THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9118, 28 July 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR WEEK ENDING

AUGUST 4. KITCHKN GARDEN*.

Push forward the work in this department whenever the weather and the state of the soil will admit, in order to be prepared for spring cropping. The chances are that the weather will be unfavourable and wet just at the time when most has to be done. Where the soil is light, all vacant ground should be dug and manured in readiness for cropping ; but in heavy, wet, retentive soils the digging is generally better to be left until wanted for immediate cropping, as much injury is often done by digging such soils early in the winter, and allowing them to remain exposed to the rain, whereas if left undug the growth of weeds keeps the ground from becoming battered by the heavy rains, and when turned down deeply in early spring, keep the ground in good heart. Heavy land may also be much improved by digging in a liberal supply of long strawy stable manure, fresh from the stable. This helps to keep the soil light and porous. But, as recommended" in autumn, the best plan with stiff soils is to sow all the ground that is then vacant with oats, which may be utilised for green fodder or dug down to manure and lighten the I ground for spring cropping. Take advantage of a favourable time to get in a plot of early potatoes. Sow a few rows of peas for early use. The soil best adapted for peas is where it has been well manured for previous crop, that vacated by celery beinc the most suitable. Peas delight in a coo 3 rich soil. The dwarf sorts are the best for early crop. They are less trouble to grow and they come in before the taller-growing varieties. Broad beans : Although not a popular vegetable, a few are generally grown. Now is a good time to sow sufficient to meet the requirements. Put out a a few rows of cabbage and cauliflower plants. Make a sowing of turnips, also a small patch of lettuce, to have plants in readiness for spring planting. Sow small beds of mustard cress and radishes, and a little parsley. Herbs; These are among I

the every-day requirements of the house. The present is a suitable time to take up, regulate, and plant. They are as a rule better to be transferred to a fresh locality, and should be planted whore they can be plucked without treading upon the soil and be " handy. Borders of thyme and sage may ' be made along the edges of the walks. Mint must be grown in beds. Parsley may be sown for a border. Celery : Seed may be sown thinly in a box or pan; cover lightly and place in a frame or upon a hotbed. Tomatoes : A box or pan of tomato seed may also be sown in a frame or placed upon a hotbed ; but, as tomato plants are always obtainable at the proper season for planting, it is hardly worth while to go to the trouble of sowing seed, unless where the necessary appliances for raising the same are at hand. Rhubarb roots : Provided the same have been dug up and exposed as previously advised, replant a few for early use. The ground for rhubarb cannot well be too rich. Asparagus beds may now be gone over and forked lightly; at the same time apply a good dressing of well-rottei manure. The present time is the best to manure asparagus, as the rains wash the manure down to the roots and the plants are benefited at once, whereas by heavy autumn manuring, more particularly in wet heavy soils, the manuring keeps the beds wet and cold during the winter, and very often causes the plants to perish. THE GREENHOUSE. The chief features in this department at the present time are the cyclamens, Chinese primulas, Gesneria Cooperii, and Jacobinia. These flower profusely, and give the house a , very gay appearance. The cyclamen and Chinese primula are amongst the best of winter and spring flowering plants, and will repay all care bestowed upon them. These, with care, continue to blossom throughout the whole winter and well into spring. Cineraria should now be well advanced in growth, and some of the first sown should be showing flower. These should be frequently watered with liquid manure. Keep the plants in a cool frame near the glass, and sprinkle the foliage night and morning with clean soft water. Calceolarias re-pot as they advance in growth. These should be placed in a cool, airy situation. Keep a sharp look-out for aphis ; the calceolaria is very liable to the attacks of this pest. Caleus and other soft-wooded plants will require treatment during the cold wet weather. Place these in the warmest and driest part of the house, and water only when the plants are dry. Keep the soil stirred occasionally around the plants to prevent moss from covering the soil. Hyacinths, liliums, and other bulbs that were potted last month will now be showing through the soil. These should be placed in a cool, airy situation near the glass to prevent them becoming drawn. PRUNING SHRUBS. My remarks on pruning hitherto have been confined to fruit trees, but many deciduous and evergreen flowering shrubs should now be carefully gone over. Many very beautiful flowering shrubs, if left unpruned, soon become unsightly from their irregular habits of growth, when by a little judicious pruning they can be kept neat and pretty specimens without destroying the natural appearance of the trees. In pruning, the knife only should be used. The shears should never be used in cutting any trees or shrubs until they form a hedge. Many trees and shrubs that are naturally j graceful and pleasing in appearance are destroyed by the use of the shears. In pruning, remove all protruding and irregular branches, being careful not to destroy the natural aspect of the tree, and if the pruning is carefully done, cuts or wounds will scarcely be visible. Lasiandras, habrothamnus, oestrums, cantuas, and many other beautiful flowering shrubs, if allowed to grow unpruned, would soon become an eyesore by their straggling growth and scanty appearance. These should be cut regularly as soon as they have done flowering. By careful pruning these are made to grow into compact and handsome shrubs. Allow no two plants to encroach on each other. Look carefully over all specimen trees. Special attention should be paid to the regulation of the leaders, and to the pruning and taking out of any common i plants that may be encroaching upok choice specimens. Shrubs that have been planted as nurses for protecting choice plants should be carefully watched, and their growth checked when necessary. Kepos.