and heat, and, as they fill the pots, changed to larger ones, constantly kept up to the glass with unimpaired heat.

Crocuses. As soon as the foliage or grass of those bulbs that are to remain in the ground turns yellow, it may be cut even with the surface of the soil. All that are wanted up may be lifted at once, and kept, with their names, dry and cool.

Crown Imperials.-As soon as the foliage fades into yellow, cut them down to the ground, or dig them up; but such soft bulbs should never be kept long out of the ground.

Cuttings. Now is the time to take cuttings of the principal biennials, perennials, and other plants, and strike them under a hand-glass, without the aid of heat.

Dahlias.-These may be planted out about the middle of the month, both those from cuttings and those from parting the roots, also old roots that have not been parted or propagated. Dahlias in plantations by themselves should be six feet apart every way, and have their stakes driven down before they are planted, that they may be tied up at once to protect them from wind. Lay all sorts of traps for earwigs directly, and hunt them industriously. Take off cuttings and strike them one in a pot. There is nothing so good for this as a common dung-bed; but the propagating house is available. Until you plant out, those which are struck should be put into cold frames, not to be subject to the weather, but to be gradually inured to out-of-door treatment till the middle of the month, as already observed, when they may be planted out where they are to bloom.

Evergreens.-Examine the better kind, especially specimens, and where there are branches growing out of form, take the tops off, or shorten the branches still more than that; remove very weak shoots also, and give air, light, and sun by cutting out wood where it is too crowded.

Gladiolus.-These merely require to be kept clear of

weeds, watered in very dry weather, and have the surface of the soil loosened a little.

Hollyhocks. Any of these in exposed situations will require stakes like Dahlias, but if well sheltered they will not need such assistance.

Hyacinths. As soon as the foliage decays, take them up carefully, dry them properly, and remove the offsets for early planting. While the large buds are for disposal in the best beds at the proper season, some of the late ones will not perhaps be ready till next month; shade these from the sun to prolong the bloom.

Iris. The perennial kinds in all their variety (that is, those with tuberous roots) should be kept clear of weeds, and the soil loosened round their patches. The bulbousrooted sorts should have their beds watered, should the weather be very dry; they will likewise need shading as soon as they show colour.

Lilies. The large-flowering sorts in pots should be sheltered-not that they are tender, but they would suffer from wind and rain. The proper place for them is the cold pit. The hardy kinds in the borders require no care whatever. Seedlings of all varieties should be kept perfectly clean.

Lupins.-There is scarcely a family more numerous than the Lupin, from Lupinus nanus to Lupinus Cruikshankii. They are of all sizes and colours, but the most superb is Lupinus polyphyllus, which has a magnificent spike; nor is it the less acceptable on account of the many shades of colour which distinguish it from more common ones, nor for being a very hardy perennial. We reckon it so necessary an appendage to the border, that we recommend sowing a few seeds for the sake of possessing whatever new varieties may come, and enabling you to throw away any that are worse than the parent plant.

Mimulus.-Seed may be sown the beginning of the month in clumps at the foot of trees, or in beds by itself, where they may bloom without any further trouble, save that of keeping clear of weeds. Those, if any, sown last month in pots may be planted out where they are to flower.

Pinks and Pansies.-By the end of the month you may reduce the flower-stems of the former to one on each plant. Top-dress, if not done already, with decomposed cow-dung, keep clear of weeds, and water in dry weather. The latter are now in perfection, and will require to have particular flowers shaded, but not whole beds. Take off cuttings, or, which is better, side-shoots, and strike them under hand-glasses in the common border.

Polyanthuses.-Those in pots should be put out after flowering; and if necessary, for increase, they may be parted carefully, so that a heart may have a piece of root; plant out in good strong loamy soil, and in a situation not reached by the mid-day sun. Sow seed in large pots and keep them

in a frame.

Primroses.-The double crimson, purple, and white having now passed their flowering, they may be parted like the Polyanthus, every heart with a bit of root to it, and be planted out six inches apart in every direction, to grow into strength again.

Ranunculuses.-Stir the earth between the rows, water when necessary, and effectually when you do it. The autumn-planted, now in bloom, may require watering and shading also, to preserve their colours and prolong their season of flowering.

Rhododendrons.-Those which have been protected are for the most part in bloom, or have passed their flowering. This being the case, no time should be lost in removing the bunches of decayed flower and seed-pods, especially the latter, which, if allowed to swell, detracts greatly from the

growth; so much so that it is a very common thing for the plants left with their seed on to fail altogether to produce bloom for the next year. For this reason make it a practice to take off the bunches of seed-pods as fast as they appear. Such plants as show a disposition to grow out of form should be pruned into shape before the growth begins. However, those plants which have been unprotected have not bloomed yet.

Shrubberies and Lawns.-The former should be gone over every now and then for the purpose of examining the various trees and shrubs, especially such as have been planted very lately, as it will be necessary to supply them with moisture for a time, and occasionally extra support. The latter will require mowing not less than once a week during the present month, as if the grass goes longer it will be injured for the year.

Transplanting.-Under this heading, or rather sideheading, we shall include several operations which amount to very much the same thing. All the annuals which have been either grown in patches or pots may be taken up and transferred to the places where they are to bloom; such as are to be bloomed in pots may be shifted to those a size larger as soon as those they occupy become filled with roots; others that have been protected all the winter may be shifted to the various beds and clumps-such, for instance, as Hydrangeas, Geraniums, Fuchsias, Verbenas, Petunias, Calceolarias, etc.—without fear of having them damaged by frost.

Tulips. These are now coming into bloom. Keep the sun from once shining upon them after they show colour. Should the weather be exceedingly sultry, water the paths in the tulip-house, but not the soil in which the bulbs are planted. They do not require wet, but the paths will be all the better for watering. Look over all your seedlings

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as they flower, that you may discard at once and for ever all those which prove worthless, and so reduce the stock. Shade any particular flowers that may be in the out or seedling beds.

JUNE.

Anemones.-Where the leaves of these have turned yellow they may be taken up, dried, and stored like Ranunculuses, except that, as the tubers are larger and hold more moisture, they will require a longer time to dry. Shade those in bloom for the purpose of prolonging their season of flower.

Annuals.-Those sown in the borders in patches will require regulating; that is, they will need thinning out so as to leave only three or four plants of some large kinds and half a dozen of the smaller sorts in a patch, because if they are too thick they will choke one another, and the plants grow weak and straggling in consequence. Annuals that require planting out, or rather transplanting, should be seen to early this month, if not done last; otherwise they will not follow up in regular succession.

Auriculas.-Those now enjoying all the weather must be examined every now and then, to see that the drainage is quite clear, for the soil will frequently wash down amongst the crocks and fill up the hole. Pick off all yellow leaves, earth up those which have offsets, so that the base of the offset may be in the ground or soil, as they make plants sooner provided they strike root before they are taken off. Seedlings may be potted off singly in small pots as soon as they have half a dozen good leaves; but they are better in frames than altogether exposed at first, because their mois