'i'lIE GAKDENERS' AND NATURALISTS CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 
m 
ShnMcries. — If the planting or removing of ever- 
green shrubs has been deferred until this month (a 
practice which, with a few exceptions, cannot be recom- 
mended), the roots must be copiously supplied with 
■water at the time of planting, and the choicer sorts 
mulched. Rhododendrons are one exception; masses 
of these may be planted now. A splendid immediate 
effect is produced with these plants by raising a_ large 
mound of earth, and planting thereon; the eftcct is 
greatly increased by placing large masses of rock stones 
aroimd the base of the mound, and planting large bushy 
specimens on the ground level in front of the rocks ; and 
a few plants of Andromeda axillaris and Catesbcei in 
the mound, trailing over the stones, produces a fine 
effect. I have proved the latter end of this month 
(April), and all the next, to be an excellent time for 
removing large specimens of Hollies. J. C. E. 
Auriculas. — These are now fast coming into bloom, 
and require every care and attention. The trusses must 
be thinned of any deformed pips, or where too great a 
quantity exist, to give uniformity and beauty to the 
truss. A slight shade of calico, or some other Ught ma- 
terial, will be very useful in prolonging the season of 
their flowering. A little weak nianm-e water wUl, at 
this time, be found beneficial. Seed should now be 
so^^^l in shallow pans, lightly covered with fine soil, 
and placed in gentle heat till up. 
Carnations and Picotees. — Those gi-owing in pots will 
require to have the earth in which they are potted 
stirred up, and a little new added. See that they are 
free from wire-worm, or slices of potatoes placed in the 
soil will be found the best means of entrapping them. 
"Watering with lime-water will prove of great .advan- 
tage in bringing worms to the sm-face of the soil, and, 
by examination, the pots may soon be fi-eed of these 
troublesome inti'uders. 
Dahlias. — Roots of these not required for forcing, 
may now be planted five feet asunder, and three or four 
inches deep in the open ground. Those in heat must 
have the cuttmgs taken off as they attain sufficient 
length, to be struck in bottom heat ; and when rooted, 
potted off^, and repotted as they may requii-e it. Water- 
ing, shading, and giving aii-, must not be omitted. 
Where the plants are weak and spindling, time will 
be saved by striking the tops, as they will make better 
plants for blooming than those struck early, imless they 
have been growing on. Seedlings^ where there is suffi- 
cient space and time, should he potted off singly into 
small pots ; but where this cannot be done, they should 
be planted round the edges of 6-inoh pots, which will 
strengthen them for theu" final honi.e. 
Pansics growing in pots, under glass, require plenty 
of air and water, and will be greatly benefited by a 
little liquid manure once a- week. Side shoots should 
now be taken off and struck, which will make fine 
flowering plants to succeed those now^ in bloom. Those 
in beds must be secured from wind, the soil loosened, 
and top-di'cssed with rotten mamn'e. Slugs will be 
found troublesome ; to entrap which, place a few let- 
tuce leaves about the beds, and examine of a morning. 
Pinks qnd JJalhjJioclcs. — Attend to the directions 
given last month. 
Pohjanthuses. — Protect from hail-storms and cold 
winds. Attend to the seedlings, marking only those 
possessing all the desired properties. 
Phloxes. — Plants 'of these, struck from cuttings, 
should now be repotted, and by degrees hardened off 
to their summer quarters. Older kinds, of which roots 
are growing in the open borders, may now be increased 
by di'i'ision. Attend to the potting off the different 
varieties of P. Drummondii, as soon as large enough to 
handle. 
Sanuncuhaes. — As these appear above ground, 
that they are not raisplaced by worms or other acci- 
dents. A watering of lime water will be found of 
advantage in bringing the worms to the surface. As 
soon as they are safely up, water occasionally with 
weak manure water, and loosen the soil. 
Tulips. — Protect from cold winds, hail-stoims, and 
fi-osty nights, by netting thrown over hoops, but suffi- 
ciently high to allow of light. Mats will also be re- 
quired w^hen the w'cather is severe, but then only, as 
the plants are growing fast, and are greatly injured by 
too much or too close coverings. T. B. 
FRUIT-GARDEN.— IN-DOOR DEPART- 
MENT- 
Pinery. — Dii-ectly the principal part of the summer 
crop are out of bloom, attention must be paid to their 
swelling, by removing all suckers except what are abso- 
lutely required for stock, and where particularly fine 
fruit is wished for, all should be removed. The fruit 
will require tying to a stake to keep it in an erect posi- 
tion, a circumstance of some consequence where hand- 
some fruit is the object. Means must likewise be adopted 
to increase the atmospheric moisture, which, if the house 
or pit is moderately light, wiU reqnii-e all yom diligcnca 
to keep it up to the proper pitch. We are not very 
partial to much syringing, and dislike raising steam, by 
poui-ing water on the hot sm-face of the heating appa- 
ratus. By far the best plan is to proride a constant 
supply of vapour, from evaporating pans or open cis- 
terns ; however, after a hot drying day, the syringe 
may be used with benefit ; our objection is to its indis- 
criminate use at all times, and states of the w^eather. 
Shut up early in the .afternoon, and if you have no 
means of aerating them through the night, give air 
slightly and early in the morning. Water now when 
either the bed or pots are the least dry, occasionally 
giving weak manure water; the night temperature 
may be 65 degrees, rising to 90 on bright days. 
Succession Plants.^ in pots, will have been potted ; if 
the bottom heat is somewhere about 85 or 90 degrees, 
and the top heat can be kept between 65 and 90, with 
a good supply of air and moisture, they will grow just 
as fast as you wish, particularly if in dung pits. If 
planted out, they will not make such rapid growth at 
first ; but when established in the free soil, will soon 
outgrow their pot companions, and theii" broad leaves 
and dark colour' will then show you they are in corur 
fortable quarters. As, in all cases. Pine plants should 
be raised as near the glass as is possible, it will be 
necessarj', during bright days in this month, to shade 
sligbtl}'", particularly if the houses are light j the culti- 
vator must be guided by this in applying his shading, 
bearing in mind it is far better to shade too little than 
too much. Four hours in the hottest day we consider 
sufficient, and a double net or thin canvass quite enough. 
Vinery. — Grapes beginning now to colour must be 
kept drier, and have as much air as can consistently be 
admitted ; the night temperatm-e may remain at 65 de- 
grees, unless you want to hurry your crop, when it 
may be raised a degree or two ; the finishing process 
would, however, (particiilarlj'' with Hamburg's,) go on 
all the better, with a tcniperatm'c of only 60 degrees. 
Take off all extra growth, and if red spider attack the 
foliage, coat over the pipes some dull day with a mix- 
ture of sulphm' and lime, adding a little size to make 
it adhere to the pipes. 
The second crop will now require thinning and the 
usual rOTitine of stopping, &c. In this and the houses 
now breaking, much care "svill be necessary, this severe 
frosty weather, to prevent the external air coming in 
immediate contact with the tender foliage. If no means 
are applicable to admit air, except by the upper sashes, 
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