190 Horticultural Operations for April. 



HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS 



rOR APRIL. 

 FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



April is the busiest month of the year. The rapid advance of spring, 

 in our climate, requires that everything should be accomplished in a very 

 short time. Winter is hardly over, and the frost out of the ground, before 

 warm weather sets in, starting all vegetation into rapid growth ; and but 

 little more than the single month of April can be counted upon to do all 

 the heavy work of the farm, the orchard and the garden. Snow four 

 inches deep, and scarcely a sign of vegetation now appears, (March 25,) 

 and in all probability, fruit trees of all kinds, excepting apples, will be in 

 full bloom by the 10th or 12th of May. 



Such is our climate, and the industrious gardener must be prepared for it. 

 No time should be lost as soon as the ground is in good condition to plant. 

 It is, however, quite useless to do anything before it is in proper order ; to 

 plant while it is yet wet and cold, is only attended with inconvenience, 

 loss of time and loss of trees. If our advice, already given, has been 

 attended to, all preliminary labor will have been performed, and conse- 

 quently valuable time saved, and much more work will be accomplished. 



Grapes, in the most forward houses, will now be swelling their fruit 

 rapidly, and the bunches will need thinning, which should be immediately 

 attended to. Continue to keep up a genial atmosphere by damping down 

 the walks once or twice a day, according to the weather. Prune off all 

 laterals beyond the fruit, and rub off superfluous shoots. Vines in green- 

 houses will soon be in bloom, and will need more attention. Tie in all the 

 spurs as they advance in growth, and nip off the ends two joints beyond 

 the fruit. Give sufficient air to keep the plants from drawing up, and do 

 not force on the vines by too large fires at night. When in flower, raise 

 the temperature slightly. A careful gardener will see that both grapes and 

 plants do not suffer. Vines in cold houses may now be uncovered and 

 tied up to the trellis ; syringe freely, till all the eyes are well broken and 

 the fruit-buds appear. Vines in the open ground should be now tied up to 

 the trellis, and put in order for the season. 



Peaches, in pots, will now have swelled their fruit to the size of large 

 peas. Keep up a moderate temperature, and see that the trees do not 

 suffer from want of water at the roots. 



Orchards may now be safely pruned, the rough bark scraped off, and 

 the trunks washed with diluted whale oil soap, or Capt. Lovett's wash, 

 recommended in our volume for 1850. 



Scions may yet be cut. 



Fig Ttees should be repotted, if not already done. 



Grafting should be continued, finishing with the cherries and plums 

 first. Root grafting should be completed at once. 



Raspberry Plantations should be uncovered. 



Steawbeerx Beds should be uncovered. 



