GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 May 1928, Page 7

GARDENING NOTES.

('BY “ WARATAH.'’) PLANTING FRUIT TREES. Fruit trees can be planted from the middle of May until September with every prospect of success. The time when planting should be done will depend on the weather and the site where the trees are to be planted. When the soil is in a suitable condition for planting, the tunes should be put in as soon as they can be obtained after the leaves are she'd, unless the situation is very wet in winter, when planting should be delayed until the end of Aygust. An aspect with full exposure to the sun is necessary to obtain good results, and shelter from boisterous winds is also essential or much fruit will be blown down before it is lit to use. In small gardens the question of shelter does not present much difliciilty as a rule, as live fences or buildings afford sufficient shelter for dwarf trees, but, when large areas are planted ample shelter is necessary to protect the trees from prevailing winds. Where shelter belts are in existence, the fruit trees should be planted so that the shelter trees will not shade them heavily during the summer, or rob them of food and

_ moisture. Small plots should he trenched to a depth of two feet over the whole area to be planted, unless they have been under cultivation for some time. Trenching for la rye areas is too expensive, but the soil should be broken uj) as deeply as possible with the plough. If the whole area has not boon tienched or ploughed. :i large hole for each tree should be dug at least four feet across, and after the top spit has been removed, the bottom should be broken up if the soil be heavv and likely to become waterlogged in winter. Some well-rotted manure should be mixed with the bottom soil if it bo poor, but is not advisable in any soil that has been under cultivation far a long period and made rich by the application of manures; when manure is added to soil already rich, the growth of the young trees will be excessive and soft, a condition not conducive to fruitbearing. Trees growing in a rich soil will not require manure until they have begun to bear heavy crops of fruit find it can then be supplied in the farm of a surface dressing of ft suitable mixture of artificial manures. Land tiiat hits been previously • prepared by digging or polughing will only need marking out. where the trees are to be planted, and holes sufficiently large enough to accommodate the roots made to receive them. These holes need not be more than nine inches deep usually, blit the depth should be I governed by the size of the roots, and the depth at which the trees were previously planted, which is indicated byj the soil marks on the stems. The holo( should always be made large enough to accommodate the roots when spread out to their full extent, nothing is more fatal to success than cramming the mots into small holes. The roots should be spread out as evenly its possible, an,] none should be crossed over or bent round. Examine the roots before planting, find cut out any tap roots with no fibres. Ail damaged r iots should be cut back to ft sound portion. Always cut from the underside in an upward and outward direu- < r.ion. Sonic fine soil should lx; scatter- j e I over the roots and should be thrown on them in the direction they are running. not against them, as this has a tendency to double the roots back. T’j ensure that till sp.aces under the roots are filled with soil, the tree should be gently shaken up and down; while the process of filling in the soil is going on. when the hole has been filled, the soil should bt* well trodden, or rammed with a light, rammer to make it firm". Planting should never be done when the soil is in ft pasty or sticky condition, should the soil not be in a suitable condition for planting at the time the trees arrive, dig a trench large

(Mioug-li to put tin; roots of tlio trees in anil cover them with loose soil. If the trees have travelled a long disjunct' and rlie roofs a re. dry, drench them thoroughly with water before p.anting or heeling in. but do not stand them in water for any length of lime. The method of digging holes and planting trees in land (hat has not

been cultivated is,-a bad one. as 11n*, In le.s usually become waterlogged, and il.e roots decay, causing the tree to die. if for any reason fruit trees have to be planted in this way. the uncultivated portion between the trees should b'e trenched or ploughed as soon as possible after planting the trees. The. choice of varieties of fruit trees to plant depends upon the class of land and the'locality. Many varieties which are successfully grown in other parts of the Dominion are not a success when planted in the soil of Taranaki, 'i he climate conditions, in Taranaki are not favourable to the successful culti-

vation ot peaches and European plums anil except in a few exeeptionully favourable positions it is waste of fiine and money to gr:> w them in the Open. Tiie following is a list of varieties •ivhieh have been grown with success in this district. A PPM MS. Adam's I'eaimnin; medium size dessert; late. Hailarat Seedling; large cooking: Delicious; medium size; dessert; late; prolific. ( <ravenstein: large; desert or cooking; early. \ -\l unroe's Favourite; medium size; dessert or cooking; late. I’ein net te du Dana da ; large; dessert o: caok ing; late. Slatesnian; large; dessert or cooking: late. N DDT A IM.\I-;s. Doldmine; large freestone; excellent fla vou r. I'M Art! 1 MS. I>rjgg s Red 'Atav; medium size; ea rly. Alayllower; very early; fruit large; clingstone. Hale's Early; second early; large; freestone. Solway; late; hardy; good for preserving. PEAKS. William's Hon Chretien; oarlv; huge. Poll is iiionne de •Jersey*; mid-season; medium size. V\ inter Cole; late; good flavour. Winter N'ehs; late; good liavour. .1 A PAXES K PLUAPS. I In rlnt n k ; large yellow Mesh; heavy cropper. Sultttri: large: dark crimson; sweet: similar to Satsuma, but crops earlier. QUINCE. Van Pieman; good qualitv; pres: rves well. L EAIOX. Lisbon; very hardy: good keeper. I’he distance apart to plant depends upon the class of tree planted and the method of pruning. For a small

garden, apple and pear trees on dwarf stacks may be planted as close as ten feet if necessary, stone fruits such as peaches and plums require more room i and should be planted at least 15 feet I apart. In large orchards where horse i cultivation is employed it is necessary to plant apple an,| pear trees 18 feet apart and stone 'fruits 24 fecit. After fruit trees have, been planted, i is necessary to prune them in order to form a strong framework suitable to carry heavy crops of fruit, and to form a low vase-shaped tree. Two-year-old trees are usually planted and these should be cut back to about the fourtrr bud from the base of each shoot springing from the main stem, cut each shoot .just above a bud pointing in an outward direction. Many failures yc riir. particularly in peach and nectar iuf trees, through not. cutting the tuna well back after planting. ROUTINE WORK. Cm down tops of asparagus as soon as the foliage has turned yellow,, fork over the bed. being careful not. to damage the crowns while doing so. Bow broad beans. Carrots and spinach may still be sown in frames or a sunny sheltered position. Sow cabbage and cauliflower in frames or in boxes placed in a sunny shift (.'red posit ion. Pot plants in the house nr conservatory should be carefully watered now, if kept too moist the soil will become sour, plants do not require much moistin'.■ in winter when growth is dormant. Earth up late celery and leeks. Plant roses and all kinds of hardy fruit trees. ornamental trees and sh rubs. Manure winter rhubarb. Divide overgrown perennial plants •utd replant in fresh soil in a new posit i o n. Plant new hedges. Plant early-flowering gladioli. Lift, and divide old rhubarb and seakale roots. Plant out cabbage and cauliflower plaats.