Horticultural Memoranda. 191 



dentin Scotland, in the person of Mr. Arthur, travelling agent of the extensive 

 nurseries of Messrs. Dickson, of Edinburgh; we have just learned, by a friend 

 ■who recently returned from a visit to his native city, that his death took 

 place in the early part of last autumn. Mr. Arthur was a man of great 

 business activity, and also a ready writer, and in his death our readers have 

 not only lost a valuable correspondent, but an upright and honorable man, 

 and a zealous lover and promoter of gardening pursuits. 



HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA 



FOR APRIL. 



Grape Vines, in the green-house or grapery, will now be coming rapidly 

 forward, and will need constant, or at least careful, attention. The shoots 

 which spring from the spurs should be looked after and regularly tied 

 down ; for, if neglected, there is danger of breaking them off : this work 

 should generally be done in the middle of the day, when the sun has ren- 

 dered them more pliable ; if done too early in the morning, there is greater 

 danger of injury. The growth may also be pinched off two eyes beyond 

 the fruit buds, and rub off superfluous buds at the base. Syringe carefully 

 €very morning and evening in good weather. Give air early, and keep the 

 temperature rather low, in order that the branches may not be drawn out 

 ■weak ; 50° to 55° is ample during the night. Cuttings may now be put in 

 hot beds. Vines in pots should be liberally watered, and, if the fruit is 

 set, occasionally with guano. 



Raspberry beds should be uncovered as soon as the frost will admit ; new 

 plantations may be made this month. 



Strawberry beds should also be uncovered, the coarse litter raked off care- 

 fully. 



Currant and Gooseberry bushes may be set out, and old plants carefully 

 trimmed, manured, and the ground dug around them. 



Apple, Pear, Plum and Cherry stocks may be set out this month. 



Scions of trees may still be cut. 



Grafting may be commenced this month, beginning with the cherries. 



Fruit Trees of all kinds should now be transplanted. 



FLO^WER DEPARTMENT. 



Pelargoniums will now begin to open their blossoms, and, to preserve 

 them in beauty, they should be shaded in the middle of the day — or the glass 

 whitened to prevent the powerful rays of the sun from injuring their deli- 

 cate tints : if the shoots grow too upright, let them be tied down again, as 

 far as their pliability will allow : but do not let the sticks project above the 

 base of the flower-stems : keep them near the glass where they can have 



