NOTES FOR THE MONTH. KITCHEN GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 7

NOTES FOR THE MONTH. KITCHEN GARDEN.

Asparagus may now be planted, placing the plants nine inches apart. The rows should be 18 inches wide; for beds, three rows should occupy a space of three feet in a four feet wide bed. Plant rhubarb, four feet between the rowß and the stools two and a-half feet apart. Sea kale are generally planted about two feet apart in threes, and the rows are usually in pairs, thirty inches apart, with an intervening space of five feet, planted in rich, moist ground. Plant globe artichokes f.«t feet between the lines, and two or three feet between the plants. Sow peas and broad beans, and continue to earth up celery and all the cabbage tribe that require it. Plant out a suocession of cabbage and cauliflower ; also eschalots and garlic, If any potatoes remain in the ground take them up without delay. All vacant ground ought now to be manured and rough dug, that the soil might become pulverised.

FRUIT DEPARTMENT.

Pruning of all sorts should be done now. Peaches, nectarines, and apricotß bear on the shoots of a year old (with, the exception of the Moorpark apricot, which bears on spurs of two and three years old) ; filberts on .the annual shoots; apples, pears, plums, and cherries on spurs produced from shoots of two or three to twenty years old. Gooseberries and red and white currants irequire close pruning. Black currants— shorten the young wood and keep the heart of the bush open. This description of fruit (currants) only pays when grown on young, vigorous, and healthy bushes. Bushes over ten years old should be replaced, as it generally happens that they are not what they were at the age of five years. The climate of New Zealand is remarkably favourable to bush fruit, and seeing the readiness with which a slip or cutting takes root, it would be bad grace to keep oH and useless plants when one could be procured at the nominal sum of fourpence. All fruit trees, busheß, and canes should now be planted.

FLOWER DEPARTMENT.

Frost in localities shaded, or in a manner bid from the sun, will affect tender plants, and consequently protection is necessary. Look over cuttings, removing all decayed leaves ; and prevent damping off by giving plenty of air. Remove layers from stools of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, arbutus, roses, &c, and plant out and relay er the Btools. Lift and relay box, gravel walks, gather seeds, and keep the ground free from weeds. All bulbs ought to be in the ground, but if any are not yet planted, this should be done- as soon as possible. Wallflower, sweetwilliam, stockß, and Canterbury bells may now be planted. Lift dahalias, and store them past in dry sand until spring. Before storing them, Bee that the tubers are dry, otherwise the whole will perish.