The Flower Garden. 
Bedding plants, such as Zonal Geraniums 
id Calceolarias, are now growing freely, 
he former will be potted separately from 
e boxes, and the latter will be growing 
>ace since they were topped. It will be 
Issible to ascertain the total number avail- 
ile for bedding purposes, and as it will 
■rhaps be known how many are really re¬ 
fired to fill all the beds, one will be able 
make up any deficiency—if any exists—in 
e .stock. . If the heat in the hotbed is de¬ 
filing, put on a thick lining all round it, 
;ing stable litter and leaves mixed; fail- 
g the litter, put on leaves alone; they will 
-eatly assist in keeping in the heat, and 
le cannot afford to neglect the hotbed at 
is season, because it is so useful for the 
•opagation of cuttings of different kinds 
plants, and also for the raising of seed- 
ngs. 
'uning Roses. 
This very important work must now be 
>ne. Amateurs who really understand the 
quirements of the Rose know how to prune 
e bushes. But there are thousands of ama- 
urs and others who love the Rose equally 
ell, but do not understand how to prune 
e trees, and as pruning is such.a very im- 
>rtant item in the management, I have 
•awn a sketch showing the proper way to 
•une. 
Fig. i shows an unpruned standard tree, 
irst, cut out cleanly, with a very sharp 
life, all decayed branches where these are 
•und, .then cut away all very weakly shoots, 
pecially where such tend to cause undue 
owding. If the centre of the tree is over- 
owded with ordinary-sized wood, cut away 
e branches as shown by the double lines 
, and not as shown by the single' lines B 
x>ve. The remainder of the branches 
lould be cut off as denoted by the cross 
nes C. Always prune to a bu"d which 
lints outward. 
Fig. 2 shows how to prune a dwarf Rose 
ish in the same way. Very strong-grow- 
ig varieties should be pruned to about five 
ids from the base ; medium to three buds, 
id weaker growers to two buds. 
awns. 
Roll the lawns twice each week, especially 
|ffer any rainfall, and once each week if the 
eather is dry, as after the month of April 
filing will not have much effect upon the 
round. Never roll twice in succession the 
ime way. 
ulbs. 
Keep the surface soil loose by frequent 
ght hoeing where whole beds are devoted 
> them; and in cases where bulbs are grow- 
lg in beds where such plants as Arabis, 
ilenes, and Myosotis are also established, 
irefully loosen the soil with a pointed 
tick. This treatment opens the pores of 
ie soil and admits the heat from the sun. 
reatment of Other Beds. 
Remove all decayed leaves and weeds and 
lake good any gaps where such plants as 
’olyanthuses, Pansies, .Wallflowers, and 
lyosotis have died, 
lerbaceous Borders. 
Where these have not been dug, do the 
'ork at once, and continue to transplant Del- 
hiniums, Pyrethrums, and similar 
Figs, i and 2.—Showing how to -prune (/) 
a standard Rose tree; and (2) a dwarf Rose 
bush. 
Fig. g.—A Gooseberry tree entwined with 
black cotton or thread, to frighten off birds. 
subjects. Slugs >are fond of the young 
shoots of these plants, eating out the tender 
crowns. Closely examine every plant, and 
protect them by scatterings some ashes on 
them. 
185 
The Fruit Garden. 
Gooseberries in Cold Districts. 
The buds of Gooseberry trees in some dis¬ 
tricts are much damaged every year through 
the attacks e: birds. It is just when the 
buds are opening that the birds attack them, 
but it is a very easy matter to scare them 
away by entwining black cotton or thread 
from branch to branch to form a rough net¬ 
work, as shown in Fig. 3 . The cotton will 
decay in time, but not until it has served 
its purpose. Birds do much damage in a 
short time, if they are not scared away, 
and as other food is available for them at 
this season they do not return to the Goose¬ 
berries when once frightened. 
Pears. 
Bullfinches destroy Pear buds wholesale, 
even when the latter are well advanced ; and 
I have observed that the variety William’s 
Bon Chretien, when grown as a standard, 
suffers most. Of course, it is out of the 
question to use thread on Pear trees, but 
if two pieces of glass, preferably old mir¬ 
rors broken up, be suspended from a bough 
near the centre of the tree by pieces of string 
in such a manner that the pieces clang to¬ 
gether, the birds will forsake the tree. Bull¬ 
finches are easily frightened by strange 
noises, and by the sudden flashings of the 
mirrors as they swing to and fro. 
Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot Trees. 
There is a very good show of blossom on 
trees growing on walls, and the opening 
buds are somewhat later than usual, not¬ 
withstanding the recent mild weather. But 
this fact is a point in their favour, as the 
flowers will stand a chance of escaping some 
frosts, perhaps. Anyhow, one must cover 
the trees with nets, or tiffany, every night, 
and also keep the blooms dry. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Transplanting- Leeks. 
Leeks of medium size may be grown from 
seeds sown in April, but large specimens 
are the result of earlier sown seeds. Stunted 
plants are not desirable, and they will be 
stunted if the seedlings are allowed to re¬ 
main in shallow boxes too long in spring. 
Select a good open position, and well enrich 
the soil with rotted manure, then transplant 
the young plants in rows eight inches apart 
and four inches asunder in the rows, as 
shown in Fig. 4 . At first a few mats may 
be put on a rough framework at night, but 
the plants will be quite hardy enough to 
withstand the usual kind of weather at this 
season, and make satis factor}'’ progress with¬ 
out being covered. 
Winter Spinach. 
In some kinds of soils Spinach plants sud¬ 
denly die in winter time, while in others 
they succeed well. During a dry spell of 
weather hce the ground between the rows 
and remove all decaying leaves, and whole 
plants, too, if any be in bad health. 
Spring Cabbages. 
Everybody who grows early Cabbages wel¬ 
comes the time when the hearts are fit to cut. 
In order to hasten the growth, hoe the soil 
between the rows twice each week; never 
mind about weeds, if there is not one to be 
seen so much the better, but still continue 
to hoe the soil. And once a fortnight put 
on a dressing cf nitrate at the rate of two 
ounces per square yard. 
Other Work. 
Plant Potatos ; sow seeds of English and 
French Horn Carrots in a warm border, and 
more summer Spinach. 
Foxglove. 
