THE 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN. 



Volume XVIII. 



APEIL, 1876. 



Number 208, 



XOWER I^ARDEN AND iFLEASURE GROUND. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



April in the South is Spring, and the early- 

 flowers have long since been in bloom; but Aj^ril 

 in the North scarcely finds the Violet in flower. 

 What should we do if we were to write a " Cal- 

 endar of Operations " for our readers? However, 

 this we never attempt. What we give as "Hints," 

 are not so much intended for the month as for 

 the season. We speak now of the early spring 

 season, and each must apply it as he finds to suit 

 the latitude. Of course the trees and bushes are 

 all pruned, litter cleared up, grass rolled, walks 

 edged, and vegetation is pushing along. Ever- 

 greens may be set out till after the growth has 

 been made. Deciduous trees also may be still 

 set out, if any leaves they may have made are 

 plucked oS". They will make new ones. The 

 main business of this department will be in set- 

 ting out garden flowers. 



Of flowering plants which thrive well in our 

 climate, we have a good selection. The Gerani- 

 ums are amongst the best, although botanically 

 they are not distinct from Pelargoniums ; yet it 

 serves a good jDurpose to retain the name as a 

 popular designation of an useful class in flower 

 gardening. There are now dofible varieties ; but 

 for flower gardening purposes, double flowers are 

 inferior. These varieties do not flower as freely 

 as the single ones. This has proved to be the 

 case with the Petunia, the Pansy, and other 

 things, and we suppose the rule will hold good 

 here. The Rose Geraniums flower somewhat 

 steady throughout the year, and are indispensa- 



ble for their delightful fragrance and elegant 

 foliage. The Verbena used to be the main reli- 

 ance for bedding — but the great ravages of the 

 verbena rust, have made it somewhat unreliable ; 

 and, although it is indispensable yet, it does not 

 take the front rank as formerly. Of double 

 flowers we may say, however, that the Double 

 Wliite, and perhaps Asa Gray, a bronzy salmon, 

 flower much more profusely than some of the 

 older kinds. 



In the class of scented flowers, the Heliotrope, 

 the Mignonette, and the Sweet Alyssum, com- 

 mand a prominent place. The last is liable to 

 suffer much from the cabbage-fly. A syringing 

 with water, in which a few drops of coal oil has 

 been spread, soon settles his business. There is 

 a variegated Sweet Alyssum which is very pretty. 



The Golden Feverfew is admirable for edgings. 

 Lantanas are very desirable; but to have the 

 best results from them, they should be planted 

 in poor soil. Mr. Harkins' new variegated Lan- 

 tana is said to stand the sun well. A very pretty 

 species, trailing like a Verbena, but not 

 much known, is L. Sellowii. The varieties of 

 Lobelias make fair bedding plants if not 

 put in too dry a soil, or too warm a situation. 

 The Cuphea hyssopifolia sent out by Messrs. 

 Hoopes is a good border plant. 



The old doiMe tvhite Feverfew is one of the 

 most desirable of bedding plants. White flowers 

 can be cut from it all summer, and yet have 

 plenty left to bloom. The Petunia, though of 

 no account for cutting, keeps up a brilliant show 

 the whole season. They do also very well in hot 



