G8 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 27 . 
in dry weather, Wall-flowers, sow first crop, to bloom next year. 
Water-glass bulbs, plant in borders as flowers decay. Water over¬ 
head newly planted shrubs and trees, and see to the mulching. 
Watering, attend to in dry weather, especially to plants newly removed. 
At the commencement of this month, during showery weather, plant 
cuttings of Double Wall-flowers and Pansies , and divide the roots of 
Neapolitan and Russian Violets , transplanting in preparation for potting 
to flower in winter. Half-hardy plants may now be brought from the 
greenhouse, and their other winter shelters, and distributed in the borders. 
Mild moist weather is most suitable for this work. The more tender 
climbing annuals , such as Tropceolum uduncum and Convolvulus major , 
should not be planted out until the end of the month. Put in Slips of 
Double White and Purple Rochet , under hand-glasses, or near a wall on 
the north side. Cuttings of China Roses plant in a shady place. 
P. Beaton. 
GREENHOUSE. 
Air admit freely in good weather. If the house should be shut up in 
cold nights, give air the first thing in the morning; toward the end of the 
month leave a little air all night, increasing the quantity by degrees. 
Annuals, &c., bring in from pits and frames, when approaching the 
blooming state. Sow quick-growing ones, as Balsams ; and hardy ones, 
as Collinsias and Nemophilas , for succession. Mignonette, sow in 
pots, or in turf under protection, for succession. Achimenks, bring 
first or second lot from their winter quarters, and place them in pans in 
the front of a cucumber-pit, or under a handlight in the greenhouse. 
Balsams and Cockscombs must now be sown or potted ; the Balsams 
requiring less heat and more air than the Cockscombs. Cuttings, con¬ 
sisting of nice stubby side-shoots of young growth will now root readily in 
a mild bottom-heat. All bedding-out plants intended for the balcony or 
a small flower-garden may now be propagated very easily, if inserted in 
a bed of light soil over a little sweet dung, and a frame placed over them. 
All quick-growing things, such as Verbenas , Ageratums , and Calceolarias 
may thus be rooted with little trouble, and be fit for planting or potting 
in two or three weeks. Young shoots of Heaths , Epacrises , Azaleas , &c., 
may now be struck, inserting them in silver-sand, in pots well drained, 
and putting a bell-glass over them ; keeping them rather cool for a few 
weeks, and then giving them a little mild bottom-heat. The whole of 
this section must be treated as previously recommended, according as 
they are in bloom, have finished blooming, or have been cut down by 
pruning. Earth : stir the surface on pots and borders, and fresh 
dress where repotting or renewing the earth is not advisable. Sow seeds 
of the Orange or Lemon, andwvhen of a suitable size let them be grafted 
or inarched—perferring the former—and placing the plants in a moist 
hotbed; any stocks raised late last season may be used. For flower¬ 
ing in a dwarf state, and almost continuously, the Otaheite Orange is 
valuable. Shifting into larger pots must be carefully proceeded with. 
In the case of Fuchsias, Geraniums , Cinerarias , &c., intended as suc¬ 
cessive crops, these advancing should be carefully trained, according to 
the principles recently adverted to. Succession crops of Achimenes, 
Gloxinias . Gesnerus, &c., must now be seen after. Salvias must be 
propagating for autumn and winter blooming. Seeds of Salvia patens 
produce strong nice flowering plants. Their doing well for the season 
will depend on the treatment they receive now. In consulting present 
convenience we must not forget the future. Stocks, and all half-hardy 
plants, may now be sown under handlights, or a covering of some sort on 
a border, and will take the place, in succession, of those that received 
some artificial heat. Hardy Plants should now be set in a sheltered 
corner, to make way for the importations from the pits and frames. The 
first to be removed may consist of Coronilla, Cytisus , Acacia , Pittospo - 
rum , See., Seedlings and cuttings must be pricked off in time, or they 
will destroy each other. Water will be required oftener as the sun gains 
strength. Plants with large leaves generally require the greatest supply. 
Plants in Windows will now require extra attention. The increase of 
mild temperature will bring an increase of dust of insects. Vases 
and Baskets for balconies and small gardens must now be got ready, 
but do not be too venturesome in planting them for a fortnight to come, 
unless you can cover at night. • R. Fish. 
