CHAP. Xn.] APRIL. 327 



plants. In the country, these coverings may 

 be made of platted rushes sewed together; and 

 the Gathering and platting of them will afford 

 employment to poor old women and children in 

 winter. Biennials, such as hollyhocks, Bromp- 

 ton stocks, &c, are generally transplanted in 

 this month. 



In the kitchen-garden the principal crops of 

 all the culinary vegetables are sown, and potato 

 sets are planted. The spring pruning and 

 planting are also finished. 



Forest trees are planted in the parks and 

 pleasure-grounds, and trees are cut down. In 

 short, in large places, March and April probably 

 form the most laborious period of the gardener's 



year. 



j 



April. — In the first week of this month 

 many gardeners transplant their biennials, in- 

 stead of putting them into the ground in March. 

 The hollyhocks should have a hole duo- for 

 each plant two feet deep, at the bottom of 

 which should be thrown three or four spadefuls 

 of strong stable manure. Many gardeners 

 also plant their dahlia roots in this month, 

 though others delay this operation till May, or 

 even June. Whenever the dahlias are planted, 

 the tubers of the dwarf kinds should be about 

 three feet apart, but the larger sorts should be 

 four or five feet from each other every way. 

 The soil should be a sandy loam, not too rich, 

 lest the plants should produce more leaves than 

 flowers; and not too poor, lest the flowers 

 should be poor also. A bed, dug about two 

 feet and a half deep, with a layer of rubbish at 

 least six inches thick at the bottom, and filled 



