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CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
The period of growth has arrived; use every means 
to facilitate the progress of vegetation under glass ; give 
a humid atmosphere, in plant-houses especially; admit 
air freely according to circumstances, and allow the 
entrance of as much light as the season will afford. 
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. 
Glass. 
Cherry Trees, in pots and tubs, are now about 
stoning ; be careful by a free admission of air, and only 
a moderately warm atmosphere, not to hurry them too 
much over this critical period of their growth ; supply 
the roots with weak liquid manure, and allow the free 
access of all the light they can have. 
Cucumbers may be watered liberally, have abundance 
of air, and plenty of bottom heat, under which circum- 
stances, if kept properly pruned, they will now bear 
freely. 
Figs. Water freely at the roots, and give liquid 
manure every day ; syringe in sunny weather ; as the 
young wood advances in growth, stop at about every 
four joints, this will expedite the growth of the fruit, 
and render the plants compact bushes. 
Peach-houses. The trees in this department must 
now have as much air as the weather will permit, if the 
fruit are stoning. 
Pineries. The plants in the fruiting department 
will now be rapidly swelling up ; give a very humid 
atmosphere ; a free circulation of air, and such assist- 
ance as is requisite to keep in a free growing state. 
Vineries. Stop, prune, tie in, and thin, when and 
where necessary, and allow the entrance of as much 
light as possible. 
Open Air. 
Apricot Trees will require looking over as soon as 
the leaves appear, and if the foliage is curled or webs 
are seen, caterpillars are secreted in the buds ; open the 
leaves and destroy them, or they will become trouble- 
some. 
Apple Trees. Look through the orchard at this 
time and see if there are webs formed amongst the 
young bursting leaves or flowers; if so, examine, and a 
number of small yellow caterpillars, marked with black 
lines are found ; they are the larvae of the green- veined 
white butterfly, (Pieris Crataegi,) which are often, during 
the spring, very troublesome. The perfect insect is 
about the size of the common cabbage-butterfly ; the 
wings are somewhat transparent, and of an uniform 
white colour, nerved with black. The caterpillars 
live in societies, under silken webs, in which they form 
little cases to secure tliem from the severe weather 
during winter. At the end of March or beginning of 
April, they begin to break these webs, and attack the 
young bursting buds ; every evening they return to their 
webs, and do not quit it on rainy days. The chrysalis 
is of a yellow colour, streaked, and spotted with black. 
Protect blossoms on wall trees with nets or other 
covering. 
Peas and Beans. Sow twice in the month. 
Potatoes. About the end begin to plant out the late 
crops. 
Cauliflowers. Towards the end, sow a little seed, 
to produce from October to Christmas ; and finish 
planting out those sheltered in frames. 
Kidney Beans. Sow about the end of the month 
on a warm border. 
FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 
Glass. 
Conservatory and Greenhouse. These structures 
will now be vei-y gay ; azaleas and other similar plants 
will be in bloom ; give a partial shade if the weather be 
very bright ; throw a little water on the floors, occa- 
sionally, to keep tlie air hunud, and they will continue 
much longer in perfection than under other circum- 
stances. 
In the Forcing Pits. Cuttings of various tender 
plants may be struck, so as to keep the house employed 
as the flowering plants, which have been forced, are 
removed. 
Cold Frames and Pits may be fully exposed, so 
that the plants can have the full benefit of the air ; but 
frost must he guarded against. 
Orchid-house. This is a busy time amongst 
orchids ; newly potting, re-arranging, starting into growth, 
and fixing the shading apparatus, are amongst the chief 
things now. 
Open Air. 
Mowing and dressing lawns, pruning, training, pre- 
paring beds in the flower-garden for receiving the plants 
for grouping, must now be attended to, without delay. 
FOREST DEPARTMENT. 
Nursery. Propagate by layers ; clean seed-beds ; 
continue to plant evergreens in damp weather. 
Sow various Forest tree seeds, as Acorns, Walnuts, 
Chestnuts, Beech, and the various species of Pinus. 
