62 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
off, rather than risk injury to the flowers by 
fumigating with tobacco-smoke. Those who 
grow a few Auriculas , both show and Alpine, 
will find the cold greenhouse a good place to 
flower them in, shading the plants from the sun 
during mid-day when it is hot and bright. The 
beauty of many nice plants may be prolonged 
by placing newspapers next the glass as a screen 
from the sun. 
Flower-Garden. — The propagation of 
plants for bedding-out, and for the general 
decoration of the garden, should now be pushed 
on. Lobelias , Pyretlirum Golden Feather , 
Phlox Dnnnmondii , Marigolds , Petunias , Pent- 
stemons , Stocks, Asters , and other things so 
much relied on to make the flower-garden 
effective, should be through the soil; and as 
soon as the plants are large enough to handle 
without injury, they should be pricked off into 
pans, pots, or shallow boxes—the last one to 
be preferred—so as to be grown into size for 
hardening-off in May. All that can be done to 
get them into size and of a sturdy growth 
should be attempted. Cockscombs , Balsams , 
Idumea elegans, Lophospermums , Maurandyas , 
and other tender plants must be kept in heat, 
but at the same time, not to a degree to cause 
them to be drawn. It is best to put them on 
the upper shelf of a greenhouse, which is 
always a warm place, after they are pricked off, 
and room is wanted in the liot-beds. Half- 
hardy Annuals of a robust character may be 
sown in the open border at the same time as 
the hardy annuals, but sowing in some fine 
light rich soil. April is a very busy month 
in the Flower-garden, and a hundred things 
demand the attention of the Villa-gardener. 
Cold Frames. —These now fulfil two good 
purposes—they are the feeders to the cold 
greenhouse, and they come in very handy 
indeed for hardening-off tender plants as the 
weather admits of their being placed in them. 
IAlies breaking into growth should be repotted ; 
and it is best not to put them into too large 
pots, but when established in small pots 
they should have some manure-water to assist 
them. Those who grow Ixias , Sparaxis , 
Babianas , Tvitonia crocata , and some of the 
choice Cape Bidbs should now take them into 
the greenhouse, to assist flowering. A little 
warmth at flowering time proves of great 
assistance, but the plants should not be in the 
full flood of the sunshine, and so in danger of 
suffering from draught. The watering of 
subjects in the cold frame must not be 
neglected, as Phloxes , Pentstemons , &c., to be 
planted in May to flower in the summer need to 
be kept growing. Even yet a little covering at 
night will be found of service. The wind is in 
the north, and may remain there during a good 
portion of April. 
Kitchen Garden. —Seed-sowing should be 
proceeded with and completed as the weather 
affords an opportunity. Cauliflowers and 
Lettuces wintered in frames should be planted 
out; and no time should be lost in getting in 
the main crops of Potatos and planting 
Jerusalem Artichokes. Beds of herbs should 
now be made. Broccolis , Cabbages , Cauli¬ 
flowers , Lettuces, Savoys , Kales , Beet , Carrot , 
Celery , Parsley , and successive crops of 
Mustard and Cress and Radishes should be got 
into the ground. Dry weather is the time to 
sow, and if the seeds have to lie in the ground 
waiting for rain, they will get no harm, if 
undisturbed by birds. The hoe needs to be 
used among growing crops ; the cold winds of 
March dry and cause the surface-soil to crack ; 
then the hoe should follow, to loosen the 
surface ready for the gracious rain. 
Fruit Garden.— Apricots on walls are in 
full blossom ; Peaches , Nectarines , Plums , and 
Pears , are also getting well into bloom. 
Gould we only get warm southerly breezes and 
bright sunshine, a good fruit-harvest might be 
anticipated. A few sprays of Spruce Fir put 
in among the branches, taking care not to in¬ 
jure the blossoms, will be of service, in the place 
of any better mode of protection. A judicious 
thinning-out of the blossoms is of value in 
assisting the setting of the fruit-crop. Newly 
planted fruit-trees will be greatly benefited 
by mulching the roots with a good dressing 
of manure and leaves. Any grafting should be 
put in hand without delay.— Suburbanus. 
A NOTE ON SWEET-WILLIAMS. 
^.zzAgUST a few brief lines on the Sweet- 
l L William, which is one of the flowers I 
last took a fancy to. Over twenty 
years ago I had a few seeds presented to me 
by my friend, the late Mr. Hunt. These I 
sowed, and in the first blooming season I 
looked upon these varieties as being something 
grand. From that time I have kept on sowing 
and trying to improve them; but taking Mr. 
Hunt’s advice, I have each year, from the first, 
made away with all the inferior ones as they 
came into bloom, and retained only a few of 
the best to take seed from. I have thought 
o 
that I obtained improved forms each year, but 
the varieties of last year eclipsed all I had 
ever seen previously, and I had to notice at 
least a dozen of most superb properties. Two 
in particular are quite a jump over all 
which I have previously seen. One has a 
most brilliant scarlet-red ground-colour, with 
a very dark distinct rim; the other has 
a pure -white gi’ound, with eye and rim 
of most brilliant colours. Both these sent 
