GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 July 1929, Page 7

GARDENING NOTES.

*- (By “ Warn tali.'') i' i; u.\ im; kosE'S. I 'runin”' may In 1 -done at any t ime how -but it is not advisable to tread about on fbe bods or 'borders when tlic soil is in a very nvet condition. It, is wiser to wait a week or two until tiio soil gets .into a 'drier condition. There is no hurry to prune for a week or two as tliov may be pruned till the middle of August. Pruning is necessary to preserve the health of the plant, also do induce a shapclv growth, .and to secure finer blooms. '"Careful pruning each season encourages new growths from the base or lower part of the plants; these ripen iu the la.te summer and autumn and are pruned iu the following date winter or early spring. If is from these well ripened new growths when pruned that shoots will be sent out, giving the finest, blossoms. Pruning also includes cutting out any old superfluous and useless wood.

A sharp knife or a. pair of secateurs with sharp blades should be used; with dwarf roses begin by cutting away till dead. weak, and unripe shoots, and any shoots that have a tendency to cross one another, so that the plant, especially at the centre, may not become crowded. All roses the first time after planting should be pruned ’severely, that is to say : cut down to within five or six inches of the ground. The amount of .after pruning depends upon the class to which they belong and the mode of training. Hybrid perpetuais may be cut back to nine or ten inches in length when the wood is strong and thick, "tlie plants .with weaker growths should be cut back to within four to six inches. Hybrid tea roses, the class which are -mostly grown now, -should bo pruned according to their vigour and habit of growth: weak growers should be pruned harder than strong ones. Tea roses should be move sparingly pruned, a little shortening back and thinning out being all that is needed. *

Pruning for show purposes should be more severe than When the plants are grown for decorative purposes only, with the exception of the weakly-grow-ing varieties of tea roses, which will not stand drastic pruning. Pruning also includes the complete removal of suckers which spring from rlie stock upon which the rose is budded. The best way to remove these is io dig with a spade down to the junction, of the shoot- with the root and sever the. root with a sharp knife immediately behind the sucker.

Climbing roses should be pruned to about: six inches from the ground the first season they are planted. In after years .the annual pruning consists of .shortening 'back the lateral or side branches to within a few inches of the main stems, and where new growths are required to replace some of the ■old. some of the main shoots should be c tut back hard. The pruning of the rambler class of roses consists of cutting out most of the flowering branches iu the -summer, immediately they have finished flowering, in order to procure strong new growths for the following season, and in winter time removing any old worn out main branches that can be replaced by new. Always prune close to a bud (pointing in an outward direction; gather primings and burn as soon as possible to destroy any fungoid diseases or in-

sect pests. SHED POTATOES. Seed potatoes should be .purchased and placed in boxes to sprout before planting. The yield is earlier and often heavier when they have first 'been sprouted. They should be placed iu shallow boxes, with it lie broad or *‘tose'’ end upwards. The boxes should be stood in a tight airy place, so That tlie shoots will grow '.strong and sturdy. Only two. or at most three, of the strongest shoots should be allowed to grow, all others should be cut out. The boxes must ibe kept in sortie place free from frost during the night-time; sheets of newspaper covered over the boxes will prevent frost damaging the shoots if the boxes are placed in a shed outdoors at night. Early varieties should be started now. and .will be ready <to put into the ground some time in August when the soil is iu a suitable condition for planting. It is not advisable to plant in wet cold ground. 'Choose a warm sheltered position and plant the tubers with a spade four incites | deep, allowing a space of about 12 inches between the sets, and two feet between the rows. If sulphur be dusted around the sets and along the drills between them.it will keep iu check t'he diseases known as “Irish blight" and “scab." and be beneficial as a manure also. If the potatoes are soaked in a solution of nitrate 'of -sloda (using six ounces of nitrate to each gallon of Water) for an hour just before planting, the yield will be much heavier and the .crop will be ready to dig much sooner. This solution can be used afterwards to stimulate the growth of cabbages, lettuces, etc., but it should be diluted by adding -five gallons of wafer. ROUTINE WORK. Plant all kinds of shelter' trees, hedge plants, fruit times, ornamental shrubs and roses, when the soil is in a suitable condition. Never plant when the soil is very wet or “sticky.'' 'Should trees, etc., arrive when the soil is too wet to plant, unpack them and plaice the roots in a hole dug large enough to receive them, and cove!' with soil. Prune fruit trees and bushes. Place seed potatoes in boxes to s['ll rin t. Plant cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce pJanlv. Prune fruFF tret's and bushes. Prune vines under glass. So .v broad beans.

£uw under .glass .cabbage, cauliflower lettuce, mustard and cress and radishes