72 
OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
Mcany cultivators pot the major portion of their plants in the decline of February; 
others not till March ; but there are few who have not completed this process before 
the present month arrives. Early potting is manifestly injurious to plants. No 
sooner is it effected, than watering is commenced to a liberal extent, and many of 
them are thus supplied with a large quantity of liquid food while wholly unpre- 
pared for its absorption. A saturated soil is inevitably the consequence ; turgidity 
and disease are engendered in the plants ; and their growth (if death do not inter- 
vene) is invariably unhealthy. This is not an imaginary case. Thousands of 
tender exotic plants are annually destroyed by such treatment ; while the gardener, 
blind to the cause, still pursues the same routine, and of course similar results as 
regularly follow. 
Now, if the operation of potting were always deferred till vegetation had com- 
menced its annual growth, the above catastrophe would be wholly averted. Water 
might then be safely applied, as the plants would imbibe and evaporate it with all 
requisite facility. Nor would they receive any check by disturbance at this 
period, if the removal were skilfully and judiciously executed, and the congeniality 
of attendant circumstances regarded and secured. 
Another disadvantage which accompanies early potting, is the absence of any 
criterion for adapting the size of the pot to the future necessities and extension of 
the plant. A healthy-looking plant is generally placed in a large pot, and before 
it has begun to grow, the water which is administered accumulates about its roots, 
and causes sickliness ; while the large quantity of soil only aggravates the evil, and 
continues so to do until the whole of it is removed, and the plant placed in a 
smaller pot. By potting at the period we recommend, the appearance of the plant 
will pretty accurately indicate the nature and extent of its subsequent growth, and 
the size of the pot can be varied accordingly. 
Plants intended to adorn the beds and borders of the flower-garden during the 
summer, must now be reared, if the supply obtained by propagation in the autumn 
is inadequate. The employment of active heat for this purpose, has a decided 
tendency to cause deterioration ; but, at the same time, many plants will not flower 
sufficiently early, unless such means are adopted. Keeping both these circum- 
stances in view, some modification of the usual degree should be effected, that 
either extreme may be equally avoided. Those shoots which are produced without 
any stimulus, will always form the handsomest plants ; and where no heat is 
employed to strike them, their beauty will be decidedly augmented. 
The multiplication of all exotic plants may be commenced this month. The 
spring is the best season for propagating plants by cuttings for three reasons. 
First, because the young shoots are at this time ^in the most favourable state. 
Secondly, they do not require any artificial excitation. And thirdly, they are thus 
allowed the whole summer for development and maturation. Where, therefore, 
healthy and vigorous plants are desired, and economy is any object, — two points 
which must certainly rank conspicuously in every cultivator's attention, ^ — the work 
of propagation should be entered upon immediately. 
