i6o 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Shading the glass must be attended to ; 

 light shading and renewed as required is 

 better than heavy shading at this season. 

 A good shading for a small greenhouse can 

 be made by mixing whiting and skimmed 

 milk together, sufficient of each to secure 

 the proper consistency ; apply on a dry day 

 with a whitewash brush ; this makes an ef- 

 fective shading, and does not injure the 

 paint or putty as lime would do. 



Pointed Points for April. — Water grow- 

 ing plants thoroughly, and early in the day. 

 Syringe on bright days early in the after- 

 noon. Pay close attention to shading and 

 ventilation. Close ventilators, and dampen 

 floors early in the afternoon. Fumigate af- 

 ter sundown. 



Window Plants. — This is a good time to 

 re-pot window plants that require it. Cac- 

 tus should be potted, after flowering, into 

 sandy soil ; use plenty of drainage, but don't 

 over-pot. Many varieties of cactus require 

 re-potting but seldom, especially if the drain- 

 age is perfect. Sow seeds of annuals and 

 perennials required for borders. Watch 

 closely for insect pests. Water thoroughly, 

 and syringe two or three times a week on 

 warm days. Dutch and other bulbs that 

 are out of flower can be treated as recom- 

 mended for greenhouse treatment. If you 

 want three or four plants for the window 

 that will permantly repay you, purchase 

 Sanseveria Zealandica, Ficus elastica, Aspi- 

 distra lurida, Echeveria metallica, and Far- 

 fugium grande ; one of each will always 

 make the window attractive placed amongst 

 geraniums, fuchsias, etc. The Sanseveria 

 requires plenty of drainage, and to be wa- 

 tered thoroughly, but very seldom, and only 

 when dry — once a week, as a rule, is ample. 

 The Farfugium likes plenty of water. The 

 Echeveria requires very little water. 



Flower Garden. — This is a busy time in 

 this department, making the lawns, borders 

 and surroundings spick and span. 



All hardy roses should be pruned by this 



time, winter covering removed and the beds 

 forked over, and any fertilizer applied that 

 is intended to be used. Plant roses and 

 shrubs at once when received. Borders ot 

 herbaceous plants should be forked over af- 

 ter removing all winter covering. 



Divide and transplant perennials, such as 

 phlox, campanula persicifolia alba, coreop- 

 sis, gaillardias, dianthus, etc., all of these 

 and similar varieties give better results if 

 divided and transplanted every two or three 

 years. 



German iris and paeonies are better trans- 

 planted in the fall. Dutch bulbs will be 

 making a show in the borders now, some of 

 the heavier blooms will require small sticks 

 to support them. 



Dahlias, cannas, etc. , may be started in 

 pots in a frame or in the window, early 

 bloom is secured in this way ; harden them 

 off gradually before planting outside. 



All plants, such as oleanders, hydrangeas, 



Fig. 1786. Calla Lilies. 



J. Gadby, Phot* 



