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158 
THE GAEDENERS' AND NATURALISTS' CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 
Z^ZC^3' 
advantage of increasing the depth of the soil, and being 
a means of drainage. Sow seed in nursery beds having 
a similar preparation. Sow an abundance of curled 
parsley. Ayres' Giant is a very superior kind. Sow 
Fennel, Borage, Marjoram, and other kinds of herbs. 
Make new plantations, if wanted, of Thj'me, Tansy, 
Tarragon, Eue, Sage, and all sorts of Mints. Sow 
seeds for late crops of Celery, and transplant those sown 
in February and March, four inches apart, in light, rich 
soU, and protect with frames. Stir the soil after water- 
ing. If the celery fly attack the plants, serve it a notice 
to quit, by taking up the plants and dipping them in 
tobacco water, and replanting them. Sow and plant 
out successional crops of lettuces twice a-month, and 
stir the surface of the soil amongst them as frequently. 
Keep up a supply of Radishes, Mustard, and Cress. 
The severe weather of last month will have consider- 
ably retarded the progress of most early crops ; there- 
fore extra attention will be required in the application 
of the means of promoting their growth. Let weeds 
be no sooner seen than destroyed ; and keep the surface 
of the soil continually porous among all crops, as this 
admits the free ingress of both air and rain. 
There is no one thing in kitchen gardening that re- 
quires more unceasing attention than the destruction of 
insect pests; for, TLotwithstanding the subjection under 
which most gardeners strive to keep them, but a month 
or two's neglect at this season will suffice for them to 
emerge, in myriads, into active existence, destroying in 
rapid succession Peas, Beans, Lettuces, Cauliflowers, 
young Broccolis, and the like crops, which, once de- 
voured, cannot at least be replenished this season, so as 
to come in at their respective seasons of maturity. 
Amongst the most destructive of all these may be men- 
tioned slugs ; and the following recipe, if properly fol- 
lowed up, will keep them under due subjection. In- 
spect all such crops, as above mentioned, early in the 
morning, and after every shower ; if any are perceived, 
strew lime over the whole surface of the ground on a 
sunny morning, and continue the dose uutU their ravages 
are stayed. 
WILD FLOWERS OF APRIL. 
The wild flowers to be met with this month may he 
divided into two classes — those properly belonging to 
April and the beginning of May, as the especial flowering 
months, and those which have a longer period of blos- 
soming lasting throughout several succeeding months, 
and now beginning to show their earliest flowers. 
Under the tu'st head come several of the Monocoty- 
Icdonous division, generally, as a whole, flowering earlier 
than the Dicotyledons. 
Oreliis niascula. 
Opkri/s aranifera. 
FfitiUaria Meleagris. 
TuUpa sifhestYis. 
Hyaeiii tli lis non-scrvptiis. 
Oniithogahini tonbcUatwn, 
Salix : many species. 
Beiida alba. 
Buxiis sempervirens. 
Mercwialis peremiis. 
Enipctrum nigrtim. 
Frimula elatior. 
Primula veris. 
Of the second class, a great number of plants ■noil be 
found in flower towards the end of the month, especially 
if the season be forward; among them may be noticed 
particularly those of the natm-al order Cruciferic, Saxi- 
frages, the species of Ji/ljcs, many of the Alsinaceous 
Cai'yopbyllea?, as Cerastiian, Stellaria., &c., Rosacea, 
especially the species of Fijrus, Fruniis, &c. Also, several 
Geraiuaceous, Leguminous, Labiate, and Eanuncu- 
laceous plants. 
Ci/clamen europceam. 
Veronica vcrna. 
Veronica- friphyllos. 
Scrophularia vernalis. 
Totentilla veriia. 
Holosteum umhcllatnm. 
Dcntaria bulbifera. 
Cardamine pratemis, 
Cardamine amara. 
Fraba aizoides. 
Anemone Fulsatilla, 
Anemone apennina. 
The field botanist wiU not, indeed, collect many 
plants to advantage in this month, since, for preservation 
in herbaria, the specimens are usually best gathered 
late in the season, as the later flowering examples are 
then met with in company with the fruit of the earlier 
individuals. But, putting out of consideration the de- 
lightful sensations derived from the contemplation of 
the renoAval of active life, which a stroll in the country 
at this season aifords, the botanist w^ill not find excur- 
sions altogether useless, even if he do not gather many 
flowers. Many points yet require to be cleared up, 
even with regard to common plants, as to characters of 
the vegetative portions of them when out of flower, the 
aspect and foliation of young specimens, the mode of 
propagation of the perennial herbaceous kinds, &c., 
which can only be inquu-ed into at this season. Of 
the Cryptogamic plants also, especially of Mosses, this 
month affords an abundant harvest. A. H. 
ANIMAL KINGDOM. 
Ornithology. — April, with its sunshine and its showers, 
brings to our shores a large portion of those little wan- 
derers who come to rear their young amongst our 
woods and flelds ; for although one or two may have 
been seen or heard during the last few days of March, 
still there is no general arrival until April has set in. 
The first heard is generally the Chiff Chaff {Sylvia 
/lippolais), kno^Ti by its peculiar notes, from which it 
takes its name — it frequents woods and plantations; 
then the "Wheat Ear {Saxicola ccnanthe), upon ploughed 
lands and commons; the "Wryneck {Ymix forqiiilla), or 
as it is often called, the Snake Bird, from the peculiar 
flexibility of its head and neck, amongst old fruit ti'ees 
in gardens and orchards. The call note of this bir'd is 
of so strange a character that it cannot fail to attract 
the attention of the most careless observer ; then follow 
in quick succession, the "Willow Warbler {Sylvia trochi- 
liis). Black Cap {Citrriica atricapilla), Garden Warbler 
{Ciirnwa Jiortensis),an<i'White Thi'oat {Ciirrtica cinerea'), 
they frequent the outskirts of woods, small plantations, 
and gardens. The "White Throat {Ciirruca cinerea'), 
may also be found pretty numerous on commons that 
are thicldy overgrown with furze, amongst which it 
may be heard repeating its short gnttm'al call notes. 
Rising at intervals for about a dozen yards in the air, 
it performs such grotesque and strange antics, as 
would put the most renouTied polka dancer to the 
blush ; during this performance, it utters the few short 
notes that compose its song — it is the most nmnerous 
of our summer birds. 
Then comes that queen of songsters the Nightin- 
gale {Fhilomela liiseinia^; she it is who makes our 
woods echo with her delicious melody. Who can name 
a greater treat, than to take one's seat on a stile or gate, 
on a calm moonlight night, upon the outskirts of some 
copse, or wood, which is the dwelling place of this bird of 
Paradise — for .such should have been its name — and 
there listen to such music poured from its little throat, 
as cannot fail to charm the most uncultivated ear. 
The Nightingale generally prefers those trees which are 
of a springy natui'e, taking u]) its abode near to some 
gurgling brook. 
The Swallow {Hiriindo rnstica^, Martin {Uirnndo 
urbica')^ Sand Martin {Flinindo riparia), and Redstai't 
{Flmnicura rtiticilla), also make their appearance this 
month ; the latter may be seen in orchards and parks, 
preferring open places to the thick cover of woods. 
The Cuckoo ( Ciwiiliis canorus) also comes to visit his 
old haunts at this time. Where is there a person who 
does not feel a sort of inward pleasme when he hears 
the Cuckoo's voice for the fb-st time in the season — 
green fields, and warm and shady lanes, scented with 
the White Thorn and the Blue BeU, such spots where 
lovers delight to roam, are brought to the mind's eye, 
