CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 



]1 



turned wrong side upwards in flat 

 pans of water, to keep off vermin, 

 which might otherwise crawl up 

 the stage and eat the plants, it 

 has heen said that pitch is a good 

 thing to mix a httle of with the 

 soil. The inference is drawn from 

 a fact whicli has heen related, that 

 when the sticks which are placed j 

 in the pots to train them up are j 

 dipped in pitcb, tlie roots mat 1 

 round them so much as to pre- | 

 vent their heing withdrawn with- 

 out dragging the plant or plants j 

 up with it. Charcoal has also heen j 

 recommended, and a lew lumps of 

 it can do no harm; but, from the. 

 supposed operation of charcoal on 

 vegetation, it is much more likely 

 to be ethcacious as a top-dressing. 



China Asters. — The principal 

 batch maj^ now be sown on light 

 rich soil under shelter : they do 

 not require heat. 



Climhers will be benefited by 

 thinning the shoots. Eegulate and 

 tie or nail in as required : this can 

 never be so well done, or done at 

 all without injury, if the shoots j 

 are once allowed to get entangled. 



Crocus. — At the end of the 

 month the leaves may be tied up 

 in knots out of the way of other 

 plants until well ripened ; mean- 

 while the ground can be sown or 

 planted. j 



JJahlias. — Remove plants which | 

 are large enough for planting into j 

 a cool frame, and be carel'ul no 

 frosts nor cold winds reach them, 

 for they are very tender. Con- 

 tinue taking off cuttings, and 

 striking them in their single pots, j 

 if you have room ; if not, a number 

 of cuttings round the edge, of a j 

 larger one. Take the tops off the j 

 forward plants, of which you re- 

 quire great numbers, and replace j 

 the decapitated plant in heat, to j 

 throw out its side-shoots. 



Fuchsias. — Remove the cover- 

 ings by degrees, thin out the 

 si loots, and in most cases train 

 them with one leading stem. 



Gudetia. — This fine genus of or- 

 namental hardy annuals offers an 

 exception to what is usual among 

 annual plants, for they do best in 

 p(jor soil, especially if it be rather 

 light and sandy ; their delicate 

 tints and markings are brought 

 out better under such circum- 

 stances than in rich soil. 



Hollyhocks. — These fine flowers 

 for planting among shrubs may be 

 sown during this month for next 

 year's flowering. 



Hj/aciidhs. — The beds of these 

 plants should be slightly protected 

 at night, and during heavy rain, 

 where fine blooms are looked for, 

 and also shaded from intense sun 

 heat. Water the beds if the weather 

 is dry. 



Lobelias are all worthy of atten- 

 tion. The herbaceous perennial 

 kinds should be separated, and 

 potted afresh into light soil, and 

 placed in a hotbed for a few weeks : 

 prepare a place for them by digging 

 and richly manuring. 



Miyitoitetle. — That kept in pots 

 may be planted out the middle of 

 the month to give immediate 

 efi'ect. Thin out the early sow- 

 ings. 



Fansies may now be bedded out. 

 Plant out a batch of struck cut- 

 tings every fortnight if blooms are 

 required for exhibition, for they go 

 off blooming sometimes a while, 

 and it is better to depend on several 

 seasons of planting than on one. 

 Plant at least six inches apart, and 

 not more than seven in a row, 

 across a four-feet- wide bed. 



Pink beds may be yet made; 

 but the greatest caution will be re- 

 quired to remove the roots whole, 

 to avoid their losing the moisture 



