CALENDAR APRIL. 385 



Forcing. — Continue the preparation of succession beds 

 and pits for cucumbers and melons. Attend particularly 

 to the cultivation of those in operation. Sow gourds and 

 basil. Pot love-apples and capsicums. Attend to the 

 routine culture of the pinery, giving water and air when 

 necessary ; keeping up the bottom-heat with linings and 

 additions of new tan. In forcing-houses, from the variable 

 state of the weather, considerable vigilance is required in 

 giving air. Keep down red spider (acarus), in the more 

 advanced houses, by frequent syringings. Continue the 

 usual operations of disbudding and thinning of fruit, and 

 take care to keep up the proper temperature. As the 

 weather may now be expected to be mild, those who have 

 only a single vinery, melon, or cucumber frame, will find 

 the beginning or middle of this month a proper season to 

 commence forcing with the best chance of success. 



Green-House, Sfc, — Little artificial heat will be required 

 except in frosty weather. An abundant supply of air and 

 moisture is now necessary. The glass should be kept off 

 the alpine frames, except in frosty nights. Attend to the 

 protection of stage auriculas from frost, as the flower-buds 

 are easily injured. Sow all sorts of tender annuals. Pro- 

 ceed with all necessary shiftings in the green-house and 

 stove. Remove camellias, when the flowers are over, to 

 the stove or forcing-houses, as they require heat to make 

 them form healthy shoots and flower-buds for next season. 

 Propagate Chinese chrysanthemums by dividing the roots, 

 and all sorts of rare and fine plants, by cuttings or by 

 grafting. Pot off tender annuals and cuttings of half- 

 hardy green-house plants, which were put in to strike in 

 the autumn or in February, for the use of the flower- 

 borders. 



Flower Garden and Shrubbery. — Sow main or succes- 

 17 



