di
fii
1 . ' 1 - S í H
* ' S t o l l
í ! if
6. Flower-garden. — Open-ground de- '
partment.
Sow (4011.) hardy annuals (5484.) in the second,
third, and last week; and some of the more robust
half-hardy annuals about the end of the month.
(5485.) Such biennials as flower the same year, as
honesty, scabious, bastard rocket, sweet alyssum,
clary, Chinese hollyhock, and Indian pink. (5483.)
Biennials in general, and also perennials towards
th e end of the month.
Propagate hy rooted slips and offsets; b u t next
month is preferable for rootless slips and cuttings.
(5468.)
Plant dried roots : finish with th e anemone and
ranunculus in the first fortnight. (5400. and 6220.)
Transplant annuals from the patches in the borders,
and biennials and perennials from the flower-
garden nursery, into their final sites. (5483.)
Shelter choice border and all florists’ flowers in
severe weather.
Dig, dress, hoe, rake, &c. only in dry weather.
Clean up all borders, and prepare vacant ground.
(6133. to 5151.)
Bees. Feed weak hives as in last month.
7. Flower-garden. — Hotliouse department.
Glass case without heat. (1989.) Take care of
alpines and prolonged annuals, remove all weeds,
and be discreet in your waterings. (5141.) Cover
auricula frames in very severe nights (5270.) ; by
keeping them ra th e r warm a t this season they will
come up with fine tall stalks to support th eir magnificent
trusses. Sow half-hardy annuals for tran splanting,
they will come into flower as soon as those
sown in the open air last month. (5486.) Take care
of the hardy succulents.
Hotbeds and p its. (5115.) In the first fortnight
sow half-hardy annuals on a slight hotbed for
transplanting to come in first. (5491.) Sowtender
annuals at any period of the month. (6443.) Plant
tuberoses in pots for forcing. (5481.) Force roses
and other flowering or odoriferous shrubs and all
desirable hardy flowers in pots. Sow seeds of greenhouse
and hothouse plants to be propagated in this
way. Plant cuttings for the same end.
Greenhouse. (5161.) Make no fires unless the
thermometer, in th e open air, fall to 3.5°; 45°
with fire-heat will be a good medium heat in this
month. Begin to propagate by cuttings. (5163.)
Dry stove. (5164.; A good medium heat for this
mouth will be 55°, which may be kept up with very
little fire-heat. Give water moderately, but see
th a t what you do give wets the earth, and does not
escape between the ball and th e edge of the pot.
Give air freely in fine weather.
B ark or moist stove. (2643.) Give air in general,
as in last m onth. If you wish to promote a vigorous
growth, shift your plants into a rich compost,
water over the top about three o’clock, and then
shut the house close up for th e night. Do this
only when the temperature has been up to 80°.
(5164.)
8. Pleasure-ground and shrubbery.
Plant (2892.) deciduous trees and shrubs, also deciduous
hedges; finish as early as possible, unless
the season be unusually backward. Evergreens of
th e hardier sorts towards the end of th e month.
(6146. and 6149.)
Pncne (2564.) deciduous trees and cut hedges, and
finish this work as early as possible. In pruning
plants, where th e chief object is their flowers, a ttend
to their mode ofbearing these. In short, never
begin to cut a tree before having a clear and distinct
idea of what you wish to attain—is it health, shape,
size, leaves, shoots, flowers, or roots ?
Dress winter and autumn dug shrubberies.
Mulch, stake, water, and attend to neatness. (2731.)
Dress and roll tu rf and g ra v e l; attend to th e margins
with the turf-raser. (5026.)
Foriwanrfrepafr gravel-walks. In some situations
imitation gravel-walks require to be turned every
two or three years and partially renewed. (5048.)
9. Trees. — Nursery department.
Fruit trees. Sow kernels for stocks ; lay thevine
and the fig (4725. and 4773.); plant cuttings and eyes
of the vine in the open air, or in pots, to be placed
in a moist heat. Graft towards the middle of the
month, or sooner or later, according to the season.
