GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JUNE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10781, 1 June 1911, Page 2

GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JUNE .

(By Jas. Gebbie.)

June corresponds to December in. Great Britain, when only winter weather prevails. -With us so far the weather has been exceptionally mild and a deal' of interest in the flower border yet'-xe-inains.' Passing the garden of Mr Rose a few days ago I noticed a bed, of Salvia bonfire in fuirbloom, and 166k- ; ing as fresh as it did two months* ago--. In other gardens roses, cosmos, marigolds; carnations, and nil-' merouSiOtherTplants are making a brav;<?' show,- indicating the extreme inildues.s'; of the season. A "beautiful vase of flowers caft. Easily be culled from the open border, and this is an attractive duty, especially for ladies. How:;".different are they circumstanced from' tbe' housekeeper of the Homeland, who, would Only have a few blooms of Christr mas. rose. to associate with a few bits of berry-bearing shrubs or even ivyleaves.

In the flower garden all spaces should now be rough dug "and. all those borders which are. planted should be neatly and carefully pointed over, taking care not to injure'any of the plants in the process. The digging over of flower-garden borders, at this time not only gives this department an' appearance of order and neatness during winter, when there is little else to attract the eye, but it s"aves time and'trouble in the spring, and is also attended with advantages such as turning up the eggs and larvae of insects, so' that many of them will be picked up by. birds. It benefits the soil and. renit capable of being put into neat order in the spring. It allows the rain and frost to penetrate and to deposit certain salts beneficial to the growth of plants, and gives a character of keeping to the whole that the hardrbeaten surface can never present. Roses and other ornamental trees and shrubs can be planted from now on when it is neither frosty nor too wet.. In either case defer the operation for suitable weather. It is getting late for planting bulbs, with the exception of ranuneulus and anemones for late flowering. Gladioli can be planted up to September or even later if the bulbs' can be kept in good condition. Carnations, Canterbury bells, and any such like border plants can be planted. Winter and spring are the seasons in which these border plants are generally procured, but where practicable early autumn planting is to be preferred. Anything planted early in the season when there is some warmth in the soil soon takes hold and is established ready to start into vigorous growth when the growing season comes round. Fruit Garden. —There is scarcely anything to be done in the fruit garden this month that cannot be done with equal propriety either in the preceding or in the next two months. This may be called the dead month of the year. 1 The pruning of fruit trees should be carried out, and where fresh plantations are required the ground should be prepared at once. The planting of all sorts of fruit trees and bushes can now be attended to. In numerous old gardens and orchards we find a number of old, worthless trees which should be removed and burnt. They are simply in the way.. They are more susceptible to scale, blight, and other pests which ravage our gardens than young trees are. These old, diseased trees are a fruitful source of spreading fungus, pests, etc., and are a menace to ,young and healthy plants. . Kitehen Garden. —The operation of digging and trenching should be continued if the weather is dry. Deciduous hedges may now be cut and any fences in connection with the garden put in repair if necessary. Onions and other root crops, when stored, should be occasionally examined and all that show symptoms of decay removed before they contaminate the reniainder. Peas and beans may be sown if the weather be mild and dry, and those sown earlier which are above ground should have the soil stirred about their stems and a little soil drawn up to them if necessary. If not done already the root crops should be taken up for the winter's supply. By storing them away in sand or earth in some convenient place under cover, much disagreeable handling in wet ground may be prevented as well as time saved. Greenhouse.—ln this department there is little to be done beyond the routine .work. Careful watering, ventilation, 1 and the removal of all dead and decaying foliage will be the most important operations of the month. In cold frames, where a number of plants are stored for the winter the lights must be kept off during all fine weather, and in dry weather, even though it be rather cold, providing there is not a keen and nipping air. Even under such circumstances the frames must not be closed entirely, nor in wet or damp weather, but must be tilted more or less to admit of a change of air. Of equal importance to plants is the provision of a dry bottom, hence the advantage of elevating the plants on an open platform above the floor. The whole treatment should be directed to maintain the plants stocky, sturdy, and hardy through the winter months.