APRIL. 



622 



APRIL. 



APRIL. 



Aspect and Character of 

 Month. 



The variations in temperature in April 

 are still very great, as in the earlier part of 

 the year, the thermometer ranging from 

 75 to a degree or two below the freezing 

 point in the meridian of London, the 

 mean maximum of an average of ten years 

 being 57 to 82 in the atmosphere, and the 

 tnean minimum being 35 '33. The tem- 

 perature is lowest at sunrise, and there are, 

 on an average of ten years, six frosty nights 

 in the month. An unusual fall of rain in 

 April is supposed to indicate a dry season 

 for the harvest. 



April. Conservatory Work in. 



Boronias, <SrV. Boronias, leschenaultias, 

 chorozemas, and tropseolums may now be 

 cemoved from hothouse or forcing pit to 

 the conservatory. Place them in as airy 

 a situation as possible, maintaining a tem- 

 perature of 45 to 50 at night, rising loor 

 so from sun heat. 



Camellias, S"c. Camellias and other 

 plants with large coriaceous leaves, if not 

 perfectly clean, should be washed with 

 sponge, and, if necessary, with soft soap, to 

 eradicate the haunts of insects ; and a 

 moist, genial heat maintained by sprinkling 

 the floor, stage, and pipes. 



Ventilation. While any probability of 

 spring frosts remains, ventilation must be 

 cautiously given, especially with newly- 

 potted plants and tender flowers from the 

 stove or forcing house. As they begin to 

 grow, air should be given whenever it can 

 be done with safety. 



April. Flower Garden, Work , 

 in. .- 



Annuals, Half-hardy. Seeds of all sorts 

 may now be sown in warm, sunny borders, 

 jgiving them the protection of hoops and 

 mattings at night and in severe weather, 



and hardier sorts in the beds and borders, 

 in small patches, where they are to fiower, 

 observing that their position is to be 

 regulated according to their height and 

 colour. The mode of sowing is to form a 

 shallow basin in the soil, such as might be 

 made with the convex side of a breakfast 

 saucer ; in this hollow sow the seeds, and 

 sift half an inch of fine earth over them. 

 Thin out the patches as the plants begin to 

 grow. 



Auriculas. Auriculas are now come 

 into bloom, and require great attention ; 

 the trusses thinned, and deformed pips 

 removed. Weak manure water should be 

 applied in the mornings, shading the plant 

 afterwards from the sun. Seed should now 

 be sown in shallow pans, and lightly 

 covered with soil, and the pans placed in 

 some gentle heat. 



Biennials and Perennials. All kinds 

 may still be transplanted. Among these 

 we may name the whole tribe of Convol- 

 vulacese, rockets, lychnises, Caryophyl- 

 laceae, and most fibrous-rooted plants. 

 The whole may still be increased by 

 dividing the roots, and by offsets, or by 

 seed, either sown on borders, in beds, or in 

 pots ; watering the patches moderately in 

 dry weather. 



Carnations. Carnations in pots should 

 have the surface stirred, and a little new 

 compost added, and watered with lime 

 water, to destroy any worms in the soil. 

 Sow seeds in pots or boxes during the 

 month, place them in a west aspect, and 

 cover them with a sheet of glass. 



Dahlias. Dahlia roots may now be 

 planted out on the beds, 3 or 4 inches deep, 

 and' 5 feet asunder. 



Hollyhocks. Hollyhocks kept in pots 

 during the winter should now be planted 

 out, about 6 feet apart, in deep rich soil. 

 Cuttings of choice sorts are more tender 

 than seedlings, and would be safer with a 

 little protection for six weeks after planting. 



