THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 4

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. Fruit Garden. — The planting out of all kinds of fruit trees should now be carried on with vigour, takiDg advantage of every dry day when the soil is in working order f avoiding treading upon the soil after heavy rains), as trees planted while the soil is at all sticky will not do so well as those planted under more favourable conditions. Those unaccustomed to the planting of fruit; trees should be careful not to plant too deep. If the stems are examined, it can easily be seen the depth they were planted when in the nursery, and they sbould again be planted the same depth, spreading the roots oat and working the soil well among the roots, and

treading the whole firm. Strawberries and raspberries may still be planted out, as before advised. Gooseberries should have the preference as regards early planting among bush fruits, as they are among the first to move in early spring. These useful bushes do not as a rule receive the attention they desire, as in the majority of gardens they are represented \tj a number of old stagers that ought to have been grubbed up years ago, aa old bushes only produce a small crop of poor flavoured berries and give a large amount of trouble in pruning, &c, and occupy by far too much space. All such should be discarded and young trees planted out, which come rapidly into bearing where good varieties are ■ grown. Cuttings should now be put in of the best sorts only, which, if attented to during the next season, would be fit to plant out next. Pruning of all kinds of fruit trees may now be commenced as the leaves are by this time all off. Where a quantity of trees are to be pruned much of this work may be done during or after heavy rains when the soil is too wet to dig. In all cases the trees should be pruned and cuttings picked up before the beds are dug.

Flower Garden. — Lawns which have been formed during the present season should be looked over, and if the seed is coming up at all patchy more seed should be scattered over the thin places and covered with fine dry soil. Upon a dry afternoon the roller should be run over it — about twice a week. As soon as the grass is long enough to cut it should be mown viith a scythe and kept quite short during the winter. The formation and sowing down of lawns may still be proceeded with. The general propagation of all show sor&9 of chrysanthemums should now commence. Select a healthy shoot that has sprung up as a sucker ; take this off when about 3in long, leaving a short heel to each cutting, which should be inserted in sandy soil and placed in a cold and shady frame to strike, which at this time of the year will take about six weeks. As sooh as they show signs of moving they must have more air gradually given them and afterwards be placed in an open and exposed position. The beds or borders that were planted out with hyacinths early in the seaion

must be very ca<-<*Fnlly hoed, aa the bulba will soon be pushing through, and may be cut off with the hoe if great care is not taken. The weeds should be ', cpt down by hand weeding where a hoe cannot be used. Where old stools of pansies have been kept from last spring they may now be broken up and divided into very small pieces, as such will be found to grow freely if planted now. This is only advised where really desirable varieties have been saved, or in the case of named sorts, as this will be found the best way to increase stocks. The common kinds are best renewed by means of a packet of seed of a good strain. All dahlias sbould now be dug up and stored away for the winter.

Greenhouse, Frames, &c. — Tuberous»rooted begonias should not have any more water given them, but should be stowed away under the stages of the greenhouse. The pots should be placed on their sides to keep them from getting wet during the winter. Cinerarias and primulas should now be coming on into Sower, and must be allowed more room for the leaves to develop. Cinerarias should be removed to the greenhouse a few weeks before coming into flower and hardened off, so as to stand the exposure to the sun and air without flagging. If the pots are at all full of roots they should have weak liquid manure given them every other watering. Pelargonium cuttings which were inserted in February, at the time of cutting down the plants, should now be fit for potting off into single pots— 4in pots will be found the most useful size. They should be perfectly clean inside and out, and well drained, and the drainage covered up with seme coarse leaf mould or green moss to prevent the soil Stopping up the drainage. The soil should be composed of a mixture of loam, leaf mould, manure, sand, and a handful of benedust. Each outting-pot, as it is turned out, should be distinctly labelled, or much confusion will occur later on.