APRIL. 
125 
be amply repaid. In many parts of the country, Roses will require no 
farther pruning this season than cutting off the dead shoots; and as it 
will, in most cases, be readily seen now what is dead, this should be 
cut off at once, and where the pruning was not performed by the frost 
this should be finished. Sow hardy annuals at once; also biennials 
and perennials now or towards the end of the month. Greenhouse .— 
Many. of the specimens here will be coming into bloom ; and as the 
beauty of most of our finest New Holland and other plants will be but 
of short duration if exposed to bright sunshine in a dry atmosphere, 
shading on the forenoons of bright days will be necessary', but this 
should be used sparingly, and attention should also be given to keeping 
the atmosphere moist by sprinkling the passages, &c., two or three 
times during bright drying days. Ventilate freely but cautiously 
during the prevalence of cold winds, and endeavour, by opening the 
ventilators on the sheltered side "of the house, only to avoid currents of 
cold dry air passing over plants in bloom or those making their growth.^ 
Look to last month’s directions as to the management of young stock, 
and endeavour to induce these to make free strong growth. Attend 
carefully to the watering of these and also the general stock, and be 
particularly careful not to allow any of the stock, and particularly large 
specimens, to get too dry during bright weather. Stove .—Keep a 
sharp look-out for insects of all kinds, and endeavour to eradicate these 
immediately they are perceived. Maintain a constant and abundant 
supply of moisture in the atmosphere, and syringe the plants freely 
overhead every afternoon, and play the syringe freely under the foliage 
of things which are known to be subject to red spider; but avoid touching 
Ixoras which are showing flower, for these are liable to drop their 
flowers if syringed after the heads are in a forward state. Ventilate 
freely on fine days, but avoid admitting cold drying winds, and shut 
up early in the afterno(ffi. Water carefully but rather freely, especially 
free-growing plants, as Clerodendrons. Attend to staking and training 
and stopping shoots which are overgrowing the others, and endeavour 
to keep all young-growing stock near the glass, so as to promote short- 
jointed strong growth. Shading will be necessary here soon if the 
weather proves bright, but use this as sparingly as possible. Attend 
to providing a stock of plants for autumn and winter blooming. 
Hardy Fruit .—If the directions previously given have been carried 
through, very little remains to be done in this department for the 
present. The most important thing is the protection of choice fruit- 
tree blossoms from spring frost; and if Shaw’s tiffany or Haythorn’s 
.hexagon net is used for protection, it may remain on the trees till the 
crop is safe. The fruit sets very well under this light material, 
especially if a space is left open at the bottom of the wall for the 
admission of air; but if any covering of a thicker texture is applied, 
it should be always removed through the day. Keep a close watch 
for the first appearance of green-fly on Peach trees, and destroy them 
by using common snuff and sulphur in equal parts; this may. be 
applied either with a dredge or sulphur bellows, and it is the safest 
thing to use at this early season, when the young fruit would be injured 
