SEASONABLE GARDENING HINTS.-APRIL. 
79 
1868. J 
must first consider wliat he wants, because the plants require a good deal 
of space, while perhaps not one may show the desired improvement, and not 
one in forty he anything beyond a weed, or fit only for bedding-out. If, 
moreover, even a fair fruit is produced, our great authorities are careful 
about bringing out or encouraging any that do not excel our known sorts 
in some very useful point or appearance. Without this caution, indeed, 
we should soon be in the greatest confusion both amongst fruit and flowers, 
and even a good novelty would not be appreciated. We must, therefore, 
give these censors credit for their good offices, however much we may 
sometimes sigh over their decisions. 
Cliveden. John Fleming. 
SEASONABLE GARDENING HINTS.—APRIL. 
’HE propagation, potting, and forwarding of “ bedding ” plants should 
now be pushed on with all possible despatch, so as to have a fine 
stock of all kinds, when the time for planting-out arrives. Pelar¬ 
goniums should be encouraged to grow freely early in the month; 
they will then be good plants by planting-out time, and need not be 
pushed on at the last moment. Guttings of Verbenas put in at the beginning 
of the month will make good plants for putting out. Calceolarias, which 
are amongst the most useful of decorative plants, are the most easily 
wintered of all tender plants ; cuttings put into sandy soil under any old 
lights at the end of October or beginning of November, root and make fine 
plants with very little trouble. 
Plant houses should now have all the air possible; cold cutting winds 
should indeed be carefully guarded against, but when the weather is mild 
abundance of air should be given. Proceed with the potting of all plants 
that require shifting, taking care to perform the operation properly as 
recommended last month. For autumn and winter flowering, sowings of 
Cineraria and Primula sinensis should be made at the beginning, and again 
at the end of the month. The Cineraria seed being small, should be lightly 
covered; when put into a little heat it will soon germinate, and as soon 
as the seedlings are strong enough they should be pricked out into pans, 
and again put into a gentle heat; they will then soon be fit for potting off 
singly into small pots, and will require one or two shifts after this, and 
with attention will make fine plants for autumn and winter flowering. 
In hot weather shading will be necessary for a few hours in the middle of 
•the day to prolong the beauty of plants in flower. Liberal supplies of 
water must now be given to all plants making young growth—not merely 
just wetting the surface, as is sometimes done, but when the plants want 
water they should have sufficient to go through the whole of the soil in the 
pots, and they should not be again watered until they require it. As 
