THE GAEDENEES' AND NATURAIISTS' CALENDAR EOR APRIL. 
w 
the benefit of sun and air on all sides. Look well after 
all fast growing plants, as Clerodendrons, and mind 
they do not suifer for want of water and pot-room, and 
give them a gentle syringing over head about twice 
a-day in bright weather. AVakc up a few more Glox- 
inias, Gesueras, Achimenes, and Gloriosa superba. 
J. G. 
GREEJraOUSE HARD-WOODED PLAXTS. 
The house should now be gay with good plants of 
Eoronia pinnata, Hoveas, Acacias, Chorozemas, Gnidia 
pinifolia, many varieties of Epacris, Genistas, Pultena?as, 
&c., which, if well grown, will make a fine display. 
Any of the slow-growing plants that have not been 
potted must be attended to as they seem to requii-e it, 
which a careful obser\-er will soon find out. A few 
plants of Correas, of the best sorts, should be shifted, 
and placed in a good situation ; they wUl be very orna- 
mental next ^vinter. StypheUa tubrliora is also a nice 
plant for the same pirrpose. 
Gardoquia Hooherii is a beautiful plant for flowering 
during summer and autumn. To grow it successfully 
it should be kept in a moderate heat all %vinter, begin- 
ning with young plants every autumn, shifting and 
stopping them while gi'owing as they rec[uire it. Pot 
them into theii- flowering pots about the end of March 
or beginning of Apiil, and place them in the greenhouse 
after they have rooted into the new soil. Although it 
is now too late this season to make large specimens, still 
some healthy bushy little plants ■will come in very use- 
ful, if they are shifted and encouraged mth a little heat. 
They should not be stopped at all after they are placed 
in the greenhouse. 
jMu'belia speciosa (the purple-flowered kind) is rather 
a refractory plant to manage well; it does best in a 
sheltered, but light, part of the house ; be careful not 
to overpot it. The different sorts of Leschenaultias and 
Apheleses are very subject to a sort of green fly; it is 
so small that it generally escapes notice until it has 
done much mischief. The plants should be examined 
closely, and should any trace of the insect appear, they 
must be fumigated at once. Large specimens that are 
shou'ing bloom, if not already shifted, should be left 
until they commence a new growth after flowering, as 
disturbing them now would be likely to injure the 
opening buds. Towards the end of the month some of 
the earliest cut-back Epacris will be ready for a shift. 
After potting keep them a little close for a fortnight or 
so until they begin to grow, when they must have 
plenty of air to make them hardy enough to stand out 
of doors. 'WTiere practicable it is an excellent plan to 
put the smaller specimens into a three-light frame or 
similar situation ; they are more easily managed, and it 
gives room in the house for the larger and blooming 
plants. Do not stir the surface-soil about in newly- 
potted large plants, as it sometimes becomes so dry and 
dusty that the water will not pass through it ; for if one 
side of it gets quite dry, it is troublesome to bring it 
into proper condition again. We have lost many a fine 
plant from this cause. Some of the plants potted at the 
beginning of last month will require stopping and tying 
out. Attend to cutting in those plants that require it, 
as they go out of bloom. Hard- wooded plants generally 
thrive best in peat and sand, but for the stronger grow- 
ing sorts, such as Correas, Genistas, &c., about a third 
of turfy loam, and sometimes a little well-rotted leaf- 
mould, may be added with advantage. The finer rooting 
plants require the peat of a light texture and more sand. 
Azaleas. — The bloom buds of these will now be get- 
ting forward. If there is a good stock of such sorts as 
Lateritia, Gladstanesii, Prince Albert, Praestantissima, 
and some others of the same habit, part of them should 
be placed on the north side of a wall to retard their 
blooming, and they will succeed those left in the house. 
Plants that have been forced should have the seed ves- 
sels picked off; they should also be shifted if they 
reqiiire it, and, if possible, encouraged with a little 
heat. Pot those plants that do not show bloom, but not 
those that are going to flower. 
Camellias, Any plants that are wanted to bloom early 
next year, should now have a little extra heat to for- 
ward them. Keep them all as warm as possible with 
little air while making their aimual shoots, and do 
not forget to use the syringe freely in fine weather. 
Should the black fly appear on the young shoots, a good 
sjainging \vith tobacco water is the best remedy. A 
little light shading, on bright days, will do no harm ; 
but, if possible, do without it. 
Koutine. — Shading shoiJd be attended to when neces- 
sary ; the old-fa.shioned lights, glazed with small glass, 
require very little, but the large squares, now used, 
mostly require it ; say for plants in bloom, from about 
nine till three o'clock, and for these in a growing state, 
from ten tUl two. Look round in the middle of the 
day (in bright, dry weather) to see that nothing is suf- 
fering for want of water, and to sprinkle the shelves, 
floors, c&c. Clear away decayed flowers every morning, 
and change the places of the plants in the house occa- 
sionally. Syringe early in the afternoon in clear wea- 
ther, and do not give too much air. J. F. 
Hcatlu^-ij. — Complete the potting of large specimens 
as early as possible, taking care that the ball at the time 
is in a proper state as to moisture, and that the compost 
is not too dry. Place the soQ fu-mly in the pot, and 
drain thoroughly. During the present dry, parching 
weather, ventilate with caution, especially near recently 
potted specimens ; indeed, ventilation by the front sashes 
will be best avoided for the present, but give plenty of 
air by the top lights. Damp the house and stages 
between the pots, and syringe the plants lightly tn-ice 
or thrice a- week, if the weather is favourable. Guard 
against mildew, especially upon the more delicate kinds, 
such as E. propendens, JIassonii, and the like, as changes 
of treatment are very likely to generate it. Should it 
appear, dress the plants immediately with sulphur. 
Look carefully over the specimens, especially those 
which have not been potted, and see that they are in a 
proper state as to moisture, or the dry ^^■inds of April 
will soon tell tales upon them. If they do not seem in 
an uniform state of moisture, probe the ball down to the 
drainage, in two or three places, with an fron pin; give 
a thorough soaking of water, and, to make assurance 
doubly sure, place the pot in a feeder of water for a few 
hours, so as to thoroughly soak the drainage, where, 
frequently, many of the most active roots will be foimd. 
This minute inspection must be extended to every plant, 
and continued until you are convinced that the mass 
of earth in every pot is in a proper state of moisture. 
Newly potted specimens will also require similar atten- 
tion and care, but imtil the roots are in active growth 
avoid over- watering ; at the same time, when watering, 
take care that the water does not escape by the side of 
the pot, and without moistening the old ball. 
Some of the early kinds, as E. aristata, HartneUi, 
&c., win be showing colour ; and, where it is necessary 
to keep them for the May shows, it wiU be advisable to 
move them to a north pit, or even to place them be- 
hind a north wall on veiy wann days. Guard cau- 
tiously, however, against dust. Other kinds, as some 
of the ventricosas, vestitas, Cavendishiana, and the 
tricolors, may, for the purpose of forwarding them, 
reqmre to be kept rather warm. To bring a collection 
of plants, with a good head of bloom, to the day, re- 
quires considerable watchfulness, and is one of the 
secrets of success in competition, which can only be 
attained by extensive practice. 
Heath P/f.— Ventilate cautiously here for the pre- 
sent, until the plants get into free growth. Proceed 
Avith the potting, if not ali-eady completed. Guard 
against mildew. J* F. C. 
g-p=^fe^" 
i 
