THE FLORIST AND POM.OLOGIST. 



pit will now supply Lilacs, Deutzias, Roses, and 

 numbers of other things, which will add to the gaiety 

 of the house and give a greater variety. A few Indian 

 Azaleas, Cinerarias, and Pelargoniums should also 

 be introduced. Camellias and Acacias will now re- 

 quire liberal supplies of water. Regulate and attend 

 to climbers as they advance in growth. See that all 

 plants are clean and free of insects. 



Greenhouses. 

 Haedwooded Plants. — Presuming that soil, pots, 

 crocks, and everything have been gotready as directed 

 last month, proceed, with the shifting of the plants 

 with all the despatch possible, potting first those that 

 require it the most. Be careful to drain the pots well 

 with broken crocks, and in potting to press the soii 

 firm. After they are potted they will not require 

 much watering until they begin to root into the fresh 

 suil ; the house Should be kept rather close for a week 

 or two. In flue weather the plants may bo syringed 

 occasionally. Ventilate cautiously, avoiding cold 

 draughts until they are re-established. Softwooded 

 Plants.— Pelargoniums.— These will now require a 

 good deal of attention. Thin out all the small weak 

 shoots, and tie out to admit the air freely. Water 

 well when they require it; give air freely in the fore- 

 noon of fine days. As the plants will now begin to 

 grow fast, the temperature at night should not fall 

 much below 50°, and during the day it should be 60°, 

 with an increase by sun heat. Scarlet and variegated 

 Pelargoniums intended for specimens for decorative 

 purposes should, now be potted in a good rich soil, 

 and should be encouraged to grow. Cinerarias. — 

 As these are very subject to green fly, attend well to 

 fumigating. Ventilate freely, and give them plenty 

 of water. Sow seeds and attend to the young plants 

 when up ; they will be useful for autumn and winter 

 flowering. Calceolarias— Water freely and give 

 plenty of air. Shift for succession. Fuchsias.— These 

 will now bo growing freely, and should be kept 

 tolerably warm. Stop all long shoots to form com- 

 pact, bushy plants. Syringe every fine afternoon. 

 They should be well watered when the pots begin to 

 get full of roots. Shift young plants for late blooming. 



Stove. 



Stove plants of all kinds do best wilh bottom heat, 

 and should, if possible, have it. The plant*. that were 

 started last month will now he growing fast. Syringe 

 them daily, and shift into larger pots when they re- 

 quire it. Strong-growing plants should have a large 

 shift, and when tiiey begin to root freely into the 

 fresh soil they will require liberal supplies of wafer. 

 Ventilate freely when the weather pennitfl-, and 

 maintain a moist growing atmosphere by sprinkling 

 the paths, walks, &c, with water. Spare no pains 

 to keep the ; hints clean and free of insects. 



Flower Garden. 

 Plant herbaceous plants. Dig and dress borders. 

 Prune Roses. Tie-up creepers and twining plants. 

 Attend well to the " bedding " plant;-, and increase 

 anything that you be short of. Pot-off cuttings and 

 place them in a pit or frame where they can be kept 

 close until they get properly established in their 

 pots, when they should be hardened-oif carefully. 

 Pleasure Grounds.— After the extraordinary open 

 winter we have hid, so favourable for ont-door 

 operations, little in the way of planting should now 

 remain to be done. The laying of turf, sweeping &nd 

 rolling of grass, edging of walKs, turning of gravel, 

 and similar operations should nor/be pushed forward 

 and brought to a close, so as to give a neat and 

 finished appearance to the grounds. 



Forcing. 



