Diploma of the Royal Botanic Society

The Flower Garden - Roses - Conservatory and Greenhouse - Stove and Fern House - The Vegetable

Garden - Fruit Garden - Fruit under Glass

Early bulbs can this month be taken up, cleaned, and stored, except those which are to remain in the ground for naturalising.

Much attention will be needed in flower-borders as regards hoeing, weeding, staking, tying, and watering. A top-dressing of good old manure is of great benefit to herbaceous plants during sultry weather.

As soon as carnations are in bloom, these should be layered, watering to complete the operation. They will then remain undisturbed until rooted, after which the layers should be transplanted to nursery beds. If the stems are very numerous, some pipings may be taken as well, putting them in gentle bottom heat. Where last year's seedlings are layered, only those should be chosen which have good flowers.

The weaker branches of dahlias may be thinned out, and the plants staked as needful. Double-flowered herbaceous plants may be propagated by cuttings. Seedlings of perennials and biennials sown last month should be pricked off into good soil. Seeds of plants for spring bedding may be sown, as last month, but the seedlings must be kept carefully shaded from hot sun. Look over the shrubbery, and prune back any overgrowing subjects.

The Rose Garden

Budding may be continued this month, in dull weather for choice. Give liquid manure to late-blooming roses, and plenty of water where required. Syringe for greenfly, and keep the trees as healthy as possible.

Lawns and walks must be rolled when damp enough, grass be kept neat by cutting, and paths weeded. If weed-killer is used-it must not be put on paths where there is a box edging, and care must also be taken that it does not scorch grass edgings.

Peg down bedding pansies and violas. Keep the flowers picked off these and other plants. Strike cuttings of pansies and violas in a shady situation.

Some plants in the rock garden will need regulating this month, or the stronger growers will be apt to encroach on more delicate subjects. The former should be carefully cut or pinched back.

The Conservatory And Greenhouse

Chrysanthemums should be in their flowering pots by the end of this month, and the plants then kept well watered, overhead as well as at the roots in very dry weather. A little soot-water from time to time will prove an excellent stimulant. Attend carefully to staking, tying out the growing shoots.

Tuberous and fibrous rooted begonias, hydrangeas, and such decorative subjects as fuchsias, celosias, pelargoniums, etc., will keep the conservatory gay this month.

As indoor pelargoniums, etc., go out of flower, they should be stood out of doors, and induced to make strong growth, from which cuttings can at once be taken and struck out of doors in a shady place. Hydrangeas may now be propagated by layers and cuttings.

Azaleas and other hard-wooded plants, stood outside to ripen the wood, should be syringed at once if thrip or red spider appears, turning the pots on their sides.

Violets will require plenty of water at the roots, and should be syringed constantly as well. Hoe the ground between the lines, and see that all runners are pinched off.