and when they are up, thin to one plant at each station, and this, of course, the strongest.  This mode of growing Ricinus will astonish those who have been accustomed to allow the plant to struggle through existence in the ordinary soil of a garden border.  Plentiful supplies of water must be given in dry weather, and stakes will be necessary to save the specimens from injury by wind.  It is too early for putting out those raised in heat.

==Stock, Ten-week.==—­Where the requisite quantity of seed has not been sown, it must be done promptly.  If there happens to be a cold frame on a spent hot-bed to spare, it will exactly suit the seedlings when they are ready for transferring.  Make the surface fresh by adding a little rich soil, and put the plants in rows three or four inches apart, allowing three inches between them in the rows.  In seed-pans, however, space cannot be afforded in this liberal fashion, but they will make a full return for rather more than the usual spacing.  To maintain a dwarf habit, it is imperative that the plants should be kept near the glass.

Where there are no facilities for growing Stocks in the manner described seed may be sown at the end of the month in the open ground, and with a little care there will be a handsome show of bloom.  The seedlings are subject to the attacks of turnip fly, which is a terrible foe to them in the seed-leaf stage; in fact, the plants are sometimes up and gone before danger is suspected.  A light sprinkling of water, followed immediately by a dusting of wood-ashes, just as they are coming through, will save them, but it may be necessary to repeat the operation two or three times until they are out of peril.  A rich and friable seed-bed is one remedy for the fly, for it promotes rapid growth, which speedily places the plant beyond the power of its insect adversary.  But if open-ground culture exposes Stocks to one hazard, it saves them from another, as mildew does not attack them unless they have been transplanted.  Stocks come so true from seed that it is easy to arrange a design in any desired colours.  Sow in drills from nine to fifteen inches apart, according to the height of the variety, and cover the seed very lightly with fine soil.  The bed must be protected from birds, and a dressing of soot will keep off slugs.  Begin to thin the plants early, but do not forget that some single specimens will have to be taken out when the flowers show, and that is the time for the final thinning.

==Sunflowers== do not well bear transplanting, hence the seed should be sown where the plants are intended to flower.  During its brief season of growth, the Sunflower taxes the soil very severely, and to develop its full proportions decayed manure must be freely employed to a good depth, and unstinted supplies of water will be necessary in dry weather.

==Zinnia==.—–­ The first week of this month is as good a time as any to sow seed, and the conditions named under March should be followed.  When the seedlings are an inch high, pot them separately, and place in a close, shaded frame until they are established.  Then give air more and more freely while the plants are being trained to bear full exposure.