THE FLORAL WOBLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 125 



THE GARDEN GUIDE FOR APRIL. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



■I'JL'IS' ARDY annuals and perennials may be sown early in the month, anr] 

 3 K3 Kj the more tender kind at the end, but it will be better to defer the 

 " *■' * l sowing of very small seed of choice kinds until the beginning of May, 

 aa heavy rain may wash them down into the soil, and they may be 

 lost. Perennials may be planted out, and old stools of phlox, chry- 

 santhemum, sweet william, etc., may be divided. Dahlia-roots may also be 

 planted, but if the shoots appear before the night-frosts are over, they must be 

 protected by flower-pots inverted over them, and the holes stopped with pieces of 

 tile. Box edging should be clipped and ivy cut in and trimmed, and fresh planta- 

 tions made of last year's roots. Cuttings of ivy may also be taken and planted 

 in a sandy border, only partially exposed to the sun. The cuttings should be 

 short- jointed, and the lower leaves removed. Bulbs of Tigrida pavonia may be 

 planted in the open bed; plant them about two inches deep, and choose a warm 

 and sheltered situation. A light netting, or some other similar protection, will 

 be found useful for tulip-beds, and if the foliage gets frozen, water them with 

 cold water before the sun gets on them. The pruning of roses must all be 

 finished early in the month, and recently planted trees should have a good 

 watering. Self-sown annuals that have stood the winter should be thinned, and 

 where desirable, some may be transplanted. Gravel-walks should be turned and 

 rolled, but dry weather should be chosen for this work. Grass-plots should be 

 dressed, and new turf laid down where necessary. In laying down fresh turf, be 

 careful to lay it as soon after it is cut as possible. To keep lawns in good order, 

 it will be necessary to mow twice in the month, and it should be performed on a 

 dewy morning or in moist weather. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Should the work of last month have been delayed, successional sowings may 

 be made of all leading kitchen crops ; seeds got in early will not be much behind 

 those sown la9t month. Beet should be sown in the second week, in ground 

 deeply dug but not manured. The main crop of celery should be sown on a 

 rich, warm border, the surface to be made light and fine ; sow thin and merely 

 dust the seed over. Sow also onions, lettuce, radish, small salad, sea-kale, and 

 asparagus ; the last two in drills, one foot apart and one inch deep for asparagus, 

 and two inches for sea-kale. Potatoes not yet planted should be got in without 

 delay, and towards the end of the month scarlet-runners and French beans may 

 be sown . The runners should have a warm dry position if sown before the first 

 of May, but subsequent to that date, they may be sown in almost any soil or 

 situation without risk, but like most other things, they yield the best crops on 

 ground well dug and manured. The main crop of carrots should be got in 

 towards the end of the month, and there is still time for a crop of parsnips if none 

 have yet been sown. In the beginning of the month, make ridges for melons 

 and cucumbers to be grown under hand-glasses. Sow thyme, summer savoy, 

 and all other herbs, or if the weather is moist put in slips, and if possible plant 

 them in a rather dry sandy border, as they will root quicker. Plant broad beans 

 for a late crop, and continue to sow peas to succeed those already sown. After a 

 shower of rain draw the earth up to the stems of caulillowers, cabbages, and arti- 

 chokes which were planted last month, but be careful the earth does not fall 

 into the hearts of the plants. Those who purpose raising seedling rhubarb plants 

 should sow about the middle of the month in shallow drills about eighteen inches 

 apart, dropping the seed in patches, six inches from each other. Slugs, snails, 

 and other insects, tempted out by showers of rain must be destroyed. 



FEUIT OAEDEN. 



Should the weather be dry, all kinds of fruit trees will bo benefited by syringiDg 

 occasionally, but syringing Bhould in no case take place until the blossoms have 

 dropped off; it may then in dry weather prevent the crop dropping in its infant 

 April. 



