The Garden Magazine, April, 1922 



95 



tained, they become indispensable as an adjunct to the greenhouse 

 for hardening off stock prior to planting out. 



Harden all early planted material by giving plenty of ventilation on 

 all favorable occasions. With longer days and more sun power, 

 water will be required in greater quantity. Water thoroughly, 

 too, avoiding the "little and often" plan which dampens the sur- 

 face soil, whilst the roots of the little plants underneath are dry. 



Provide plenty of covering when a cold night is expected. Weeks of 

 hard work can be undone by one belated cold spell. 



Pansies, Myosotis, Daisies, Canterbury-bells, Aquilegias, Foxgloves, 

 etc., carried over winter in coldframes, to be got into the beds of 

 borders they are to occupy to give space in the frames for other 

 purposes. 



Annuals, such as Zinnias, Globe Amaranth, Miniature Sunflowers, 

 African Marigold, Early Cosmos, Petunias, etc., may still be 

 sown in the coldframe. 



A mild hotbed made up at this time is about the best possible place 

 to grow on Geraniums and other low-growing bedding plants 

 that are making a great demand on the bench space in the green- 

 house. With four or five inches of soil and the pots plunged to 

 the rims, the gentle heat will set them growing apace. Keep closed 

 for the first few days; then give air whenever possible. 



Don't allow any crowding of the young plants in the frames, or weak, 

 drawn stock will result. If in pots, take out every other row, 

 erecting a temporary frame for them rather than crowd. Seedlings 

 to be pricked-out into other frames (or planted into flowering 

 quarters if their hardiness justifies it) for the same reason. 



The Greenhouses 



Plants of every description now require increased water and ventilation. 



Lightly shade Palms and Ferns to prevent burning. 

 Pot-on plants that need more root space; and particularly bedding 



stock, which may then be transferred to a mild hotbed (see under 



"Frames"). 

 Hardy Annuals, started early and pricked-off into flats, or potted, 



may go to coldframes to make room for other stock. 

 Cuttings may still be made of Coleus, Petunias, Ageratums, Achy-- 



ranthes and other bedding plants. Top-back the more advanced 



plants to make them sturdy and bushy, and root the tops. 

 Sow tender Annuals to prick-off when large enough to handle, and then 



transfer to coldframe. 

 Calceolarias and Cinerarias, now coming into flower, to be kept free 



from insect pests. 

 Hanging baskets for porches, etc., to be filled now, and hung in a cool 



house until they go to summer quarters. Weeping Lantanas are 



useful for these baskets. 

 All early flowering shrubs that are being forced should be placed in a 



cool house when in full flower. Bulbs of such Lilies as speciosum, 



if potted or planted in benches, will flower before those outdoors. 



Continue planting at intervals cold storage bulbs for a succession 



of bloom throughout the summer months. 

 Fern spores to be sown now on sand or very fine soil in a warm, moist 



house; give a position somewhat shaded. 

 Annuals for outdoor cut flowers may still be sown indoors. Pot-up 



Cannas that have been started in sand. Keep growing without a 



check Asters sown for early use. Maintain a buoyant atmosphere 



in the house containing the bedding plants if it is not convenient 



to make up a mild hotbed for them. 

 Poinsettias placed in a warm house will soon throw out young shoots 



for cuttings. Root these in coarse sand in a warm propagating 



bench. 

 Petunias for late use may still be rooted from cuttings. Small plants 



of Lobelia speciosa, may be potted-on for filling vases at the end 



of next month. 

 Bouvardia, rooted early and potted into 2\ inch pots may be set into 



frames, and either grown on there, or set in the open ground as 



soon as all danger of frost is past. 

 Young plants of French Hydrangea may be moved to frames to 



harden-off and planted out to make fine plants by fall. Cycla- 

 men to be kept growing in a cool, partially shaded position. Feed 



with liquid manure Hydrangeas to be in flower for Memorial Day. 

