CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 



315 



the plants out of the pots, and 

 placing them at proper distances. 



THE GREENHOUSE. 



Fires will now scarcely ever he 

 required, though, if there should 

 be frost, it must be kept out more 

 rigorously then ever, now that most 

 of the plants will be advancing 

 ranidly in growth. In the gene- 

 raHty of years, however, no frost 

 will occur likely to affect the 

 plants inside, which at this season 

 will require exposure to all the 

 mild air they can have. Not only 

 all the day, but at night also, to 

 some extent, if mild, the house 

 should be ventilated. Tlie worst 

 and least interesting of the plants, 

 as well as some or all of the du- 

 plicates, should now be removed 

 •from this house to a cold frame, in 

 order to give the better subjects 

 more space. 



Azalea Indica. — When the young 

 shifted plants are growing freely 

 the strongest shoots should be 

 topped, to produce a dense bushy 

 habit. This applies chiefly to plants 

 in process of formation ; larger 

 ones already arrived at a blooming 

 size seldom require this manipu 

 lation. See that the plants as yet 

 unbloomed do not want for water. 

 Shift such of the flowering plants 

 as require it as they go out of 

 llower. 



Botany Bay plants, as they go 

 out of flower, sliould be shifted 

 according to their respective 

 wants, the irregular branches 

 pruned back so as to reduce the 

 plants to a snug compact form, 

 and then allowed to make new 

 growth for next year's flowering. 

 This new growth should be got 

 as forward as possible, in order 

 that it may be thoroughly ripened 

 during summer. 



Calceolarias advancing rapidly 



towards flowering must have their 

 stems supported in some way, or 

 the weight of the flowers will 

 cause them to lie about in all di- 

 rections in a very unorderly way. 

 There is a great objection to the 

 innumerable stakes often used; 

 therefore avoid using more than 

 are essential. The best supports 

 are very slender slips of deal, 

 painted dull or invisible green. 

 Be careful to destroy the aphides 

 before the flowers begin to open. 



Camellias should have a daily 

 syringing with tepid water, and 

 the warmest corner of the green- 

 house reserved for them, until 

 the incipient flower-buds have 

 become " set." 



Cliiiiese Primroses. — Seedlings 

 sown last month must now be 

 potted singly : keep them on a 

 warm shelf unless you can accom- 

 modate them for a week or two in 

 a moderately w^arm pit. At the 

 end of the month sow a good 

 batch to supply plants for the next 

 winter and spring. Watch any- 

 choice plants now in bloom for a 

 supply of seed, which is generally- 

 formed at this season when the 

 plants get plenty of air. 



Cinerarias. — Shade the plants 

 in blossom during very bright 

 sunshine. Sow any seeds that 

 have been obtained. The chances 

 of obtaining a further supply will 

 now be increased, as all plants 

 seed better when they have a more 

 perfect play of air about them, as 

 greenhouse plants have at this 

 season. Cut down the plants that 

 have done blooming or have passed 

 their prime, in order to facilitate 

 the production of suckers, which 

 are to be parted, potted separately 

 into small pots, and set in a close 

 frame as soon as they acquire suf- 

 ficient size. 



Ericas. — With increased light, 



