122 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



The garden- work of April includes the plantinEr of evergreens. The 

 potting and hardening off of tender plants intended for the summer 

 display in the flower-garden, the pricking-off of tender annuals, and 

 the sowing of hardy annuals in the open border. The pricking off 

 and planting out of vegetable crops raised under glass, and the 

 sowing of the main crops of vegetables in gardens in which, owing 

 to the state of the weather it could not be done last month, must 

 also receive instant attention. The general shifting of stove and 

 greenhouse plants, and the shifting and top-dressing of orchida- 

 ceous plants, are amongst the important matters requiring attention 

 indoors. 



Flower Garden. — The present month is most favourable for 

 sowing seeds of biennials and perennials, and also annuals for late 

 blooming ; thin out those already up, and transplant. Finish 

 dividing and planting herbaceous plants. Prepare the flower bed 

 for the summer bedders, and plant hardy things at once. AYalks 

 •should be thoroughly rolled to make them firm for the summer ; 

 and grass plots dressed, to give everything an air of neatness and 

 order. 



GrEEENHOUSE. — This structure will now be gay with Acacias, 

 Azaleas, Aphelexis, Blandfordias, Chorozemas, Cinerarias, Eiios- 

 temons, Khododendrons, and Calceolarias. Give plenty of air to 

 prevent the plants drawing, and shade during the bright sunshine, 

 to enable the flowers to retain freshness as long as possible. Plants 

 of all kinds will now require increased supplies of water ; those in 

 iiower must not be allowed to suffer for the want of this element, or 

 the flowers will soon drop. Sow primulas and cinerarias for early 

 bloom, and place the seed pans in a shady corner until the plants 

 are up. Cytisus should be pruned into shape immediately they go 

 out of flower, and directly they break, repotted. Autumn-struck 

 and old plants of fuchsias will require shifting into larger pots. 

 Keep the whole of the plants in a brisk growing temperature, well 

 syringed and pinched, as required. Remove cinerarias going out of 

 bloom to a cold frame, if oftsets are required. Verbenas and petu- 

 nias struck now, and grown on, will be useful for flowering in the 

 autumn. Pot hard-wooded plants that require a shift, and harden 

 off those that have finished their growth, preparatory to going out 

 of doors for the summer. 



Stove. — Clerodendrons, Ixoras, Eondeletias, and a number of 

 other stove plants, will now be coming freely into bloom, as also 

 a large number of orchids. Achimenes and gloxinias, repot before 

 they get pot-bound. Keep the former near the glass, to prevent 

 them drawing. Continue to shift orchids that require repotting, and 

 divide those the stock of which it is desired to increase. Maintain 

 a thoroughly moist atmosphere by throwing plenty of water on the 

 floor, but avoid syringing them for the present. Shut up early, and 

 use as little fire-heat as possible. Train specimen plants of a 

 climbing habit, such as Stephanotis, as fast as they make new 

 growth, to prevent their getting out of form. All the plants that 

 require a shift must have it at once, as better growth will be made 

 in the fresh soil than that which is now worn out. 



