136 
The Garden Magazine, April, 1921 
Annuals, such as Zinnias, Globe Amaranth, Miniature Sunflowers, 
African Marigold, Early Cosmos, Petunias, etc., may still be 
sown in the cold frame. 
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 close 
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 then 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 Lan- 
tanas 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 i\ 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. Cy- 
clamen 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 helpiul. 
Attend to cultivation of the soil, tying, staking, and thinning of 
shoots as occasion requires. 
Coming in May. The first of a series of articles 
on the general idea of "Living in the Garden”; and 
for the busy man who has a little farm “up in the 
country” a practical account of “Running an Or- 
chard from a City Desk.” Other features include 
“Ornamental Vines,” "Color Charts’for Gardeners,” 
“Dwarf Phloxes”. The cover design is Wisteria 
Bloom, by Herbert Brown. 
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 indulged with Tomatoes, 
though English forcing Melons and Cucumbers are the only choice. 
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 maybe grafted over to bet- 
ter varieties. In fact several varieties may be grown on the same 
tree in the case of Apple and Pear. This work should be done be- 
fore 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. 
Coming in June. “Irises” will dominate our 
June number. The leading article by Mr. J. (^. 
Wister tells the “History of the Iris in America. ’ 
Mr. Mitchell writes on “Irises in California.” There 
will be a “Planting Plan for a Garden of Irises” 
and other associated articles. Also, “Flower Con- 
tainers” and other discussions of the decorative 
uses of plants and flowers. 
