STATE OF THE SOIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20622, 22 July 1930, Page 15

STATE OF THE SOIL.

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS. At tho present time the amount of work that can ba done depends on tlio state of the soil, but there, has been a fair spell of firio weather lately, and several of the operations mentioned recently should have- been completed. Tho gardener should be ready to proceed with tin- programme of work at an early op port-unity. But one must keep off tho ground when it is in a wet condition. .■\s a rule, boisterous weather is experienced at this time of tho year, with disastrous result 3 where unsupported : crops are concerned. Crops such as cabbage, rnav become, top.heavy as they near maturity, and it does not take much for them to be blown over in this stato. After straightening any plants that have j been Mown about it. is a cood plan to ■ draw some extra, soil op to the stems. ! :\ lew inches will give them consider- • able extra resistance to tho wind. In j order not to disturb the roots of the plants, il.e soil should bo scraped up from ' mid way between tho rows. The establishment of new, and the le- I planting of old, beds of summer rhubarb | may bo carried out at the most upper- i tunc moment. The preparation »>f a new I bed for winter rhubarb, either for renewing or for establishing, should be undertaken now, 50 that it will be in good condition by the timo the are to be put in. flor.sfi-radish bods mrtv be dug tip now i and icnev.cd. It i.< necessary to lift tho plant;; carefully, so that thero will be no pieces left in tho ground. If some of the small roots are loft in tho plot tho plants will coinu up most, erratically, while, if tho plot is afterwards to be used for joine other crop, tho plants coming up at random will prove n great nui.-.ance. Lor tho purpose of replanting the l ed voting pieces of root,, about sin. iong and as thick m a pencil, should he .'•elected and heeled in for the time being. It possible, they should have a little r,f 'he crown attached, but this is not essential. as they will shoot out. fmni tho baro root. What, remains after the cuttings have been taken out. should bo j " lopped," cleaned and dried in tho oven. When it is thoroughly dehydialed it can oe ground to a powder and stored in an ir-tight, container for flavouring. AX IMPORTANT WORK. j i CONTINUATION OF PRUNING. J'runing is still tho most importar.t item ! in orchard routino and this work should be pushed ahead with all speed as the season is advancing. With a winter as mild as tho present one, ono can never tell when the trees will awaken into life again. As early as this tho writer has seen a (lowering peach in full blossom, and so it is probable that none of the trees will remain dormant for long now. Meanwhile, in pursuing tho pruning operations one should not hurry unduly and perform the work with less care. It should be remembered that the prurnngs should bo gathered up after tho work for tho day has been completed. When left lying around the primings provide an excellent, harbourage for pests, but in all probability tlioy will already be affected by fungus and will be harbouring tho latent germs or else the eggs of insect pests in tho crevices in tho bark. Where the planting of fruit trees has been delayed until nearer tho spring, one may begin to think about putting the trees in their places very soon, as tho weather should shortly improve and bring better soil conditions, it is a very unwise policy to press the soil around the roots to any extent, a3 it will form h hard cake of soil in the summer when the clay is baked hard by the hot sun. The roots will naturally r«ke a hold on thb ground oi their own accord.