Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 10, 27 April 1923, Page 1

Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes

MAY. KITCHEN GARDEN. As recommended last month, if not already done, plant out strawberries on a well manured plot of ground. Select plot of ground intended for carrots, onions, and parsnips; manure, trench up, and allow to remain in rough state until time to sow seed. Sow cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, and a little red cabbage, to have plants in readiness for planting in spring. Plants raised from seed sown this month will not run to seed. A small bed of leeks may also be sown for early planting. Broad beans, sow for succession; also earliest variety of peas, in a warm, dry locality. Plant early potatoes in a warm, sheltered situation. Continue to earth up celery as required. Keep the earth well stirred around potatoes, onions and shallots; hoe, weed and mould up all crops that require it; destroy slugs by frequent dusting of lime. Wheel manure on to vacant ground, clear away all rubbish, dig and trench. As you dig leave the surface soil in as rough a state as possible. ORCHARD. This month pruns the trees and gooseberries. It is also usual to prune vines as soon as the leaf falls, but on this subject there are different opinions. It is also usual to advocate manuring, to which the same remarks apply. Fruit trees should now be planted, for which purpose choose dry weather. It is bad to plant in sloppy ground. Plant shallow, not more than one or two inches deeper than that tree was before, if that. Dig the land fine first, and spread the roots very carefully out equally round the trees. Cover with well-crumbled earth and press lightly down, securing with at least one stake. Prune down the branches, but be careful to preserve the roots (unless injured), and if you purchase your trees from a nurseryman see that he does not prune down the roots, which is too apt to be the case. The apples are the hardiest and do with the least shelter. They are also the latest to plant. Gooseberries and currants should be pruned and ! planted this month, and pay strict I attention to their pruning. Rej move suckers, and hunt insects, j Keep land dry and well drained 1 for winter rains. Plant straw- | berries. | FARM. Fence off turnips as required for stock. Let the young cattle and stores clean up breaks. Keep fat stock going ahead on the new breaks. Be careful not to put stock on a fresh break towards evening, as it will be injurious for them to eat too many turnips if frosted. Young horsps will winter well on swedes. Plant breaks of shelter trees ; lawsonia and macrocapa do well for this purpose ; the former though, perhaps, slower growing, always gives shelter close to the ground ; the latter will always be worth growing as they make good posts, also good fire-wood.