P la n t out seedling stocks in nursery rows. (5961.)
Head down newly budded and grafted trees not
intended to be removed.
Oi-namental trees and shrubs. Sow seeds of the
hardier sorts. Evergreens may be sown in the last
week. Finish laying deciduous kinds, plant cuttings
and suckers, ancl graft some ra re sorts towards the
end o fth e month. Plant out layers, cuttings, and
suckers in nursery rows.
Faresttrees. (6020.) Sow nuts, keys, and berries,
and also birch and alder seed. In the last fortnight
begin to sow evergreens. Plant cuttings, suckers,
&c. as in February. Plant out from the seed-bed or
cutting-border in nursery lines. Dig between the
rows oftrees and shrubs not intended to be removed
this season.
Weed, hoe, rake, and stir the surfaco in fine weather.
Dig between nursery lines, where th e plants
are not to be removed.
Shelter and protect from cold, birds, and vermin.
(2640.)
10. Trees. — Permanent plantations and
park secnery.
Plant all sorts of deciduous trees and shrubs, the
Scotch pine and larch firs. (.5969.) Towards the end
plant most sorts of evergreens. (-5977.) Hedges of
evergreens. Fill up blanks in plantations of two or
more years’ standing.
Head down trees intended to stole for underwood,
or to produce single leaders for timber trees or poles
(5027. and 5932.).
Fell and thin trees and copse; but do not commence
barking till th e end of the month, when th e
trees will part freely with their bark. (5929.)
Sow forests and woods ; about the middle of the
month is a good time, as the crows, rocks, and other
vermin will be less likely to destroy the seeds, having
the farmers sown fields to attack.
Operations on ground, and masonry, may now go
on with the utmost vigour ; the days having attained
a sufficient length, and the weather being generally
d ry ; external brick walls for gardens, however, are
b etter deferred till May, when all danger from frost
will be over.
APRIL.
Weather
at
Average of
tho Thermometer,
Greatest
Variation
from the
Average.
Average
of the
Barometer.
Quantity
of Kain.
REMARKS.
The weather of this month is distinguished by the rapidity
of its changes. It ia generally stormy, interspersed with
gleams of sunshine, hail, snow, some frost, and occasion)
:
'i
London -
Edinburgh
Dublin
49 9
46 3
31 125
5 29 77
29 873
29 909
1-460 inch.
2-414
2-561
ally violent storms of wind. Fruit-tree blossoms and
half-hardy plants require protection and particular attention
during this month. Tlie young gardener, while
at work, may study the gemmation and foliation oftrees,
and tlie difierent colours of the newly-exi>anded foliage.
1. Kalendar of animated nature round
London.
Jn the firs t tac i*; theviper(C61uberH&rus)and
woodlouse (Oniscus /se llu s ) appe ar; the mistletoe-
thrush ( r d rd u s viscivorus) pairs; frogs (F a n « )
croak and spawn; and moths (P h a lie 'n « ) appear.
Secondweek: th e stone curlew (CEdicndmus cre pitans)
clamours; young frogs (F an a temporJria)
appear ; the pheasant (Fhasianus) crows ; the trout
(S51mo Triitta) rise s; and spiders (/r f in e « ) abound.
Thirdweek : th e crested wren (Fégulus cristàtus)
sings; the blackbird ( Tftrdus Mérula),raven ( Córvus
Còrax),pigeon(Colùmbadoméstica),hen(Fhasiànus
G á llu s ),a n d d u ck (/’nasF6schas),sit; various insects
appear; and the fieldfare ( 'Furdus pilaris) is still here.
Fourth week : the swallow (Hirúndo rústica) re turns
; th e nightingale (Styvia Jtousclnia) sings;
the bitte rn ( / 'r d e a rotellàrìa) makes a noise; the
house martin (Hirúndo ùrbica) appears; the blackcap
(Sylvia Atricapilla) whistles; and the common
snake (Cfiliiber A'átrix; appears.
2. Kalendar of vegetable nature round
London.
