GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 May 1925, Page 7

GARDENING NOTES.

SHELTER TREES AND HEDGES

(By “Waratah”)

If a garden or orchard is to be successfully cultivated, it is absolutely necessary to provide shelter from boisterous or cold winds. Iji places where there is plenty of room, shelter belts not less than hall a chain in width should he planted. Ihe most suitable trees lor this purpose, arc Pin us maritime, Pinus murieata, Pinus insignus and Cupressus maerocarpa They should be planted from four to six 'feet apart, and thinned out later, before the bottom branches begin to die off through overcrowding. If this thinning out is delayed too long the bottom branches will die and leave gaps through which a strong, ground draught will blow, which is more _harmful to plants than an overhead wind. Shelter belts of tall trees should not be planted too near a dwelling-house or garden, because when the trees have attained maturity, the long shadows cast by them iii' winter deprive tho house or garden of much sunlight, and the soil in the garden would be impoverished by the roots, of the trees. For places where it is only possible to plant a hedge for shelter there are a great variety of suitable plants available. Boxthorn is a good shelter hedge, but has tho disadvantage of possessing sharp poisonous thorns. Eleagnus provides a good hedge in a short time, but needs very frequent trimming to keep it neat. Barberry also provides a good shelter in a short time, there is now a seedless variety, the ordinary kind is inclined to spread from seeds unless kept closely trimmed. Cupressus maerocarpa soon makes excellent shelter, but takes up a good deal of space, so that ie can only he used to enclose $i large area, it must not be cut back too severely or it will die in patches. Cupressus Lawsoniana makes a very neat and effective hedge, it is upright in habit and does not need much trimming. For small areas, such as town sections, one of the best hedge plants is Escallonia Exoniensis, it is evergreen, of upright habit, grows very fast, can be trimmed very narrow if necessary, and is not subject to attack bv disease of any kind. Olearia Fosteri (Golden Ake-Ake) makes a good ornamental hedge, it grows fairly fast, and stands trimming well, but is often rendered unsightly by attacks of scale insects, and is sometimes attacked by a fungoid disease at the roots, which gradually kills it. Abelia florabunda makes a neat ornamental hedge, it grows quickly and flowers freely. Retinospora leptoclada is a very neat plant it has dense growth down to soil level,' and does not require trimming often. Coprosma Bauerii (Taupata) and Tittosporum c rassifoluim are good hedge plants for exposed positions near the sea, both resist the action of salt spray well. There are many other plants used‘for hedges, but those mentioned above are the most suitable foi this part of the Dominion. In the writer’s opinion the best hedge plant for a small section is Escallonia Exoniensis, and for a large garden or orchard either Tittosporum crassiI'oliuni or Cupressus maerocarpa. The soil where the hedge is to be planted should be trenched two feet deep, and three feet wide to enable the hedge to grow quickly. If anv animal manure is available, it should be mixed with the soil in the bottom of the trench, the surface soil should lie kept on top. Cupressus maerocarpa and Lawsoniana should be planted tour feet apart, common privet 9 inches and other species 12 inches to 15 inches apart. FLOWER. GARDEN.

Bulbs of all varieties may still be planted for spring flowering. Narcissi should be planted without further delay. Prepare ground for planting roses trenching the soil two feet deep, and incorporating some well-decayed manure in the. bottom spit. Cut down to the ground th© flower stalks of lierba.ccous*” perennials that have finished flowering. . Fibrous-rooted perennials may he divided and re-planted now. Deciduos shrubs that have become crowded or straggling should be cut back or thinned out as soon as the leaves have fallen. VEG ETABLE G ARDEN.

Cut down the stems of asparagus as soon as the foliage turns yellow. Lightly fork over the surface of the bed taking care not to damage the crowns. No top-dressing of manure should be applied at this season as it keeps the ground cold and wet during the winter. . - Make a sowing ol broad beans. Single rows should be 21t. 6in. apait and the seeds six inches apart m the rows. Double rows 3ft. apart with the rows Gin. apart, and the seeds alternatively Pins. apart. Sow early dwarf peas m a sunny sheltered position, sow in drills 3m. deep and two feet apart. American Wonder, English Wonder, William Hurst and Little Gcin are good kinds to sow now. Sow carrots (Early Horn or Nantes) cabbage cauliflower, lettuce, mustard, cress, radishes, spinach and turnips, gow in raised beds four feet, wide An i.hc most sheltered and sunniest pait of the garden.