THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. "With the advent of July operations in the flower garden should improve after so long a period of unsettled weather conditions and cold wet state o! the soil. Up to the present the planting of seedlings and other work necessitating treading upon and disturbing tho soil has been practically at a standstill. Rose planting must be pushed ahead on all favourable occasions. Digging among the roses may also be done when the soil is sufficiently dry. Rose pruning, excepting for convenience in working amoiij the plants, is better if deferred until the middle of this month. There aro still a few buds and flowers on come of the bushes. The planting of the different varieties of lilies may be proceeded Plant them in clumps and at a depth of from four to six inches bolow tho surface. Attend to the pruning of the different varieties of evergreen trees and shrubs. All require more or less pruning to improve their appearance. Now is the time to clip hedges composed of cupressus, macrocarpa, lawsoniana and any other kinds as well as junipers, thujas and other hedges of conifers. Deciduous trees and some shrubs should be pruned by cutting off borer-infested branches and any others to improve the symmetry of the trees. After pruning spraying is necessary to kill mosses, lichens and other parasitic growths that infest all trees and shrubs in our moist climate, both evergreen and deciduous.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. For some weeks paßt work in tho vegetable garden has been greatly restricted by the wet state of the soil. After such heavy rain, however, the soil la tho more in need of loosening up, which should be done when the soil is dry enough to work. Any now ground required lor future cropping should be deeply broken up and manured as well as any land from which crops have been cleared. Cut down runner beans and clear the tops from the stakes or trellis. II stakes are used for supports they should be collected and placed aside for future use. Take advantage o2 favourable weather to manure and prepare the ground for planting out autumn-sown onions. The planting out of potato onions and shallots should be completed without further delay. Keep a close watch upon early sown peas as soon as they show above the ground and take measures to protect them from slugs, snails and small birds. Continue the pruning of fruit trees 35 they mature, and ripen their wood. A s soon as the pruning is completed the trees should be thoroughly sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, lime sulphur or other effective insecticide.

At tho time of pruning any scions required for regrafting should be selected, choosing clean, well ripened wood of the previous season's growth. When the weather permits the planting out of fruit and other trees should be resumed. This, however should not be done while the soil is In a sodden condition.