy month as regards 
this plant. Propagating will be at its height. 
Pot off the plants as soon as rooted, growing 
them in gentle heat, and harden them towards 
the end of the month, when, if room can be 
.afforded, they may be repotted into three or 
four-inch pots. Pot-roots, if started now, 
will make good plants ; they will not require 
so much heat, when once started, as spring- 
propagated plants. Sow seeds in a brisk heat. 
Fuchsias .—All that is lequired to make fine 
plants is plenty of room ; give this and a moist 
genial atmosphere, and they may be grown to 
any size, if good rich soil is used. Cuttings may 
still be put in for late-blooming plants. Holly¬ 
hocks .—Prepare ground for planting out, which 
may be done towards the end of the month. If 
the ground has been deeply trenched and 
plenty of manure given, the Hollyhock will 
succeed in almost any soil, but should not be 
planted under trees, or too near hedges. The 
plants should not be allowed to become pot- 
bound ; give them a shift if the planting has 
to be deferred. Seedlings, if large enough, 
may be planted out at once. Pansies. —Take 
the small side-shoots, and those produced 
from the centre of the plant, and put them 
in as cuttings in store pots, under glass, in a 
cool situation. These will make fine plants 
for blooming in September, and they will 
again produce considerable increase. By this 
treatment the spring blooms are much larger, 
as the principal shoots are strengthened. 
Pinks .—See that the sparrows do not attack 
these; if so, scare them away in a similar 
manner to that recommended for Carnations 
and Picotees. If for exhibition, thin the 
side-shoots as soon as long enough. Tulips. 
—Protect these well from hail-storms. The 
less rain they have the better; but if by any 
chance they should become wet, frost must 
be kept from them until they are thoroughly 
dry. 
