HOME GARDENING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1937, Page 3

HOME GARDENING.

SUCCESS FACTORS. TRENCHING NECESSARY. PLANNING IMPORTANT. (By Telejjranh.—-Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHCRCH. this day. The value of trenching as the basis of successful gardening was stressed by Mr. M. J. Barnett. superintendent of reserves in Christchurch, in an address to the Rotary Club when he dealt with the fundamental principles which govern the practice of home gardening. One of the first things to consider when laying out a garden, said Mr. Barnett. was design. For this purpose a landscape architect could be called in to draw up a plan. The plan could be produced iu the mind's eye, or, better still, on paper. It was always better to give the plan further consideration before adopting it. In planning it was important to consider all features of the garden, in order to create a harmonious whole. The question of making arrangements for plants was probably the most difficult problem. It was a question of obtaining plants suitable for their temperate climate and their particular type of soil, "There is no use going to a nurseryman for recommendations." said Mr. Barnett. "He is no better or no worse than any other busimvs man." (Laughter.) The fundamental thing in successful gardening, he said, was the proper preparation of the soil. By cultivation he meant cultivation of the soil to a depth of IS inches or more. After describing the systems that could lie adopted in trenching, the speaker dealt with the value and use of various manures during trenching ojierations. Trenching, he said, was neces.sarv for the proper Irainage of the soil. It also raised the temperature of the soil and provided aeration. Improper trenching was, in Mr. Barnctt's opinion, one of the reasons why people to-day were talking about Xew Zealand farm lands being improverislied. It was a case of farmers being goldminers. They took everything thev could out of tre land and put nothing back. DeaTirig with manures and soil compositions. Mr. Barnett said that organic manures were the most valuable.