GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 June 1926, Page 10

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “YYaratah.”) PRUNING BUSH FRUITS. Gooseberries. —These bear their fruit on the young' wood of the previous; season, and also on spurs on the o’der wood. The finest fruits are produced on the young wood. In pruning young bushes ‘at planting, prune back to three or four eyes on each shoot —always to an eve pointing in an outward direction. With established bushes, the first thing is to note the habit of too bush, whether it is an upright grower or a drooping one. as the two kinds need different treatment. The upright kinds should be pruned in .such a 1 way that they will grow outward and as open as possible. With drooping kinds the object is to induce them to grow as -upright as possible. In the case or upright growers, first cut out a-1 shoots pointing inwards and any that cross ; then cut out all weak shoots and any superfluous strong shoots. Ihe shoots left .should be sufficiently far apart to permit the hand to be inserted between without fear of being scratched. The shoots cut back should be cut back to one eye, which will, cause -spuis to form, t-o produce fruit in future seasons. With drooping kinds first cut away al- 1 branches close to the ground, then all weak shoots and superfluous shoots, retaining only those which pomt ■outwards and upwards. A low inches of the tips of the -shoots lett should bo taken off in both kinds. The object to be, aimed at ‘in pruning gooseberry bushes is to keep the trees open- and shapely to enable light and air to circa 1 ate freely, and to cut away sufficient shoots each year to cause strong; fresh growth. This method keeps the oushes iii a vigorous condition for many years, and produces fruit of the best- qual‘Never dig deeply round gooseberry bushes, as the greater number of thenroots is near the surface. A mulch ol manure should be applied early in soring to feed the roots and conserve the moisture in the soil. If the soi. becomes very dry many of the young fruits will wither and drop off. Black Currants.—The fruit of the black currant' is borne mainly on tne young wood and very little on -spurs. Th? object in pruning is to keep the bushes from becoming overcrowded -with old wood, and to encourage -strong annua- 1 shoots from the base of the bushes. As much as possible of the old wood should be out away each winter, where there are young shoots to take its place, leaving the strongest and best of these, and cutting clean out all weak and superfluous -shoots. The shoots left shoiihl be a few inches apart to permit the circulation of light and air. A mulch of manure should be applied-each spring to- feed the roots- and conserve the moisture in the soil. Black currants need plenty of moisture, and do best in heavy so is. Red and white currants. —These bear their fruit on spurs on the old; wood. Winter pruning consists in cutting the new growth on the leaders back to six inches, and the- lateral or sidle shoots back to two buds to encourage the formation of fruit spurs. Al] old wood which is causing the bushes to- be overcrowded should be removed _to al-'ow free circulation of light and air. In December the points of any long -shoots should be pinched out and any misplaced shoots removed entirely. The, removal of the surplus growths admits i iglit and air, and the pinching out. of the points-concentrates the energy of the plants in the production of sturdier wood and letter fruit. Dong shoots are also apt to l>e broken off at the base by boisterous winds. ROUTINE WORK. Plant shelter trees, hedge plants, shrubs, fruit trees and roses. Prune decidious shrubs and trees where overgrown and cut out all dead wood. Prune deciduous shrubs and trees thorn, etc. Earth up late celery and leeks. Sow broad beans. P-anfc tree onions and potato onions. Plant roots of rhubarb 4 feet apart in well-manured soil.