FRUIT-FORCING. 
Air, attend to regularly, still avoiding draughts. Atmospheric 
moisture, sustain in due proportion. Aphides, destroy. Bottom- 
heats, attend to carefully ; beware of burning ; 80° to 86° is enough for 
a.ny purpose. Cherries will be ripe or ripening, ventilate freely. 
Cucumbers, thin, stop, and train; renew linnings; get forward for 
ridging. Fires, use cautiously. Figs, water freely and stop. Heats in 
general, advance with the season ; be moderate in night heats. Liquid- 
manure, use occasionally. Lights, keep clean. Melons, dress fre¬ 
quently ; thin in the bine; stop a couple of joints beyond the fruit; 
sustain bottom warmth, and above all, permit no insects. Nectarines: 
See Peaches. Night-heats, be moderate in. Peaches, attend to 
thinning both wood and fruit; stop wild shoots, and see that the root is 
moist, applying liquid-manure tepid. Pines, let top-heat rise with the 
season ; keep abudance of air-moisture, and ventilate liberally ; bottom- 
heat 80° to 86° ; successions get on by syringing and closing early; 
airing well in the morning. Strawberries will be getting towards the 
end; water freely, liberally, and harden off early forcings to turn 
out for late out-door crops. Vines, stop, train, thin berry, tie shoulders, 
&c., according to their stages; ripening grapes, remove some laterals, 
and ventilate very liberally. Ventilation in general must be con¬ 
stantly attended to. Watering frequently; examine carefully the 
roots of fruits, if well drained they will take liberal waterings. 
R. Errington. 
HARDY FRUITS. 
Apples, choice, protect in blossoming; apply a briny clay paint for 
the American blight. Apricots, pick for the grub; pinch back all 
foreright shoots to two eyes, and disbud where absolutely necessary, re¬ 
membering that where naked boughs occur, they may be clothed with 
spurs by tying down young shoots on those reserved at this period. 
Blossoms in general cleanse or otherwise assist. Bandages of all 
kinds remove or loosen as early as safe. Black Currants, dress for 
fly ; soapsuds and tobacco-water, and water mulch at the root in the end. 
Cherries, beware of insects; dress as Currants. Digging of borders, 
beds, &c., finish. Grafts, replace and secure clay if loose. Goose¬ 
berries, hand-pick if grubbed; top-dress where necessary. Mul¬ 
berries, in training, disbud and pinch back similar to Apricots. Nuts, 
keep down rising suckers, and pinch gross shoots. Nectarines; see 
Peaches. Pears, disbud gross superfluous shoots, and pinch back 
weak ones where too thick ; hunt for the Pear grub or caterpillar which 
clusters in curled leaves. Peaches, disbud ; pinch back; remove 
forcright and back shoots, and thin fruit slightly at the end ; apply 
mulchings if on platforms, towards the middle; beware of insects, they 
prove ruinous in a very few days. Plums, as Apricots, dress for insects, 
as Black Currants. Strawberries, keep down early weeds and 
runners, and water very liberally in dry weather. Vines, disbud, train, 
&c. Vermin, continue to destroy with intermission. Watering, 
attend well to in new planting, and all needful cases. 
R. Errington. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Angelica, plant, or thin out, as the case may require. Artichokes, 
dress off, if not done, and plant a few suckers for succession. Alex¬ 
anders, attend to thinning, &c. Asparagus, sprinkle with salt once 
a week during the cutting season. If this be attended to there will be 
no fear of weeds or slugs ; but the surface of the beds should be opened 
once a week with some little pointed implement. Balm, earth-stir among. 
Beets (Red), thin out, &c. Basil should be exposed to the open air 
all line weather, so as to have good stocky plants to plant out toward the 
end of the month in warm borders. Beans, sow in succession in cool 
situations; attend to topping and earth-stirring advancing crops. 
