66 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
removed from the lawns, we find indentations; remove 
the sod, fill up with loam, replace the sod and pack 
firmly with the back of the spade or roller. Where your 
lawn is poor and grass thin, rake off loose and dead 
grass, weeds and dirt, top-dress with loam or compost, 
rake smooth, sow blue-grass and red-top, and roll. Un¬ 
der the dense shade of trees, grass dies out after mid¬ 
summer ; but if the surface of the ground is now raked 
ove'r, sown and rolled, we shall have a nice green surface 
from April till June, at any rate. Roll lawns while they 
are soft and moist, as after a thaw or soaking rain ; a 
puckered surface is made smooth easier then than at any 
other time ; but do not allow, upon the ground, a horse 
or cart, or anything else that is heavy or likely to leave a 
hole or track. 
Trees and shrubs may be transplanted as early as the 
ground shall permit of being worked. In lifting trees 
and shrubs for transplanting, dig wide holes so as to 
secure as many of the fibrous roots as possible; it is 
not the stout naked roots we want so much as the fine 
feeders, and these usually are farthest from the butt of 
the tree. In transplanting, have holes wide enough to 
accommodate the spread-out roots without having to 
bend them in at the ends; have wide rather than deep 
holes ; cut clean all the ragged, wounded roots ; shorten 
the branches in proportion to the mutilation of the roots, 
but shorten anyway; set the tree in the hole as deep only 
as it was before, spread out the roots and introduce fine, 
mellow soil among them, packing it firmly and filling up 
every hollow, and in finishing pack the ground as if you 
were setting a fence-post. A good soaking of water now, 
if it will do no good, will do no harm, but will help fill 
any cavities about the roots that were omitted by hand. 
If necessary at all apply a neat strong stake—at any rate 
a mulching of grass mowings, rotted manure, or rakings 
of top-dressing from the lawns will be of excellent ser¬ 
vice in the summer time. One vital point in tree plant¬ 
ing is—from the time the tree is lifted till planted, never 
allow the fibrous roots to get dry. 
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs. In pruning trees 
be careful to preserve them in handsome form, shorten 
back long out-reaching branches, thin out over-crowd¬ 
ing branches, remove brushy stuff from the trunks and 
about the roots. In pruning shrubs we have to be 
guided by the kind as well as by the object of the use. 
Hedges want clipping into dense form ; lawn shrubs into 
flowing, graceful proportions; shrubs that blossom on 
the old wood, like Forsythias and Lilacs, should not be 
pruned till they have done blooming; whereas, those 
that blossom on the new wood, like Altheas and Hy¬ 
drangea paniculata , should be cut hard back. But dis¬ 
regard all circumstances in order to have handsome 
bushes. Avoid the round-clipped form. Shorten the 
branches and cut out the old wood so that your shrubs 
shall always be full of young, firm wood. 
Wm. Falconer. 
OUR PREMIUM SEEDS. 
New Golden Mignonette. —This does' best when sown 
in the open border where it is to remain. Make two 
sowings, the first as soon as the border or beds are ready, 
the second about the middle of July. This will flower 
splendidly in September and October. 
Hyacinthus Candicans. —Sow the seed in any con¬ 
venient place where it will have a good chance to develop 
the plants. Treat them the same as ordinary vegetables. 
Take up the bulbs after the tops have been killed by 
frost and store in any dry place the same as Gladioli. 
The second season they should be planted about six 
inches apart each way. Although small, the bulbs will 
produce flowers the second year. They are perfectly 
hardy, and can remain in the ground during winter. 
Petunias , Balsams, Zinnias and Pansies can be sown 
where they are to remain, or they may be started in pots 
in the house or in the hotbed, and transplanted at the 
proper time into the place designed for them. This will 
prolong their season of bloom. 
Asters can be planted in the open border, but they 
flower much better if sown in boxes or pots and trans¬ 
planted two or three times. A second sowing of Asters 
for autumn flowering should be made about the first of 
July. 
Gaillardia Picta Lorenziana. —This, one of the most 
beautiful of hardy annuals, can be treated in the same 
manner as Asters, only the seed should be sown as 
early as possible, either in the house or in a hotbed ; and 
transplant as soon as t'he weather will permit. It mat¬ 
ters not how early it comes into bloom, it will continue 
and increase in beauty until after severe frosts. It is 
quite hardy—at least frosts that will kill Balsams will not 
in the least injure it. 
Cannas. — Soak the seed in boiling water and Sow 
singly in small pots as soon as convenient, and grow on 
as rapidly as possible, and they will flower the first sea¬ 
son. Or the seed may be sown in the open border as 
soon as the soil is warm and dry. 
Delphinium— This seed should be sown in boxes in 
the house or in a hotbed, and the plants will flower freely 
in autumn. They are perfectly hardy perennials, and can 
remain undisturbed for many years. It is best to sow a 
few seeds annually in order to have late flowers, as the 
old plants flower in June. If cut back, however, before 
they commence to bloom, they will make a new growth 
and bloom in August. By both means a succession of 
lovely blue flowers can be kept up nearly the entire 
season. 
Gladiolus Bidblets. —Sow in good rich soil, when in 
good order, in the same manner as Peas; cultivate well 
and take up the bulbs upon, or soon after the first frost. 
Store in paper bags in any convenient place away from 
frost, but as cool as possible without freezing. Plant the 
second season about two inches deep, and all, or nearly 
all, will bloom. 
Summer Flowering Oxalis. —Plant one foot apart for 
