OTAGO GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR JUNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1085, 12 June 1865, Page 5

OTAGO GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR JUNE.

Improvements of nil kinds, such as alterations of beds, clumps, lawns, ami gardens, should now bo carried into effect. Those who wish to commence sowing seeds in the spring should no*' make choice of their ground, have it fenced in, and prepared, by trenching, &c. A soil rather light should be preferred, as it is much more easily worked thnn soil of a heavy nature, nnd manure can always bo applied to increa-e its feitility. Ofull manure, the best is stable manure, well rotted, not laid out to dry and pulverise, but rotted in such a manner that the ammonia may be rctninel in it. The first thing is to ascertain the nature of the soil. If there are two spits of good earth, trench it nil over ; if not, only dig and turn over the bottom spit. L?nrn also if ilia land has been properly drained, or if there is a natural drainage. Dig out the pith, first thing, six or tight inches deep, and then yen can throw in all the stones and rubbish that you can find in digging or trenching, which will make a foundation tor the gravel walk. Drains should be dug three feet t\x inches deep—the form of V down to a point. When you cannot get the pipes, use large stones and bushes. If Hie grou.id is level, the drains must be deeper st one end thnn the other. If there be a good outlet, «o much the better ; but if not, you must make one. The edging may b3 strawberries, parsley, duisiec, thrift, and box. In the kitchen garden, all vacant ground should now be dug and left rough, to bo mellowed by frost. Cnbbago plants may be put in, and celery must be earthed up from time to time. Make new plantations of rhubarb, and form bc-ds of asparagus. Priek lettuce plants out in frames, and admit the light and air to those plants in frnmes which have (aken root. Sow peas in a warm, sheltered situation. Plant early broad beaus. Commence planting eschalots, garlic, and potato onions. Next mouth will bo the time to commence planting early potatoes. In the fruit garden, continue the transplanting of all sorts of trees. Now is the time for pruning. Wall trees must have all foreright shoots cut off, the shoots that grow straight out from the wall, all weakly branches removed, and the best laid in and nailed to the wall. Orchard trees should have all the waste wood cut out of the head, branches that crop or grow inwards removed. The object of pruning is to take away superfluous wood that helps to exhaust the tree and keeps away light and air, thus miking it grow with greater regularity, and to produce larger and better fruit. If the espaliers are "maidens," they must be pruned btck to about four or five buds on each shoot. If they have been planted a year or two, there will be plenty of shoots to select from, and the young wood may be left upwards of nine inches in length. In all modes of training, the main purpose and ultimate position of the shoots must be kept steadily in view from the first, rememb?ring (hat bearJDg fruit is no part of the object in the earlier stages, but the establishing a good form. Gooseberry and currant trees may have all their lateral or side shoots cut short; that is, down to half an inch to an inch, leaving the end shoot on ; all branches that grow inward should be cut clean awny. Black currants want no other pruning than weakly branches removed. Raspberry canes enly require shortening. As regards planting trees and bushes, it may be remarked that if the soil is l very loose about the roots, or caked hard, the plant cannot thrive. In planting trees and bushes, the collar of the plant must be even w itb. the surface. It is 'Tuiri to a tree to put any of the stem below the surface ; and, when planted prSperly, a tree must be fixed in its place somehow by stakes or ties ; for, if the wind disturb a tree after the roots are firmly trodden in, the fibres mast be broken or torn.

UKFOTBN ANI> CO.,