April] MONTHLY CALENDAR; 



the covering must be taken from hardy flowering plants, 

 early in this month, and the beds and borders attended to 

 as directed, pages 140 and 155 ; at the same time, clip edg- 

 ings of box, and clean, relay, or make new gravel walks, 

 &c., 133 ; prune and transplant flowering shrubs, 156 and 

 160 ; transplant also hardy herbaceous plants, 152. 



Sow flower seeds ; the hardie'st may be sown in the open 

 borders, and the tender in the beds, 141 to 150. 



All the soil of a garden should be dug this month, if pos- 

 sible, and pulverized as directed, 141 and 180. 



It will be necessary to look over all the greenhouse plant* 

 in the early part of this month; let them be deprived of 

 dead wood, if any, by a careful pruning; at the same time 

 take oft* all yellow leaves ; the earth at the top of the pots- 

 should be loosened, so as to admit the sun and air to thfr 

 roots of the plants, 217 to 219 



If insects prevail on roses or other plants, a fumigation 

 with tobacco will be necessary. 



Bulbous roots will require some attention this month ; 

 those in bloom in the garden should be tied up to wires or 

 small sticks ; and those kept inside should be watered in. 

 proportion as they get heat and air. 



The Calla, or Ethiopian Lily, and the different varieties 

 of Rhododendrons, will need frequent watering while in bud 

 and blossom. 



Air must be admitted freely to all greenhouse plants 

 towards the end of this month, in order to prepare them for 

 the exposure of the open garden next month. 



For the method, of managing Dahlia roots, see 196 ; pre- 

 pare to plant tender bulbous roots, towards the end of this, 

 or early in the next month. The following should be for- 

 warded in pots, which may be kept in a greenhouse or warm 

 room, or they may be plunged in a, hot-bed ; Amaryllises, 

 183; Gladioluses, 198; Lilies, 202 ; Tuberoses 210; Tiger 

 flowers, 211. 



Hydrangeas, Pomegranates, Verbenas, and other decidu- 

 ous shrubby plants, should be cultivated early in this month 

 to promote the production of leaf and flower buds. 



Biennial seeds, such as Wall-flower and Stock Gilly. 



