32 
COMPANION TO THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 
Everything will how be on the move, and every spare moment will he 
occupied by work that must be done; those who have made use of their 
time during the dull months in getting things in order for these busy 
days will find the benefit of so doing. 
Greenhouse and Conservatory .—Here all will be very gay ; Cinerarias, 
Heaths, Azaleas, early Pelargoniums and other plants will now be in full 
bloom, and will give great brightness of colour, while Mignonette, Lily-of- 
the-Valley, etc., intermixed with them, will add fragrance to the house. 
The plants should not be overcrowded, and every attention should be 
given to ventilation and fumigating; the plants should be well syringed 
in fine weather, when there is no likelihood of frost. Large-flowering 
Pelargoniums will now make growth fast, and should be trained out as they 
grow. Weak guano-water may now be applied with good effect; the same 
applies to Cinerarias and other soft-wooded plants. It is better at this 
season, especially when syringing has taken place, to close the house early 
in the afternoon. 
Flower Garden .—The stock for bedding-out must now be hardened off 
for planting out; a cold frame from which the lights can be removed in 
all favourable weather will be the best place, and towards the end of the 
month we expose them altogether to the weather. All herbaceous borders 
should be carefully trimmed now, the larger tufts reduced, and everything 
made clean and neat, giving a top-dressing of rotted manure or leaf-mould. 
In the Rose-garden, the chief object will be to look after the maggot; 
there is nothing that can conquer it, but careful hand-picking, and time 
bestowed on it is not spent in vain. The season is favourable for out-door 
operations, and March dust has been plentiful. 
Florists’ Flowers .—Auriculas will now be in full beauty; shade from 
hot sun, and give abundance of air, and supply them liberally with water; 
put the protection over Tulip-beds, and see that Pansies in pots are care¬ 
fully weeded. Dahlias will now be making strong shoots; pot off when 
they are three or four inches high, and place them in heat, when they 
will rapidly take root. Pinks should be top-dressed, and Carnations and 
Picotees potted, using a good mixture of loam, well-rotted manure, and 
leaf-mould. The florist will now have constant enjoyment, and will be 
amply compensated for all previous trouble. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Received, the letters of C. T., J. A., G-. J., A. H., J. C., B. W., H., J. M., and 
S. R. H. 
C. T. will find some well-deserved strictures on R. H. S. in ‘Journal of Horti¬ 
culture.’ 
A. H. we thank for his kind expressions as to the value of the “ Companionwe 
have received many such. 
J. M.—Many thanks for your kind critique; we shall bear it in mind, as you will 
see by-and-by. 
“ Rosy Recollections ” will be continued in our next. 