Borage, sow, and save seed from such as have stood the winter. Bore¬ 
cole, sow, b. ; prick out,‘and save for seed. Brocolis of any kind may 
be sown at the beginning, for Cape Brocoli in particular this is just the 
season, when sown sooner they are so apt to run and button; attend to 
pricking and planting out any early-sown kinds, and to look to favourite 
kinds for seed. Burnet, attend to. Cabbages, sow or plant; earth¬ 
ing attend to. Capsicum raised in hotbeds should be well inured to the 
open air, for planting out in the open warm border, at the end of the 
month. Carrots, sow ; attend to thinning out advancing crops, also 
attend to watering the early crops in frames or the like. Cardoons, thin 
out or sow b. Caulifowkrs, the early hand-glass crops should be well 
basened up, supplied with water, and liijuid manure water, once a week ; 
attend to pricking or planting out in succession. Celery, may sow ; 
attend to pricking and planting out the earlier sown. Chamomile, 
i earth-stir among. Chervil, sow and leave for seed. Cress (.American), 
sow; save for seed. Chives, keep clear from weeds. Coriander, sow 
and leave for seed. Crops failed, lose no time to replace. Cucumbers, 
i plant out under hand-glasses upon a little bottom-heat; attend to thin¬ 
ning, topping, and removing any decayed leaves daily; those in bearing 
assist with a little top-dressing often. Dill, attend to. Earth-stirr¬ 
ing, in all cases attend to in dry weather. Endive, sow a little towards 
the end of the month for early use. Fennel, attend to planting out 
seedlings. Hotbeds, attend to. Hyssop, attend to. Kale (Sea), 
earth-stir, or carefully fork up among the old crowns, if not done before ; 
look over seedlings, and where sown in patches to remain, thin out and 
attend to. Kidney-beans (Dwarfs) and Runners, sow main crops at 
the b., or transplant from hotbeds ; make another sowing e. of the month 
for succession; attend to protection in case of frosty nights. Leeks, 
i thin out early, or transplant; leave for seed. Lettuces, sow every fort¬ 
night ; plant out and tie a few every week, and mark some of the best, 
or any favourite kinds that have stood the winter, for seed. Marigolds, 
| sow. Marjoram (Sweet), see Basil (common garden), may plant and 
i keep clear from weeds. Melons, sow b.; pot off and ridge out in succes- 
; sion ; attend to setting fruit, thinning, topping, earthing-up, and water- 
' in g the advancing crops. Mint, plant out new beds where required; if 
short of rooted plants, cuttings w ill root readily at this season, if planted 
and well watered. Mushroom-beds should be made in the coolest 
situations at this season; attend to those in bearing. Mustard and 
i Cress, sow in succession where required. Nasturtiums, sow' without 
delay, if not done before. Onions, w-eed; keep the surface-earth 
loosened ; a small fine-toothed iron rake will be found an excellent tool 
for this and similar purposes; (Welsh) leave for seed. Parsley, sow ; 
thin out Hamburgh, and leave for seed. Parsnips, thin, and earth 
I loosen. Peas, sow in succession; draw up earth along each side of the 
I rows before sticking, in case soakings of water should be required ; stick¬ 
ing attend to in time. Pennyroyal may be planted in a cool situation. 
Pompions, sow, or plant out under hand-glass, upon a little bottom-heat. 
Potatoes, hoe amongst with care not to injure the young fibre. Purs¬ 
lane, sow; leave for seed. Radishes, sow in cold situations; and 
leave for seed. Rape, sow for salading; (edible-rooted) sow, e. Rose¬ 
mary and Rue, may plant. Sage, may plant; cuttings root readily at 
this season if planted in a shady border and well watered. Salsafy and 
Scorzonkra, sow main crop b. Summer Savory', sow or plant out. 
Savoys, prick out, &c. Spinach, sow and leave for seed, and thin out 
young crops. Tansy and Taragon, may plant. Tomatoes, attend to 
for planting out e. of the month/ Turnips, sow', thin out and leave for 
seed. Turnip Cabbage, sow'. Vegetable Marrow, sow or ridge out 
under hand-glasses upon a little bottom-heat. Many frosty nights may 
be expected during, May, therefore, previously to planting out tender 
plants, remember how they are to be protected should cold or unkind 
weather set in. T. Weaver, 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orb, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ 
Church, City of London.—April 27 th, 1854. 