 Propagate Dahlias from cuttings from old plants started into growth 



on a sunny bench in a. cool house. 

 Plant outdoors during dull or showery weather rooted runners of Violets. 



Avoid wide fluctuations of temperature in the Sweet-pea house at 

 this time. If buds are dropping look carefully to the watering. 

 Acid phosphate (an ounce to a gallon of water) is often helpful. 

 Attend to cultivation of the soil, tying, staking, and thinning of 

 shoots as occasion requires. 



Roses that are not producing well may be thrown out, the house 

 cleaned down, and a new lot of plants put in. If the cropping 

 system is practised, pinching should be done about the middle 

 of the month for a crop at the end of May. Water more freely 

 and syringe often enough to keep red spider under control. Liquid 

 manure may be more freely given. Pot-up Rambler Roses for 

 next year's use. 



Continue rooting Chrysanthemums, pot-on early rooted ones as they 

 show need. Avoid any check in growth through becoming pot- 

 bound. 



Carnations in benches will be benefited by a mulch of half manure 

 and half soil to prevent the roots drying out too quickly, as they 

 are apt to do at this time of the year. Varieties with delicate 

 pink flowers will be better for a light shading on the glass — just 

 enough to break the direct rays of the sun. Young plants to go 

 to the frames to be hardened off previous to planting outdoors; 

 which, however, may be done soon after the middle of the month if 

 weather conditions permit. Turn over at the first opportunity 

 the soil to be put into the benches for the young plants. 



Snapdragons now need more water. Cuttings put into sand in March 

 will be rooted now, so place into small pots and keep potted-on 

 into the next size larger, and still another one larger yet, if they 

 make rapid growth. 



Clumps of Perennials that have been forced, to be planted out, as soon 

 as their usefulness is past, in a small nursery where they may re- 

 main for two years to recover. 



Fruits and Vegetables Indoors 



Prune out weak wood of fruits and start late trees into growth. Tap 

 smartly such pot fruits as may be in bloom to disperse the pollen 

 and ensure a good set. Give plenty of water to those that have 

 set their fruit, and syringe them each morning and not later than 

 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Peaches especially need a damp at- 

 mosphere; never tolerate anything approaching aridity after 

 blooming is over. Do not thin fruits until after the stoning period. 

 Disbudding the shoots is done by rubbing out every second growth 

 with the finger and thumb. 



Melons, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes for summer crops indoors to be 

 started. Personal preference may be followed with Tomatoes, 

 but with Melons and Cucumbers the English forcing types alone 

 can be used. 



Branches of Lilac bushes cut and placed in a warm room or greenhouse 

 will produce good flowers, but the color will be white irrespec- 

 tive of the normal color of the variety. 



The Fruit Garden 



Fruit trees that do not bear satisfactory fruit may be grafted over to 

 better varieties. In fact, several varieties may be grown on the 

 same tree in the case of Apple and Pear. This work should be done 

 before growth starts, and finished within a week after the buds swell. 



Planting of young trees to be completed as soon as possible. 



Plant Strawberries at once to start new plantations. Rake the mulch 

 from established beds, and dig in well-decayed manure between 

 the rows. 



Examine Peach trees for borers by removing six inches of soil from 

 around the base of the tree. Gum and "saw-dust" are the first 

 visible signs- of their presence. Clean these away, and run a 

 wire into the holes to kill the grubs. Repeat the examination a 

 week or so to get later attacks. 



Watch the Currants as the young leaves develop (especially near the 

 ground) for worms, spray at once as they appear, taking care to 

 wet the under side of the leaves. 



Watch for steel gray beetles on the Grape-vine leaves and pick them 

 off into a pan of kerosene. 



New plantations of Raspberries and Blackberries to be made as soon 

 as possible this month. Uncover and tie up to trellises or stakes 

 those that have been laid down or buried with earth during the 

 winter. 



