190 Horticultural Operations for April. 



fine Winter Nelis pears. From A. W. Stetson, Black Hamburgh and 

 Sweetwater grapes, cut in September, in good preservation. From S. 

 Downer, Jr., very fine Easter Beurre and Epine Dumas pears. From Mrs. 

 Spaulding, South Reading, Belle Epine Dumas, and a baking pear, without 

 name. 



January 29th. Exhibited. — Fruit: From S. Walker, extra large and 

 fine Baldwin apples, also White Seek-no-Further. From A. W. Stetson, 

 Isabella and Catawba grapes, retaining their flavor in a remarkable degree. 



Vegetables : From Jona. French, forced asparagus, very fine. 



HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS 



FOR APRIL. 

 FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



The month of March has, with one exception, been mild and pleasant ; 

 with but little rain or snow, and at the present time the season appears 

 much more forward than the average. The night of the 15th was extreme- 

 ly cold, with a very high wind, and the thermometer at 8*^. But it was of 

 so short duration that it did little or no injury to vegetation. The frost was 

 all out of the ground by the 20th, nearly three weeks earlier than last year. 



Grape vines in the first house will now require more attention. The 

 fruit will require thinning by this time, and this should be attended to and 

 carefully done ; shoulder up the branches, and top all laterals two or three 

 eyes beyond the fruit. Damp the walks freely in all good weather. Vines 

 in the greenhouse will now be in full bloom ; raise the temperature slightly, 

 and be rather sparing of water, until all the berries are well set ; shake the 

 Muscat of Alexandria, and other sorts Avhich do not set freely, in order to 

 distribute the pollen. Keep all the shoots tied to the trellis ; and top two 

 or tliree eyes beyond the fruit. Vines in cold houses should now be taken 

 up to the trellis ; keep an even and not too high a temperature at the com- 

 mencement, as it may prove injurious if cold weather should set in after- 

 wards ; air freely, and close up early in the afternoon ; syringe in good 

 weather. Vines in the open ground should now be pruned, if not done be- 

 fore ; they will bleed some, but not to do any material injury. 



Peach Trees in pots, now swelling their fruit, should be liberally wa- 

 tered. Give an abundance of air in fine weather. 



Currants, Gooseberries and Raspberries, should be planted now ; 

 prune, dig, and dress old beds. 



Scions of fruit should be cut immediately, as it will soon be too late. 



Strawberry Beds should be uncovered now ; clean out, and prepare 

 the beds as early as convenient. If the ground wants manure dig it in 

 between the rows. 



Fruit Trees should be planted this month ; finish pruning now, if pos- 

 sible ; graft all sorts of trees, beginning with the cherries. Manure, dig, 

 and put in order all plantations of trees, — the earlier the better. 