I n the firs t week : the daffodil (Narcissus Pseùdo-
Narcissus), the garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientàlis),
the wall-flower (Cheirànthus Cheiri), the
cowslip (Primula officinàlis), the periwinkle
(Finca), sloe (Primus spinósa), and various other
herbs and trees, in flower.
Second week : the ground ivy (Glechòma àederà-
cea), gentianella (G en tiàn a acaùlis), Pulmonària
virginica, th e auricula, ib è ris sempervircns, Omphalòdes
vérna, and most of th e common fruit-
trees and fruit-shrubs, in flower.
Third week : some Robin?«, Andrómed«, Kál-
m?«, and other American shrubs ; Daphne Ivaurèola,
i7'lmuscampéstris,ChrysospIènium oppositifòlium,
Mercuriàlis perénnis, and other plants, in flower.
Fourth week: the beech (Fàgus) and elm {U'l-
mus) in flower ; ivy-berries drop from the racemes;
th e larch in leaf, and th e tulip and some white narcissi
and fritillaries in flower.
3. Kitchen-garden. — Culinary vegetables.
Sow sea kale for a full breadth ; lettuce, small salads,
and radishes, twice or thrice in the month.
Peas and beans (35-53. and 3.570.), broccoli thrice
(3511.), borecoles in the first week (3484.), cabbages
and savoys twice (3454. and 3472.), spinach for succession
(3719.), turnips twice (3649.), silver-skinned
onions every three weeks during summer for drawing
; onions, leeks, and cardoons, in the first week
for a general crop (3764.) ; celery, in the first fortnight,
for a general crop (3935.); mustard for seed
(3957.), carrots in the second or third week, for
ma'iaincrop( 3666.),............................. kidneybeans, in ■ the ■ secondweek,■
for
ir an early, and in the last week for a late crop
(3.589.) ; asparagus and parsneps, in the first or
eond week, but not later (3676.) ; red beet, in the
th ird week, for a full crop, and also nasturtiums,
salsify, scorzonera, and skirret. (3690.) Sow culinary
aromatics and herbs, if not done in March,
(4047.)
P7ani bullTS and dried roots (2508.) Finish plant-
ing the main crops of potatoes. (3603.)
Propagate perennial culinary plants by slips and
offsets, as all the pot-herbs, aromatics, &c. (4078.)
Transplant lettuce, cabbages, sea kale, celery, and
cauliflowers. (3906.)
Dress artichoke and asparagus beds, or compartments.
(3862. and 3829.) Hoe and thin spinach,
onions, turnips ; earth up cauliflowers aud cabbages,
sea kale for blanching, peas, beans, and potatoes.
Stick peas, tie up lettuces, destroy weeds,
and stir the ground in fine weather.
Attend to insects, and to the store-room. (2460. and
2194.)
4. Hardy fruit department.
, Plant cherries, plums, apples, and pears, till the
10th ; apricots and gooseberries till the 5th ; peaches
and nectarines till the 15th ; but defer till autumn
what you cannot accomplish by this period, unless
th e season is unusually backward. (2892.)
Protect as in last month. (2894.)
Prune, if you have delayed it ; but expect vines
to bleed, and stone fruits in general to be much
injured by the operation, if not performed very
early in the month, and even that is too late. In
th e last days of th e month, rub off the bud.s of
vines which appear where you do not wish shoots.
(2564.)
Routine culture. Water, mulch, stake, and fence.
Weed strawberry-beds, and pinch off runners, where
you do not wish to have young plants.
y insects, and especially the thrips, which
will begin to appear on forward peach tre e s ; pick
off caterpillars. (2460.)
Fruit-room. Tu rn , pick, wipe, and air the more
choice dessert fruits ; and look also to the baking
apples and pears. (2192.)
Fruit-cellar. Attend to the temperature, and
never break open a cask till you are in want of its
contents. (2194.)
5. Culinary hothouse department.
Glass case without artificial heat. If the season
is backward, sow in the first week kidneybeans, to
be protected till the weather is mild. (3496.)
