TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR— II. 



EaPRIL ! The very word April sug"g-ests 

 life and activity to horticulturists 



^ generally. It is probably the busiest 

 month of the year in the g-arden, especially 

 in sowing and planting ; and those who ap- 

 ply the most energy intelligently in their 

 gardens during April will have the best 

 chance of securing early and bountiful crops. 

 On earnest and thorough work during this 

 month, mainly depend the crop results of 

 the season. 



" April push, tends to Autumn plenty." 



The Greenhouse. — The cutting bed 

 should have close attention, potting the cut- 

 tings into small pots as soon as sufficiently 

 rooted. Replenish the bed with more cut- 

 tings of coleuses, alternantheras, achyran- 

 thes, etc., if more plants are required. Al- 

 ternantheras root better now as a rule than 

 if the cuttings are taken earlier. 



Poinsettias should be cut back to the old 

 wood, and when the plants are showing 

 buds, shake out the plants and re-pot them 

 in rather sandy soil. A size smaller pot will 

 probably suit them for a short time, when 

 they must be potted in richer soil, in well 

 drained pots in which they are to flower. If 

 young plants of these are required, after 



cutting the plants back as just mentioned, 

 instead of re-potting, allow the young shoots 

 to grow until they are three or four inches 

 long, cut them oft' close to the old wood, 

 with a small piece of the old wood attached, 

 put them in the cutting bed, and when rooted 

 pot into small pots, re-pot into larger pots 

 as required, these will make nice dwart 

 specimens of these showy decorative plants, 

 poinsettias like plenty of heat and moisture 

 when in a growing state. 



Freesias may be dried off gradually, and 

 treated as recommended in the March num- 

 ber of the Journal. 



Dutch and Roman bulbs will be about 

 over flowering now. Tulips, and the hardy 

 varieties of narcissus, such as Von Sion, 

 Trumpet Major, etc., that have been forced, 

 may be planted out in the borders outside 

 as soon as frost is out of the ground ; these, 

 if left undisturbed for a year or two, will 

 furnish, for successive seasons, large quan- 

 tities of bloom, and this is the best way to 

 dispose of them, as they are of no use for 

 forcing again the following season. 



Roman hyacinths, and the more tender 

 varieties of narcissus, such as Paper White, 

 Grand Monarque, etc., may as well be 



