APRIL. 
127 
plenty of water when young, but keep them as dry as possible as 
they approach maturity; give them abundance of air. Sow Capsicums, 
Tomatoes, Sweet Marjoram, Basil, and Celery. Sow French Beans, 
and attend to the watering of growing plants. Sow Cucumbers for 
ridges. Sow Mustard and Cress every ten days or so, according to the 
demand. Seakale will merely require covering to blanch. 
Forcing Hardy Shrubs. —Keep up a night temperature of about 
56° to 60°, and a day one of 76° to 80°. Give plenty of air at all 
favourable opportunities, carefully avoiding cold draughts. Syringe 
daily, and water freely when necessary. Those plants that are done 
blooming, which have been forced, should be kept under cover some¬ 
where until the return of fine weather. 
Fruit (hardy). —Pay great attention to the protection of the wall 
trees; it is a good plan to thin the blossoms, particularly when there is 
a great quantity. Apricots will, towards the end of the month, 
be set; they should be thinned if there be too many for a crop. 
Grafting should be completed as soon as possible. Fig-trees may be 
uncovered towards the end of the month. Mulch newly planted trees 
to keep them moist at root. Watch for insects, and use every means 
to keep them under. 
Greenhouse (Hard-wooded Plants'). —Some of the plants potted at 
the beginning of last month will require stopping and tying out. Cut 
back Epacrises and other plants that require it as they go out of bloom. 
See directions in last month’s Calendar. Soft-wooded Plants. —As these 
will now be growing rapidly, they will require constant attention in 
stopping, tying out, watering, &c. The moment green-fly makes its 
appearance fumigate with tobacco. 
Hollyhocks. —Strong plants may now be planted out to prevent their 
becoming pot-bound, which causes them to produce a premature spike 
of bloom. Late struck cuttings should be repotted into good rich soil, 
and grown under glass for a few weeks before turning out. 
Kitchen Garden. —If any circumstances have prevented the opera¬ 
tions of seed-sowing, or the transplanting of crops, no time should be 
lost in bringing up all arrears. All Cauliflowers and Lettuces that 
have been wintered in frames or sheltered situations should be planted 
out. Plant the general crop of Potatoes. Plant herbs. Broccoli of 
sorts. Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Lettuces, Savoys, Borecole, Brussels 
Sprouts, Spinach, Turnips, Beet, Carrots, Salsafy, Scorzonera, 
Celery, Parsley, &c., should now be sown. Peas and Beans sow for 
succession; also Mustard and Cress; likewise Radishes. Earth up 
Cabbages. In dry weather hoe among crops. Use every endeavour 
to keep down insects, which if once suffered to get ahead at this season 
will do a great deal of injury. 
Pansies. —These will now have commenced flowering, and should 
large flowers be required for exhibition, those now expanding should be 
gathered to increase the size and quality of the after flowers. This 
process strengthens the flowers very much. If they are grown only to 
make the borders gay, the earlier they are in bloom the better. 
Peach-forcing. —Attend to the tying down of the shoots as soon as 
they are sufficiently long. Attend to the thinning of the fruit; do not 
