iSyi.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 113 



crossed over the bushes is practised by some to keep off birds. No 

 hard unbroken surfaces should be left, either among bushes or fruit- 

 trees. If Apricots or Peaches flower very freely, careful thinning of 

 the flower-buds will be of advantage to let the best-placed ones 

 expand freely. On weakly trees a good crop is rarely had when 

 flowers are extra thick. 



Lawns, flower-beds, and borders may require a little extra attention 

 this month. Beds requiring manure may be better if supplied with 

 some fresh earth instead. A quantity of road-scrapings, and the par- 

 ings of walk or road edges, often make a healthy dressing. Deeply 

 working and exposing ground for flowers is quite as necessary as doing 

 it for vegetables. By way of illustration, we have received from a 

 neighbour a quantity of stuff, which was taken from ttie bottom of an 

 old pond, a few inches of which has been spread over the surface of 

 the beds in the flower-garden, which were previously turned up to the 

 weather. The dressing, which was laid on the surface in frozen 

 lumps, is now broken down like powder, and will be forked evenly 

 into the flower-beds. Though we have plenty of old hot-bed manure 

 on hand, this fresh dressing will act more beneficially, being less 

 likely to give rank growth and few flowers. Heavy soil may be 

 much improved by adding to it a little sand, burnt earth, and vege- 

 table mould. Shrubs should have all dead branches cut out. Limbs 

 taking the lead should be cut within bounds, and where specimen 

 shrubs or trees are wanted, they should be kept well clear of each 

 other. Clipping is now wisely avoided by most cultivators, but a 

 knife unskilfully used is nearly as bad. When young tops are con- 

 tinually lopped off, the shrubs become matted and stiff, with quanti- 

 ties of dead wood in the hearts of them. Cut well into the stronger 

 wood, which will shoot out with vigour, and the bush or tree (except 

 where cutting right down is done) should not appear as if it had been 

 touched. Gravelling and turning of walks should now be done with- 

 out delay. Keep them smooth and firm with the roller. Every part 

 of the garden or grounds now should have a cheerful and tidy appear- 

 ance. 



Roses may now be pruned : as a rule, weakly growers should be cut 

 well back, and, if desirable, the stronger shoots layered for rooting to 

 make fresh plants ; besides this old practice of layering, the strong 

 wood of Roses forming masses in the beds gives them a grand appear- 

 ance when they are in flower. Stronger-growing kinds do best with 

 thinning and little shortening ; all surface dressings may be forked in 

 at convenience. Roses (with the view of keeping them late) are often 

 pruned as late as the middle of April : stake standards and pillar Roses 

 securely. If annuals are wanted early in summer they may be 



