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Gardening for Amateurs 



Round the Year in the Garden; What to do 

 early in April 



AMONG THE FLOWERS 



PRUNING Tea Roses. The prun- 

 ing of Hybrid Perpetuals completed, 

 proceed with the Hybrid Teas, and 

 conclude with the Teas, which are least 

 hardy. Strong-growing Hybrid Teas may 

 be left about 1 foot in length, but 

 weaker shoots and weaker plants may be 

 cut harder. If Tea and China Roses 

 have been damaged by severe weather, 

 little pruning will be needed after the dead 

 or dying parts have been removed. Rose 

 beds and borders may be lightly forked over 

 when pruning is finished. 



Increasing Violets. Plants in frames 

 have now finished blooming, and may be 

 taken up. To provide plants for next winter 

 detach strong, rooted runners, and plant 

 these 9 inches apart in a semi-shady position 

 in fairly rich soil. During the summer give 

 water as required, moisten the plants through 

 a rosed can in the evenings of hot days, and 

 run the hoe between them frequently. 

 Good single varieties are Princess of Wales, 

 the Czar, and La France. Marie Louise, 

 Comte de Brazza, and Mrs. J. J. Astor are 

 fine double sorts. 



Planting Sweet Peas. Choose a warm, 

 showery day for planting out the Sweet 

 Peas raised in pots. The surface of the 

 trenches should consist of fairly light soil 

 without manure. Plant alternately 6 inches 

 apart in double rows, separating the roots 

 carefully where several plants are in one 

 pot. Place small bushy sticks to them at 

 once, and dust with soot and lime to keep 

 away slugs. 



Annual Sunflowers. Sow seeds of these 

 in suitable positions in the flower borders, 

 several in a group, placing the seeds about 

 15 inches apart. 



Preparing Empty Beds. Any beds that 

 are unoccupied at present, but in which it 

 is intended to put summer bedding plants 

 next month, should be prepared now. 

 Spread a good dressing of decayed manure or 

 leaf -mould over the surface before digging. 



Snapdragons. Plants from a sowing 

 made during the previous summer are now 

 ready to be transferred to their flowering 

 quarters in beds or borders. The chief 

 advantage summer-sown plants possess over 

 those raised in heat early in the year is 

 that they commence flowering earlier. 



Gutting Ivy. Ivy growing on walls 

 needs frequent clipping, but if it is cut hard 

 back every spring a lovely green mantle 

 will soon appear, and no further cutting 

 will be necessary until the following spring. 

 If not already done attend to the work 

 without delay. 



IN THE GREENHOUSE 

 Peaches. Continue disbudding and tying 

 in growths as advised last month. Syringe 

 the trees daily in the morning with soft water. 

 Commence thinning the fruits if the quantity 

 is excessive, removing all badly placed ones 

 first. Like disbudding, this work should be 

 done gradually to avoid the possibility of 

 check. Ventilate freely at all times, except 

 when cold winds prevail. 



Stopping Vines. The lateral shoots grow 

 rapidly, and the young bunches are soon 

 observable. The shoots must be stopped 

 at two leaves beyond the bunch. This 

 stopping causes sub-laterals to grow, and 

 these must be pinched at one leaf ; those 

 below the bunch may be rubbed out entirely. 

 This pinching or stopping should continue 

 as long as the sub-laterals continue to develop. 

 Lateral growths that do not possess bunches 

 must be stopped in the same manner. The 

 main stems of young Vines which have not 

 yet filled their allotted space should be 

 allowed to develop to a length of 3 feet 

 before being stopped. Moisten the floor 

 and walls, and close the vinery early in the 

 afternoon. 



Propagating Begonia Gloire de Lor- 

 raine. Where cuttings are available, pre- 

 pare them in the usual way, by removing 

 the lower leaves and cutting beneath a 

 joint, insert them in light sandy soil, and 



