SEASONABLE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 22709, 24 July 1937, Page 23

SEASONABLE WORK

THE ROSE GARDEH i Continue to plant when climatic conditions aro suitable, and where roses are in a warm, sheltered position pruning can bo done. There is no doubt that if the pruning of roses is held over until August in Dunedin and district then the growth is much cleaner and the flowers naturally better formed, Notes on the pruning of roses will appear in next week’s column. THE FRUIT GARDEN Continue to plant all varieties of fruit trees. Hoot pruning, as advised in earlier notes, should be carned out as soon as possible. This pruning should be carefully done, and the cuts made in the same way as the top wood or the tree (that is, a clean, sloping cut). In this way the cuts will heal quicker and begin to throw out their young, fibrous roots in a very short time. AH the wood pruning should, it possible, be finished by the end of this month, as the sap generally commences to flow at tho beginning of Angus-. It the pruning is held over for any iCUgtn of time there is a waste of sap wnen the cuts are made. As soon as the priming of a tree is completed all primings should be' immediately gathered up and burnt, for tho reason that this will destroy and. keep under a great many of the pests wo are troubled with m fruit cultivation. . , I often find at this season of the year numbers of dried and mummified fruits still hanging on the trees These dried fruits are generally full of the fungus which creates brown rot m ourapples. This fungus turns tho mut in a verv short time into a brown pulp. After" this rotting has taken place pustules in the form of small cushions break through the skin. The colour ot these is a dirty white formed into circles. These pustules are fuU of spawn—sometimes called the seed, inis spawn, when ripe, is carried by the action of air currents and sometimes bv tbe various insects which commence to travel when this spawn is ripe, bo bv neglect we are not only allowing this disease to spread in our own trees, but we are also helping it to spread into our neighbours’ gardens. It is essential that all such fruit should be destroyed by burning as soon as it is detected. , , „ ~ . . . I would advise also where fruit is being kept in a store that it be examined from time to time tor signs of this disease, as we often find brown rot develop after storage has taken place. Do not throiv the diseased fruit out into the garden, as the fungi will be dormant for a considerable Pr nod ’, ar " then commences to spawn when there is life in tho air, and so will affect the fruit crops next season. Strawberry beds will need a Rood mulch of half-rotted material. If this is placed on now the rams will wash in all the salts that it contains, which will be a great benefit to the bniklmg up of the crowns, and also provide a clean lied for the fruit to he on, and keep it cleaner later on. Before placing on the mulch all weed*, etc., should be removed, and all runners cut away—not pulled off as is sometimes done, which creates a danger ot breaking away the side of the crown. THE VINERY Manv people will be busy putting their vinery in order. It is p.easmg to notice that numbers who have a small cold glasshouse are planting a vine or two. Grapes, if planted properly in the first place, are very easy to grow, and nothing gives more pleasure than being able to cut your own bunches of grapes for the home use, and especially to present to a sick The vines on which the demonstration was carried out to-day were planted four years ago, and this past season over 120 bunches were cut from these vines, the average weight being over 11b for each bunch. The variety was Black Hamburg. It is the most reliable for crop and flavour for a cold house. . , In planting the most important thing is the position and the material to form the border. All vines shou d be planted inside tho house. Tho old svstem of planting outside in set-up borders is a thing of the past. "hen planted inside the roots are under control. and the vines come into bearing much quicker, also what is most im-

portant, the bunches and hemes are much larger and the flavour much improved. This is brought about by feeding; which cannot, be done so well When the vines are planted outside, owing to' climatic conditions. In preparing the border it is essential that good drainage be provided. This can bo done by removing the soil down to the solid clay, and the face of the clay should be broken up with a pick. Then a good layer of broken bricks or clinkers to a depth of 6in to 9in should be placed over the bottom. The material should be placed as close together as possible. Thsi will provide complete drainage for all time. On this layer of bricks, etc., should be placed a good coating of fibrous turf or similar material. Then should follow about 4in to 6in of rotted cow or horse manure —cow manure for preference. Next, a mixture of the following:—Good fibrous loam or rich garden soil, with a good dressing of bonemeal and shell lime. When the whole has been thoroughly mixed together it shoild be spread evenly over the bed and well tramped in with the feet so as to form a solid bed to receive the vines. It is advisable to plant three-year-old plants, as the rods will come into bearing nvuch quicker. Care must be taken to make the border firm after planting. When the vines have been planted about five to six weeks the rods should be shortened back to two or three strong buds, and the strongest of these when they break into growth should be trained up, as the leader and the others not required should be rubbed out. ' / The pruning of vines in cold houses should now be carried out. I find that often the amateur allows far too much wood to remain on his rods when pruning. _ If good, well-formed bunches are required all fruiting wood should be pruned back to two buds, and when these break’ into growth only one should be allowed to come away. After the pruning I would not advise any stripping away of the bark on the rods except where pests have attacked them last season. In_ that case limo and sulphur or pinepistol will dear most Sests, such as red spider and scale, c the rods were affected with mildew last season Bordeaux mixture is very effective. This can be applied with a fine hair brush. After the vines have been pruned and put in order for next season all the air possible should be given until the buds commence to swell, when advice will be given as to ventilation from then on.