190 THE FLORIST. 
thorough soaking every time water is “applied, ‘for’ surface sptinklings 
leave the roots-dr y, and are of very little service to the plants.’ Green= 
house.—Large specimens of the hardier kinds of greenhouse’ plants may’ 
now be placed in a sheltered situation out’ of doors,'where’ they will 
be shaded from the midday sun; but care must’be observed to protect 
them from heavy rains, either by havinga' waterproof’ cloth which can 
be stretched over them, or by laying the plants on pots on: ‘their’ sides. 
Those that require repotting should be! kept: in’ the house’ after’ shifting. 
until the roots get hold of the fresh soil.''| Attend well to “young stock,’ 
which will now be growing freely;*keep the: shoots’ nicely regulated, 
and shaped as may be necessary, to secure well-formed spécimens, and 
use every care to afford these a moist atmosphere, sprinkling them’ 
overhead early on. the afternoons of bright days, and reducing the’ air; 
but, as already stated, young stock will be better in'pits'and frames’ for’ 
the summer than in this house. “ Spare’ room'‘in’this' house: may “be” 
occupied with Fuchsias and other soft-wooded plants for the conservatory. - 
Stove.—Keep a sharp look- out for insects here; and if red spider makes” 
it appearance upon Dipladenias or’ other’ plants, the? foliage-of which” 
will not bear a very liberal use of the syringe ‘or engine, it must be” 
washed off with the sponge—examining the'affected plants frequently, ° 
to make certain that the pest is eradicated, for if this is! once allowed to 
gain a footing, it will speedily “Sis the finest’ ‘specimens.’ Also keep” 
clear of aphis and spider by gentle fumigations ‘as’ often as’ may be™ 
necessary, but be careful to have the house and foliage perfectly dry’ 
before smoking. Keep the atmosphere moist ‘by frequently sprinkling’ 
the paths and every available surface, giving theplants‘@ good moistening * 
with the syringe every afternoon before shutting up the house} ‘but avoid" 
wetting the heads of Ixoras, as these are’ apt’ to drop their’ blooms’ if: 
syringed overhead after they are ina forward state. |) Attend to providing 
a supply of plants for autumn and ‘early winter blooming. 
Hardy Fruit.—This is a busy month among all trained fruit! tees.’ 
The finger and thumb must not be idle, for the trees will require going’ 
over ofien, and the points of the young’ strong ‘shoots ‘pinched’ out, or” 
removed altogether, according to circumstances, the lobject''in view 
being to equalize the flow of sap, and lead it from the strong'to the” 
weaker branches—consequently balance the strength of the trees.’ Wall 
trained Pears especially should be gone over in time) and the young” 
shoots thinned and stopped, to admit light and’ air among the fruit and’ 
foliage, and which will also greatly facilitate the formation of fruit buds’! 
for the following season. Neglecting this operation, and allowing a” 
mass of useless ‘shoots to grow at will till after midsummer, and then” 
mown off at once, as is often the case, is one of the principal causes 
why so many wall trained Pear trees are so ‘unfruitful. “Peach trees” 
will now be getting free from green-fly, ‘and if the’ weather is favour" ‘ 
able they will be making rapid growth. Attend’ to the thinning and” 
stopping of shoots, but this must not be done’ too’ severely, although - 
the shoots ought to be sufficiently thin to admit light and air to the” 
foliage ; sufficient shoots should be retained to shade the main’ branches ” 
from the sun, otherwise they are liable ‘to be ‘scorched, and greatly ’ 
injure ‘the trees. Use the garden ‘engine occasionally, ‘to’ clean “the 