Hotbeds. Continue preparing a succession of beds
for ridging and hilling out cucumbers and melons.
Sow, transplant, shift, &c. all esculents or pot-herbs,
which are tender annuals, as gourd, basil, love-
apple, capsicum. Maintain the proper degrees of
heat by linings. See to pine-suckers Plant crowns
and suckers taken offin the winter. (30.58.)
Pinei-y. Attend to routine c u ltu re ; shift the
plants, reinforce the bottom heat, water and give
air as judgment founded on experience, reflection,
and vigilant attention shall direct. The pine is a
very difficult plant to kill, but it requires constant
and powerful heat, and rich loamy soil, and also
water more abundantly than is often given to it, to
produce large, well-flavoured f r u it; attend to minor
articles grown or forced in th e pinery, as vines,
fruit trees in pots, cucumbers, kidneybeans, and
strawberries.
Forcing department. All that it is proper, in our
opinion, to say here, is, “ Guard against supineness;
there is much less danger from your ignorance
than from your indifference or want of vigilance.”
(3042.)
6. Flower-garden. — Open-ground department.
Soio annuals ; all the sorts for am a in crop, or for
a succession, if you have sown them in March
(.5485.) ; half-hardy annuals in warm borders there
to remain. (5491.) Biennials and perennials should
be sown as eariy in the month as possible.
Propagate by rooted and unrooted slips and offsets.
(5468.)
Transplant all sorts from the nursery to th e borders
(5483.); tender and half-hardy annuals from
the hotbeds to th e borders.
Routine cuUure. Weed, hoe, rake, stir the surface,
remove all decayed leaves and stalks as soon
as th e plants have done flowering, unless you select
a stalk or two occasionally for seed. Never leave
all the flower-stems for this purpose, andseldom all
the pods or seed-vessels which are on a stem, as
that would weaken th e plants.
Protect your auriculas from the extremes of every
description of weather'; if placed on a stage facing
the north, or set on a shaded paved platform about
3 ft. high, they will be better th an if continued in
the frames. (5274. and 5278.)
Destroy insects, and especially pick the grubs
from the leaves of rose-trees ; if you do not attend
to this, you will have no blow worth looking at.
(5381.)
7. Flower-garden. — Hothouse department.
Glass case without artificial heat. Alpines may
now be entirely uncovered, and also prolonged annuals
and m ost half-hardy sorts ; a few half-hardy
annuals may still be sown, if not done in proper
season. (1989.)
Hotbeds and pits. Shift frequently such tender
annuals as you mean to come to a handsome size,
more especiallybalsams. (5115.) .Sow more seed, if
you have not enough of plants ; plant out some in
th e borders to grow strong broad plants, especially
balsams and combs in very warm situations. Plant
tuberose roots, and shift those which are coming
forward, ifthey appear to be stinted in their growth.
(5434.) Attend to pots of cuttings, and seedlings
from either of the followmg departments.
Greenhouse. Fire-heat may generally be dispensed
with in this month. Go on propagating by
all the methods in u se ; this is the fittest season
of th e y e a r: a good deal depends on taking off,
making, and putting in the cuttings, but nothing
will answer, if constant attention is not paid to keep
them in a medium state as to air, heat, and moisture
afterwards. (6163.)
Dry stove. No fire will here be necessary, except
when the thermometer in the open air is under
40° or 42°. Propagate by the usual means, which
in general for succulents is cu ttin g s; attend to
bulbs now coming into flower. (5164.)
Bark or moist stove. Go on, as in last month,
shifting, propagating, and stimulating as the nature
of the different hothouse plants requires, and as
your views or duties inculcate: never forget neatness,
and removal of dust, insects, ike. (2643.)
8. Ple^ure-gronnd and shi-ubberj'.
Plant (2892.) such sorts of deciduous shrubs as you
deemed too tender to plant last month ; but finish
this work in the first week. Plant a few roses as
late as you can. in order to retard their coming into
bloom ; or, if you can afford the time and room,