APRIL. 93 



being near at hand, every eifort must be used to bring them into such 

 a state as will enable them not only to outlive the change, but to be 

 altogether unhurt by it. It is very desirable that plants which have 

 received some seven or eight months' protection under glass, and much 

 care and attention while there, should come into perfection, or at 

 least produce some agreeable effect, very soon after they are placed 

 in their summer quarters ; but their future progress will very much 

 depend upon their condition when planted. If strong healthy plants 

 can be obtained without the aid of artificial heat during this month, 

 they will speedily strike root, make rapid growth, and will afford 

 some recompense for the care and attention which they may have 

 received ; whereas plants taken from a frame which has been kept 

 close and moist to within a short time of their being fully exposed to 

 wind and sun, will look more like rubbish for the dung-heap than 

 ornamental subjects ; and unless much care and attention is bestowed 

 upon them, they may prove as bad as they look, at least a large 

 proportion of them. It will be advisable to take an early opportu- 

 nity to go over the stock intended for clumps, and select all the 

 plants that are well established, and either place them in some shel- 

 tered spot where they can conveniently receive protection at night, 

 or at one end of the frame, where they can have more air, and be 

 gradually inured to the full influence of the sun. Spring-rooted cut- 

 tings must be encouraged to make growth, and every effort used to 

 get them established singly in pots towards the end of the month, so 

 as to allow of their being gradually prepared during the first fort- 

 night of May for their summer quarters ; and as soon as they are 

 rooted in their pots, they should be freely exposed on all favourable 

 occasions ; for their progress after planting out depends much more 

 upon their being hardy and vigorous than upon size. Many plants 

 usually wintered under glass may now be planted out, such as Pent- 

 stemons. Snapdragons, &c. and their place will afford space for cut- 

 tings, or it may be occupied with Balsams, Fuchsias, &c. for the 

 autumn decoration of the greenhouse and sitting-room. Verbenas, 

 and many other bedding-plants, are very subject to the attacks of 

 aphides about this season : should these make their appearance, they 

 must be destroyed at once. Brown's Fumigator will be found very 

 useful for this purpose. 



Dahlias. Put in cuttings of these ; repot as soon as they are 

 struck, and harden off as soon as they are sufficiently started in 

 growth. Never allow^ them to stand in cold frames in very small 

 pots, otherwise they soon become stunted. The roots will generally 

 part, and make from three to six strong plants after they have done 

 their work in producing cuttings. Sow seed without delay, in dung- 

 beds strongly heated. If the bed is a proper one, the young plants 

 will make their appearance in five or six days. Transplant as soon 

 as the rough leaf appears. Beds intended for Dahlias should be 

 turned over now, and broken fine. 



ErACRisEs. As they go out of bloom, except one or two kinds, 

 cut them back hard, leaving a necessary quantity of spurs to break 

 from. Give the annual shift, say from a 6 to a 9-inch pot, and in the 



