THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12931, 29 July 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

With . ' the :; advent of • August and fine weather : outdoor gardening operations, which have in a measure been in abeyance during the past two months, must again be actively resumed. The month of July . hav-; ing been extremely mild, and much finer and drier than usual, allowed . the beds and borders to be dug and weeds kept down. This has allowed work to be well forward, and the soil is in excellent condition for the reception of some of the hardy varieties of annuals and biennials that have been raised in boxes for early planting. Stocks, wallflowers, antirrhinums, mimulus, pansies, nemesia, cinerarias, and a few others should bo selected for present planting. Carnations and picotees may also-be transferred from the beds where they wore planted close together into their permanent positions in the flower beds and borders. Complete the general pruning of roses and those ; shrubs that need it. Carefully weed borders composed of violets, daisies, polyanthus, primroses, etc., also : the different' clumps of bulbs. . Bouvardias must be pruned - well, back to within a few inches from the surface of tho ground. All the. varieties need hard pruning, with tho exception of the . sweetscented white variety, Mumboldtii corymbiflora. The various climbers need attention in thinning out and, regulating the growth and tying up those that need support. ' , THE KITCHEN GAItDEX. ' Asparagus is a highly-prized vegetable, and one that requires careful cultivation to obtain the. • best results. Old beds should bo cleansed of weeds and have the 'surface soil between the rows lightly forked. At tho same time take care not to disturb the roots with the fork. The weeds around the crowns of the plants must be hand pulled to prevent injury . to the young shoots. Manure is best applied to : asparagus beds early in August. Some recommend its application .late in the autumn. This is a mistake, especially in our moist climate. So much rain falls during the winter, the manure keeps the soil in a sodden, sour state, and is liable to rot the roots, whereas when applied just before growth commences in spring , the roots are in fit condition to absorb the nutriment that is washed down by the first heavy rain. A moderate dressing of common salt should be given annually to established beds. It should be lightly scattered over the surface-with the hands. The salt not only acts as a manure, but also assists in preventing the growth of many weeds, and helps to keep the soil moist and cool during hot weather. The present is the best season of the year to plant new beds. Full directions were given in: the ■autumn how to prepare the beds. Beds large enough for three rows will be found most - convenient. The rows should be one foot apart, and .the .plants arranged from 12 \ tor 18 inches in the rows, placing them'" alternate!)'. One or two year old roots are the. best.V Wide, Hat drills should be made from three to four inches deep in which to place, the plants. Carefully-spread out the roots, and work well-pulverised surface soil in amongst them with the hands. Rhubarb is another wholesome vegetable, and should bo cultivated in every garden. When properly treated it may be easily and successfully grown; yet ' a common complaint amongst' growers is want of success. PRUNING. In pruning no trees should be allowed to carry a lot of weak, sterile growths, such as usually form on the inside of the trees. The shortening back of these'shoots is the means of inducing fruiting spurs -to form throughout the ' .whole body of the tree, and pruning should be done with this object. It is' 1 impossible to lay down any hard and fast rule for pruning, at any rate such as would allow , of any unskilled person - performing the work without-supervision,' as the trees differ -so much in their habits. growth and requirements. Apples, and pears are the latest to start into growth, ■ and may he

left until the winning of tlie> earlier-started varieties is completed. ,'lhdse, however, too, require a certain amount of pruning annu-; ■ally "With many varieties, particulaily the ; older ' trees that are carrying crops each ■ ■year .the pruning: may only consbt ,m cu away damaged or,-crossed branches,;; other's, on the Other hand, may, need some , Iv.vr! nrunintr to produce a aliap-cly hob. V a Sir with many is .understood to mean. L heading back of all branches throughout the tree, whether there is; a superabun-,-dance of growth or not, 4 whereas-in vciy many instances the tree would ( be more : benefited with a few - barrovvloads ot good manure applied to the roots. In « meat many cases, however, pruning is neglected i altogether, and the reason ot ; this ■ neglect is that most fruit trees will grow and produce fair crops vof .fruit (for a . time, at -j least) whether '.they- are pruned or not, and., as : large'- numbers of ; trees are grown simply,, for' house supply, and not for profit or :market, -the owners arc quite Content with the results until the trees become exhausted,, and cease to produce either growth or fruits. i Then they resort :to pruning, ! and perhaps call in an expert with, the idea that lie can at once place the trees again in a fruiting condition. Trees ...that. have been, I properly pruned -and; attended to during^ the first few years of their growth■ arc not diffi- • cult to manage, when they attain size. Well pruned and tended trees are not only ■ more sightly to all practical- orchardists, • but the fruiting .material is- more evenly ,distributed throughout the trees, ; and the prospects :.for .-.more ; regular/ and abundant, yields of fruit are enhanced. Bash fruits require a. good deal of pruning. As ? rule ! the gooseberry is one of,' the most neglected, plants in the matter of pruning, while there, ' arc few that; respond mo readily and fruit-. mora liberally: under fair treatment in pruning' and al'te; cultivation. Gooseberries re-, quire heavy pruning each year to, encourage •as much' growth. a.<. possible, as-the fruit is borne ■ upon the young wood-. The next important matter is manuring. ty. The plantsi when in 'a healthy, fruit-bearing condition produce a network of, roots near the surface of the soil, and naturally require'protection; during the hot, dry weather when carrying their fruit. If the plants. are thoroughly mulched with manure in early spring, the : roots ■ are■ protected, 4 • while ' the "plants are; 'stimulated by the manurial;properties being conveyed to the roots by the -warm-'spring' rains.: '! Other bush . fruits require similar treatment. ■ .. .m": • ' J ' ANSWERS TO COBEBSPONDENTS. " '

" Onions" : The object of sowing onion seed in autumn is to produce an early crop to .come in before the general or main crop. As previously stated, plants •'■ from . autumn sowings niust be transplanted, and • the seed ' must;be sown at the proper, time. Any time during , the month of August will be found • suitable for sowing for general crop. .Draw : shall,ow. drills, and scatter ,the 'seed; evenly along, not too thickly. No hard . and fast rule can. be laid down as to' the proper time .to; sow,'as. much depends 'upon' the character , and condition of the land. On warm, dry, .light volcaiiic soils sowings should be .made earlier than upon stiff, cold,: and naturally; wet clay 'soils. - :• ■ - IvEl'OS.' ••