PROPAGATOR'S CALENDAR. 585 



and finish layering Quinces, Muscle Plum, Paradise, Doucin, and other 

 fruit-tree stocks. 



Flower-Garden and Shrubbery. Renovate patchy lawns by sowing 

 new grass-seeds on a sprinkling of rich soil brushed well into the old turf. 

 See after propagating all plants required for summer bedding from seeds 

 and cuttings. Sow hardy and half-hardy annuals of all kinds, if not 

 already done. Put in Chrysanthemum cuttings in a frame on a slight 

 bottom-heat. Finish grafting ornamental trees, earthing up sufficiently 

 such as require it viz., all dwarf, and protecting with straw round the 

 clay all tall, grafted kinds : the old mode of grafting with a mixture of 

 clay and horse or cow droppings is by some recommended in preference to the 

 more modern system of using grafting-wax or other preparations requiring 

 extra care in the application. Complete transplanting the Pine tribe, 

 whether in the nursery or plantations. Commence to sow seeds of coni- 

 ferous forest-trees viz., Scotch Fir and other hardy Pines, Spruce, and 

 towards the end of the month Larch. Messrs Lawson & Co., of Edin- 

 burgh, sow about three tons of Larch seed every year in April and May, 

 and it has been computed that this quantity produces about thirty million 

 plants. Sow Rhododendron, Deutzia, and other seeds in raised beds 

 under frames. This is a good time to propagate Misseltoe from seeds, 

 which should be pressed into cracks of the bark on the under sides of the 

 branches and carefully protected from birds. Many fail in propagating this 

 shrubby parasite owing to the latter precaution not being taken ; and an- 

 other source of failure results from gathering the berries at Christmas 

 when in an unripe state. Sow seeds of all kinds of annuals, biennials, 

 and perennial herbaceous plants, either in the open air or in pots or boxes 

 in heat. Finish layering deciduous trees, and also evergreens for planting 

 in autumn. Finish sowing tree-seeds of all kinds, and clean the one-year- 

 old seed-beds from weeds. 



Plant and Fruit Houses. Seeds and cuttings of all stove and green- 

 house plants may now be put in, if not done already. Graft or inarch 

 Vines where requisite and not already done. This is generally done on 

 the old wood, but whip-grafting of young laterals succeeds well if care- 

 fully performed and a moist atmosphere is maintained. Where the growth 

 has commenced in Peach-houses, take the opportunity of inarching in 

 shoots on the main branches where requisite to fill blanks, if not done 

 already. Capsicums, Cucumbers, Melons, Tomatoes, &c., for successional 

 crops, may now be sown, or cuttings may be taken from Cucumbers sown 

 in January, as these fruit quicker than seedlings. Propagate Poinsettias, 

 Euphorbias, Justitias, Aphelandras (seed), Fuchsia, Sparmannia, Chry- 

 santhemum, and other autumn and winter blooming plants from cuttings 

 in heat. Aralias, Ipomaeas, Bignonias, and other plants difficult to strike 

 from cuttings, may now be grafted in heat on pieces of their own roots or 

 the roots of an allied species. Sow seeds of Primula sinensis, Calceolaria, 

 Balsams, Celosias, Globe Amaranthus, &c., in heat. Graft Dahlias, Tree 

 Peonies, &c., by inlaying young shoots on rooted pieces of the old tubers. 

 The Tree Peony succeeds well on the fleshy roots of the hardy herbaceous 

 kinds. Potatoes may now be spliced, or eyes may be inlaid, on old tubers 

 of other kinds for experimental purposes. Ring the stems of leggy Dra- 

 caenas and Yuccas, and surround the incision either with damp moss or soil, 

 so as to facilitate the emission of roots, after which sever entirely and pot off 

 in the usual way, leaving the old stumps to produce cuttings if required. 

 Aralia cuttings may now be inserted in well-drained pots. Cut the stems 

 to single eyes, leaving a leaf to each, and insert at once in a close case on 

 a gentle bottom-heat. Crotons, Stephanotis, and Hoya also root well 



