SEASONABLE NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 10

SEASONABLE NOTES.

Orchard.— The pruning of gooseberry and currant bushes may be done towards the end of the month, and planting of the same may then also be done. It is important to- plant early, and to come to an early decisioa as to what is to be planted. There are many advantages to be gained by doing so. The pknts themselves are the besb because they are the first selected, and as a rule the first seleotion of a nurseryman's stock is always the best, so that the customer who calls earliest on his nurseryman is certain always to be the best served. Bee that the ground to be planted is well drained and well dug or trenched, according to its depth, never, of course, turning up subsoil, be it good or bad, but break it up and leave it in its place. Overluxuriant and unfruitful trees should be root pruned, but the operation should be performed, with great -care in the manner recently described. Strawberries, if not already dressed, should be attended to without delay, giving them a good dressing of manure on the surface after, the removal of weeds and runners, but do not dig it in. Fruit.— Apples and pears gather as they ripen ; gather ooly in dry weather, and only when fit It requires some experience to determine the last point Two of best tests of the fitness of either of these fruits to be gathered are first by lifting each fruit; in the hand, raising it to a horizantal position, when, if it parts from the branch without force, it is quite ready to store ; then another test lies in the colour of the seeds, which can only be ascertained "by cutting a fruit open. If the seeds are brown the fruit is fit to gather and store— not so if green or white. Early sorts of apples and pears will mature better and keep rather longer if gathered before they are quite ripe. ' ■ Vegetables— Be sure to get a piece of ground in a warm and sheltered locality ready for a sowing of peas, to stand the winter. Continue to earth up celery, leeks, and eardoons as fast as they require it. The ground is in splendid workiug condition now for all such work as Bulbs.— All the early flowering kind*, such as inowdropa, orooui, dog'a tooth violets, Persian,

' and other btilboui irises, crown imperial, .^a¥-r cissusJ&c'., should .'be plan'teo>ith,.she least' possible delay;' . HArdY Flowers.— Everything should be kept neat and 'tidy; M &3rnpve all dead, leaves, and flower stems. Mark by b tally. r the positions occupied by telumps of bulbs, so ;that their destruction may be avoided during the winter by any Operations that may occur. Roses may be planted, and any other hardy flowering shrubs' that' may, be. desifred. AH hardy flowering plants may be)apprppriately;plfmted during themontk,' and ' stock , of any r that are desirable .may be, increased by. division. Pinks, carnations, and picotees should be planted out without delay. Should dahlias be frosted before the end of the, month, do riot 'allow the roots to remain long in the ground afterwards, else if the weather should' prove mild for fibme time they will, have a tendency to start growing again,; and the keeping powers of .the roots be impaired in consequence. When lifted, place the roots in a sunny place, or if possible in an airy shed to dry before storing away. Those who grow the turban varieties of ranunulus Ehould have a bed prepared for, them as early as possible* The bed should be deep and composed- of rich materials, good compost .being preferably to manure, but if the latter is used let it; ba thoroughly well mixed with the soil by means of several turnings and breakings with a fork.