230 



HORTICULTURE. 



Seasonal Notes for Aprii. 



. By H. F. Macmillan. 

 Illustrated. 



Rainfall averages in inches.— Peradeniya 9*61 ; Colombo 11*03 ; Ratnapura 

 12'91 ; Galle 10'24 ; Trincomalie 2'00 ; Jaffna 2*35 ; Annradhapura 7'26. 



The commencement of the April rains should mark practically the starting 

 point of the year's work in low-cOuntry gardens. Although planting and sowing 

 operations should in general be deferred till the approach of the south-west mon- 

 soon, due towards the end of May, the requisite preparations should now be put 

 in hand. The soil will be all the better for being tilled sometime previous to being 

 used, so that digging, trenching, &c., must now begin. It is well to prepare for 

 the torrential showers which are characteristic of this season, and to provide for 

 the safe escape of excessive rain water. All drains, cnl verts, catchpits, See., should 

 be examined and freed from the accumulation of leaves and rubbish which the 

 late winds are likely to have caused ; neglect of this precaution may involve serious 

 and snclden damage to roads and paths. As soon as the ground becomes softened 

 by the rain, dig all beds and borders as deeply as circumstances will allow, turning 

 the surface soil well under and breaking up large clods. For this purpose a strong 

 digging-fork should be used, employing a mammoty only in places where there 

 is no danger of damaging roots and bulbs. 



Flower Garden. — Tillage and manuring are as essential here as elsewhere, 

 for without both a fine floral display need not be expected. No time should be 

 lost in taking up Cannas, Oaladiums and other tubers, and digging the beds or 

 borders to not less than fifteen inches, at the same time mixing a liberal quantity 

 of manure with the soil. It is only by such treatment as this that Cannas especially 

 will produce the fine effects they are capable of. Prepare beds similarly for seeds 

 of showy annuals, bringing the surface to a fine tilth, and placing thereon a layer 

 of finely-sifted leaf-mould. Propagate in a sheltered corner cuttings of such plants 

 as Coleus, Salvia, White Vinca, Iresine, &c, to be in readiness for planting out 

 later. Seeds of such annuals as Gomphrena, Cosmos, Torrenia, Helianthus, &c, 

 may now be sown, and later, when the heavy April showers are past, the more 

 tender annuals as Balsams, Zinnias, Marigold, Phlox Drummondi, &c. Avoid the 

 common mistake of sowing seeds too thickly. Seedlings should have sufficient 

 room to develop into strong healthy plants, otherwise their blossoms will be poor 

 and of short duration. Do not imnecessarily disturb the roots of Hippeastrums, 

 Eucharis and similar bulbous plants (so-called " lilies "), but place liberal quantities 

 of decayed manure round these when opportunity offers. Many of the ornamental 

 shrubs and climbers will now require to be pruned or thinned out. White-ants 

 will become active in wet weather, and persistent effort should be directed against 

 them. Each nest should be dug up and the queen-ant destroyed. If available 

 pour a small quantity of carbon bisulphide down the crevices and immediately 

 close up the latter ; this is considered the most effective means of destroying the 

 nests. Various other remedies have also been to some extent found effectual, 

 nuch as arsenic compounds, emulsified kerosine, and even plain boiling water. 



Vegetable Garden. — After the necessary preparation of the ground the 

 various native vegetables may be planted or sown. Plant out " sets " of yams 

 (Dioscorea) in rows four feet apart, and place supports for the vines, such as bamboo 

 tops, along both sides of the rows. Tubers or cuttings of Sweet-potato, Jerusalem 



