APRIL. 
7 
prevent them being broken off by high winds, 
and pay particular attention to catching mice, 
which are often very obnoxious, and do much 
harm to Crocuses and Snowdrops. Towards the 
latter end of the month plant out Sweet-peas 
and other annuals which have been raised in 
pots. Protect them with evergreen boughs if 
the weather should make it necessary. 
APRIL. 
Plant-houses. 
Orchid Houses.—This is a busy month 
with all gardeners, as so many plants require 
attending to. In this department there is much 
necessary work, caused by the rapid growth 
and development of plants under the fostering 
influence of increased sunshine and longer days. 
Coelogynes will have finished their flowering 
period, and therefore will either need potting 
or fresh surfacing. Those of the cristata type 
do best in baskets suspended from the roof. 
Many of the Cypripediums and Dendrobiums 
will also need repotting as they start into fresh 
growth; as will likewise Epidendrums, Masde- 
vallias, Phaius, Sobralias, &c. The two last- 
named require rather large pots, and should be 
grown in a mixture of turfy loam, peat, leaf-soil, 
and sand. The pots should be well drained, as, 
during the growing season, these plants consume 
abundant supplies of water. The former does 
well in the hothouse or any place where it 
can have bottom heat. Shade, however, is 
necessary, or the leaves may scald. Vanda teres 
will now be showing flower and should be shaded 
from the sun. Any of the other species that 
need potting should be looked to, as, if left to 
themselves, they are apt to become leggy. 
Attend to Cattleyas, and repot or surface any 
which are commencing growth. As the weather 
becomes milder there should be a free circula¬ 
tion of air, but cold draughts must be carefully 
avoided. The Odontoglossum house will not 
need fire-heat, unless an occasional frosty night 
should make an exception. Keep the stages, 
paths, and pots well moistened by damping 
down two or three times daily. The plants 
may also be syringed both morning and evening. 
If the sphagnum is growing well, it may be 
taken as a sign that the plants are receiving 
the right treatment. The Dendrobium house 
requires to be kept at a temperature of 70° at 
night during mild weather, but may be allowed 
to fall 5° or 10° if the season is cold, as too 
much fire-heat is harmful, and encourages insect 
pests. The plants in active growth may be 
watered from above with a rose. Shade from 
the direct rays of the sun, but raise the blinds 
as soon as the sun is off them, in order that its 
rays may keep up the temperature of the house. 
Hothouse. —The greater part of the potting 
in this department will have been finished, ex¬ 
cept in the case of young plants that have been 
propagated from cuttings or seed. Do not on 
any account allow these to become either pot- 
bound or overcrowded in the seed-pans, for if 
either of these contingencies arise, the plants 
will become stunted in their growth or spindly 
while young. 
All seedlings should be kept as near the glass 
as possible, and those newly placed in small 
pots should be kept close and shaded from the 
sun. 
Pot up Achimenes, Gesneras, and Gloxinias, 
and start them into growth. Continue to pro¬ 
pagate such plants as Euphorbia jacquiniceflora, 
Ixoras, Begonias, TEschynanthus, Acalyphas, 
Dracaenas, Coccocypselum discolor , Pandanus, Gar¬ 
denias, and Thyrsacanthus rutilans, as many of 
them will be useful either in producing a supply 
of flowers or furnishing plants for house deco¬ 
ration. Shade will be needed whenever the sun 
is bright, and this will prevent the necessity of 
too much watering. Keep the syringe well at 
work amongst the foliage, in order to destroy 
all insect pests. The temperature should vary 
from 65° at night to 85° by day under sun- 
heat. 
Intermediate House. —Rhododendrons of 
the Javanicum type will now need special care. 
They must be potted firmly in peat, and after¬ 
wards carefully watered. Streptocarpus will now 
be in bloom, and if seed is needed, the flowers 
must be kept dry. Pot on seedlings as they 
get large enough. Many palms will also need 
looking after, as thrips are nearly certain to make 
an appearance. Air should be admitted liberally 
on all favourable occasions. The temperature 
should range from 55° at night to 65° or 70° 
by day. 
Forcing House. —Sow seeds of Ricinus, 
Tobacco, Solanums, and other plants of orna¬ 
mental foliage, to produce, early in the month, 
plants for use in sub-tropical gardens later on 
in the year. If these are grown on in a brisk 
heat till the middle of next month, and then 
gradually hardened, they will become large 
plants by the time it will be advisable to plant 
them out. It will not be necessary to introduce 
any more hardy shrubs to be forced into flower- 