Fruit. — Pine Apples. — For fruiting plants the 

 directions given la*t month are applicable this. Take 

 advantage of fine weather to shift the whole of the 

 young stock. If the tan or leaves, or other means of 

 furnishing bottom heat require renewing, this will be 

 a favourable opportunity for doing so. When potted, 

 tbey should have a bottom heat of about 85°; they 

 should be kept close until they begin to root into the 

 fresh soil and begin to grow, when air should be j 



given freely ; they will then require liberal supplies 

 of water. Vines.— When the Grapes in the early 

 house begin to colour, etase sprinkling the paths 

 with water and kpep a dry atmosphere ; give an 

 abundance of air. For second house see directions in 

 last Calendar for early house. In the later house 

 attend to the trimming, stopping, and tying-down of 

 the shoots. Peaches and Nectarines'. — Thin the 

 fruit well before they get too large. Attend re- 

 gularly to the disbudding of the shoots. Syringe the 

 trees once or twice daily. Ventilate freely in fine 

 weather. Give the borders a good soaking of water 

 when they require it. P'igs. — Attend to the thinning, 

 stopping, and regulating of the shoots. Syringe once 

 or twice daily, and keep a moist atmosphere. Plants 

 in pots and tubs should be occasionally watered with 

 liquid manure. Cherries.— Whin the fruit is stoned 

 increase the temperature to 55° by night and 65° by 

 day. Syringe daily and attend well to the watering. 

 Ventilate freely. Caterpillars sometimes eat the 

 young leaves ; they should bo well looked for. 

 Strawberries.— Plants swelliiig-off their fruit should 

 be kept close and warm, and well watered. Plants 

 in flower must have an abundance of air, otherwise 

 they will not set freely. The night temperature 

 should not exceed 50°. Introduce a fresh batch of 

 plants once a-fortnight Melons.— Plant out on well- 

 prepared beds the plants raised last month. See they 

 have a bottom heat of 80°. Give air cautiously in 

 cold weather. Sow some Green-fleshed sorts for 

 succession. 



Vegetables. 

 Asparagus, Sea-Jcale, and Lthubarb. — Asparagus 

 should have plenty of air and light to come good. 

 Keep up a succession by introducing fresh roots. 

 Kidney Beans. — With the increase of solar light and 

 heat these will now grow stronger than during tho 

 winter months. They will require to be syringed 

 carefully and to be well attended to in -watering, 

 keeping a succession by sowing when required. 

 Potatoes. — Give the early crops plenty of air, and 

 water them well when they require It. Plant for a 

 succession. Mustard and Cress. — Sow once a-fort- 

 night. Tarragon and Mint.— Vat a few roots into 

 heat. Capsicums and Tomatoes.— Sow, and when up 

 pot-off. Cucumbers. — When the bed is in a fit state 

 put out the plants raised last month. Attend carc- 

 luily to them. Earth-up as they require it, and stop 

 and peg down the shoots when in fruit. Sow for later 

 crops. 



Hardy Fruit. 

 It is very probable that after the mild winter we 

 have had we shall have a cold and unfavourable 

 spring. All pruning and nailing, if not already done, 

 should be finished at once. Materials for protecting 

 wall trees must, be gotready and put up when wanted. 

 Mulch well all newly-planted trees. Graft-Bg may 

 bo performed any time this month. 



Kitchen Garden. 

 The season for active operation has now arrived, 

 and every advantage should be taken of favourable 

 weather and a good state of the ground to get seeds 

 sown. Autumn-* Own Cauliflowers, Lettuces, Cab- 

 bages, and Onions. — Plant out. Potatoes.— Plant all 

 the early kinds. Asparagus.— Make new beds either 

 by sowing the seed or planting seedling plants. 

 Artichokes.— Dress by removing some of the suckers 

 and by levelling and "digging the ground between tho 

 plants. Onions. — Sow at the beginning: of the month 

 for the general crop. Carrots and Parsnips.— Sow 

 for the main crop. Ttimips.— Sow a few ior early 

 usa. Spinach. — Sow a little Round for early use. 

 1'eas and Beans. — Sow twice during the month. 

 Brussels Spirouts, Broccoli, Savoys, Cauliflowers, and 

 Lettuces.— Sov? on a warm sheltered border. Cab- 

 bages. — Sow for autumn and winter use. Ma dishes. — 

 Sow. Curled Parsley— Sow a good breadth. LeeJcs. 

 —Sow any time during the month. Salsafy and 

 Scorr-onera.—tU>\v towards the end of the month. 

 Putin cuttings of Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Savory, 

 &c. Cut and trim Pox-edgings, Dig the" fruit-tree 

 borders if not already done, and give everything a 

 neat appearance.— M. S. 



