THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12609, 25 June 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Tub' clipping and trimming of evergreen hedges should be done daring the winter, months, as the growth is more dormant than at any other Beaton. Hedges composed of the different varieties of cupressusj thujas, arid other conifers \ are often V permanently disfigured, and injured by" trimming them at . the wrong season. The work should always be done in the depth of the winter, when the sap is less active, Ekeagnua, ligustrums, ; African boxthorn, barberry, and others may; ; bo trimmed whenever they require it. Now, however, is a good time to have hedges clipped, as it allows ft freer circulation of air ; and admits more light into the garden and grounds, which is important when the 'soil j is so saturated with moisture. Proceed with tho planting of ornamental and shelter hedges wherever theyar©. required. . The weather, during this and next month is in- : variably moist and favourable, for carrying ' on transplanting operations. ; Under such conditions roots are quickly; produced, and the plants soon . become re-established ■; and are r i better able to withstand the harsh, dry, cold winds' of early spring than those that are planted towards" the middle and end of | August. The present is a good ; time for the I laying of box and other edgings.^ The plant- | ing of roses should also be attended to, a good supply of these universal favourites being in- | dispensable ; in every garden, ho matter how ! small, suitable places can be found for roses. With exception of cutting back some of: the straggling shoots that interfere with working around tho plants the pruning of roses must not be performeoVuntil about the middle of ! next month. ,'. ;".; ; ." . , I; • ■ . ■_■':■ The OKCHABD. - -. ■..■ I *; In renovating old orchards,': whether.; by ' grubbing out old trees arid replanting with young stock or by:, tryingi to restore old esI tablished trees, it is of .the greatest importance that the soil should be thoroughly prepared ;? and placed in euch condition 118 ' will i ensure healthy growth. No greater mistake ! can be made than in supposing that large i fruit-bearing trees will go on growing and bearing heavy crops of fruit year after 1 year without the soil having restored to it such mineral constituents as have been y abstracted from it by the production of growth and fruit. Every plant or tree that ; grows needs appropriate food, and it is only in proportion as this, is applied or obtainable in the soil that success is itained. Unfortunately sufficient interest is rarely paid to the requirements of the various orchard fruits, with the result that so many; trees are to be seen in an unhealthy, debilitated condition." Failure, ■ however, may arise from various causes. In some orchards the trees fail through the roots having penetrated into cold, undraincd soil, that _ is practically waterlogged throughout the winter and early spring months; others on the other hand may fail froip the opposite cause, being plant-_ ed in soil so dry and poor that little nutriment can be absorbed to sustain growth. As i soon, however, as a' tree shows signs of fail- j ure, the first question should be, What is the cause of its unsatisfactory condition? , It is only when the cause is determined that remedial measures can be applied. Trees when they become stagnant soon indicate their condition by ceasing to make healthy growth, while the branches I" soon become covered with moss and other parasites. This is the result of: stagnation, struggling for existence in famine-stricken soil, and not as many imagine through growing in wet, undrained soil, as trees in the condition stated above may be seen growing upon etony, light volcanic land. If the fruit food, which mainly consists of lime, potash, phosphorus; and soda is in the soil,, with the necessary moisture, the result must be healthy growth, and well developed fruit. Another means of renovation is by grafting. By this means many trees that fail to make progress can be made to produce vigorous growth. To do this, however, the scion must be taken from what is naturally a vigorous growing tree. Any strong, vigorous growing variety has the effect of causing an extension of, root action, so that sufficient nutriment is formed to produce, for a time at least, strong growth. This fact is at once apparent when strong blight- ;

proof varieties ofapples .are worked upon blighted varieties. .This same result,is seen if Mho. Japanese* plums, particularly the strongetffKWing varieties, are, worked upon poaches that have become stunted: it* fact, the same rule applies to nearly every-class of fruit. It is well known 'that the sewn, alters the* whole character" of the stock. (Perhaps no greater instance of this is seen than, 'when the loquat or ''the shrub <ph6tinia" : is • worked upon the quince stock, the result being that both being evergreen trees, the Quince; though deciduous, provides sufficient vitality to keep those evergreen trees healthy at all seasons of the year. .• AtffiSWEKS TO COKHESPONDKJTS. ' /'.'.v"Planter," ' North Auckland; Re young seedling karakas ■ being killed by frost in the seed bed. you should have '; sown the seeds beneath the: protecting / branches ;of ' some (spreading evergreen tree,/ and transplanted the young seedlings when six or/nine inches high", at equal distances of about twelve inches apart under the same,, tree, or other equally suitable/ place, allowing them to remain and grow'-"until'about 18' inches or 2ft high; wrench thorn in the autumn by ; cutting around each plant with the spade, and plant into permanent;places; towards the end of August; they would then bo large and strong enough to survive frOsts.'/iKowhais are very, hardy, and may be transplanted into the open with perfect; safety, provided they have fornix grown in the nursery for about 12 months, or properly prepared by wrenching the natural seedlings some weeks "previous to the transplanting. The botanical name of the dak you speak of is Quereus virens, the evergreen oak of North America, which is not only ornamental, but one of the best shelter trees to withstand the salt westerly blasts. Quereus ilex, the evergreen hollv, or holm oak, of which there are many varieties, is a native of South Europe, and is similar to the preceding; in nabit of growth arid general appearance. '.- : There are varieties of oaks \ that are adapted fo» different ooils and situation?;' some succeed in'swampy ground, notably Q. aquatica; others in rocky places, such as !Q. primus. The Japanese varieties of oaks "produce highly ornamental evergreen trees./ With the exception of a few of the common European "' sorts, the ; planting of oaks in New Z aland: has been sadly neglected. The majority of the varieties are easy/to grow,/and succeed admirably in this colony. , . ■. • 8.5., Ponsonby: ? Your letter, seeking information on -manures ;arid their application .opens up » wide subject that is too lengthy for this column. /.The various manures may be summed up in two classes, organic:: or " natural," and inorganic, as applied to artificial or chemical. • Nitrsito promotes growth. Too liberal an :• application of nitrogenous ' manures ' produces in the fruit coarse, rank growth, and is not conducive to fruitful-' ness.' phosphate promotes fruitfulness and early ripening, ami is at) essential, in the garden and orchard. Potash increases quality, ; and the store :'-. of ■ sugar ■" in. fruits, and allsp flavour. If -> any of.; the above three substances be wanting no en cess of the other two will make good the deficiency. In many instances applications of manure are ineffectual in producing good results, because tins soil ; lacks lime, and cannot lie brought'to a high : state of fertility without the addition of »this 'cssen jial. j The clubbing of cabbages and turnips and ravages of many insect pests may be greatly reduced, and even prevented, by the application of about one ton to the acre. Basic slag is perhaps (the best' phosphate to apply to the garden where there is a lack of Erne and plenty'of humus in the noil. It must be applied early in : the winter to produce results the next season. Use at the rate of from 10 to 20 cwt per acre, dug into the soil; uid give an additional dressing with superphosphate in the spring. By that means splendid results may be obtained. Kisros.