GARDENING CALENDAR FOR JUNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 159, 10 June 1854, Page 2

GARDENING CALENDAR FOR JUNE.

When the ground is dry enough for working 1 , transplanting may be done according to directions given in last month's Calendar. Pruning ought to be finished soon, and, if practicable, this important operation should be performed by a practical gardener ; but by those who prune for themselves the following rules may be observed : Remove all suckers from the roots of fruit trees and bushes. Leave Red and White Currant bushes open in the centre. Select anrl cut back to sor 6 inches the strongest and be^ placed branches to form the bush, and shorten the Intern! shoots on those lett to two or three bmls to form fruit spurs ; the same system of pruning should be observed annually. Black. Currants require Imt little pruning, except the removal ot branches crossing each othpr, and to be kept rather open in the centre to admit light and air to the truit. Remove dll very gross shoots of last season's growth from Gooseberry bushes ; leave the young wood moderately thin, and cut away all shoots having a tendency to cross each other. Where the system so otten recommended in former Calendars, of frequently pincing the young shoots off fruit trees dm nig the growing season has been carried out, little pruning will be ncer>siary at present, but where pinoing has not been adopted; shorten long straggling shoots to induce ti dwarf habit of growth. Remove all unripencd wood from Grape Vines, and cut buck weak growing ones to one or two buds from the root. Stir the ground over their roots, and lay some strong manure on the surface, that its juices may be washed down to them by rain. Clear Strawberry plantations of runners, and dig in some manure between the rows, taking care not to injure the plimfs with the spade, and (brm new plantations in mild weather, as recommended in the Calendar for last month.

VrGr.TABLCS.— Sow Peas and Broad Beans ; the former, if in good land, will require 4 feet between the rows, and the latter 2 feet. Prepare ground well for Early Cabbage, and set whenever the plants nre large enough tor removing. Plant Rhubarb on rich friable soil, and place a li rge quantity of strong manure round old plants, which is best done by opening a trench from 18 inches to 2 feet from the roots, and cover with the best of the soil removed. Dig up all vacant spaces to the action of the weather, and if practicable loosen the subsoil to a considerable depth during the operation. It will be seen by the late rains where drains are required, which should be formed immediately, or the wet parts marked with stakes to be executed at convenience.

Flowering Shrubs; &c— Plant out Hawthorns to form hedgres, also Shrubs, Trees, ice. Cuttings of flowering Shrubs may still be set in deep soft soil; and tender thinjrs had better have young 1 Manuka or other leafy boughs set round them, especially on the north-east side, to shade them from the morning sun, which otten proves injurious to tender plants in frosty weather. Admit plenty of air to plants under glass on tine days, as soft yood plants itre liable to be injured, by damp during the present dull weather.