==Delphinium.==—­Sow the perennial varieties on a prepared bed.  Thin early, without removing all the weaker seedlings, and when sufficiently advanced to bear removal, transfer to borders where the plants are to flower.

==Hollyhocks== may be put into the borders when the weather is quite warm.  Wait until the end of the month, or even the beginning of June, rather than have them nipped by an untimely frost.  Like the Dahlia this plant must have unstinted supplies of water and abundance of manure.  A tall stake, firmly fixed, will also be necessary for each plant.

==Nicotiana.==—­Seed may be sown on an open, sunny border, but it is a waste of seed and labour to put it into poor soil.  Prepare the ground beforehand by deep digging, and by incorporating plenty of manure.  If the near presence of other plants renders this impossible, drive a bar into the soil and work a good-sized hole.  Fill it with rich stuff to within a few inches of the surface, and finish with fine soil, on which sow the seed.  This method can only be adopted for light land.  In the event of a cutting east wind after the seedlings are up, improvise some kind of shelter until the danger is past.

==Petunias== are very sensitive under a frost or cold wind.  Therefore be in no hurry to bed the plants until quite the end of the month or beginning of June, especially if the weather appears to be at all threatening.  A good mellow soil, free of recent manure, suits them.  If unduly rich, it will strengthen the foliage at the expense of the flowers, and will also postpone the blooming until late in the season.

==Portulaca.==—­It is useless to sow until the temperature is summerlike.  If necessary, wait until the close of the month, or longer, before putting in the seed.  This flower will endure neither a moist atmosphere nor a retentive soil.  Sow on raised beds of light soil, the more sandy the better; and in seasons which speedily burn the life out of other plants, Portulacas will display their beauty, no matter how fiercely the sun may beat upon them.  Water will occasionally be necessary, but it should never be given until there is obvious need for it.  Portulacas are easily grown in pots or window-boxes, and they will bloom profusely where many other flowers only wither and die.

==Primula.==—­Almost every season witnesses the advent of some novelty in this flower, either in colour or in form.  And the plant is now worth growing for the beauty and diversity of its foliage alone.  The flowers range from pure white through all shades of tender rose up to a deep, rich crimson.  After years of earnest effort, two beautiful blue flowers have been obtained.  There are also several elegant double strains, and these possess a special value for bouquets, because of their enduring quality.  All the varieties, including the popular Star Primulas, can be grown with ease in any soil which is fairly rich and friable.  Equal parts of leaf-mould and