THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

FRUIT GARDEN.— With the end of May planting of all kinds of fruit trees should be commenced. An excellent selection of apples is given below under the heading " Apples iWorth Growing." We adviso early planting, which allows time for the trees to become established before the really severe weather sets in, rendering some soils almost unworkable. Another great advantage in early planting is that the best trees are available early, and are always picked out first in the season. Some amateurs make a great mistake" in their desire to procure 'immediate results, and order old trees of four or five years, in order, as they think, to save time. No greater mistake can Tbe made, as a well-grown two-year-old tree is by far the best-aged tree to plant, as these do not suffer the severe check at the roots which takes 'place when older trees are planted, and •which consequently take a long time to recover before vigorous growth can set in, while a •healthy two-year-old soon re-establishes itself and grows rapidly from the'first.

KITCHEN GARDEN.— The excessive rains ■which have fatten will render it necessary to 'delay the digging of heavy or clayey lands for a few days, as when such soils are disturbed while saturated with'inoisture more harm than good is done. The ground should always be allowed a few days to drain 'after such rains ■'•£ we have been having. Cabbage and cauliflower crops which are to stand throughout the winter should have all open furrows cleaned out. Any stagnant water will cause the crop to go off in a very short time. All other growing crops should be kept free from surface water -as far as possible. The earliest sowings of onions should now be pushing through the soil. This crop requires keeping free from weeds all "through the season, and so the drills or beds ehould be gone through at short and regular intervals. Unless this is attended to as soon as the first weeds make their appearance, it 'becomes almost impossible to keep them clean. This is particularly the case upon old soils, as /the work has to be done by hand, and thereiore if neglected it frequently costs more than the plants can be purchased for in the spring tc keep them clean. Hence the necessity for cowing upon new and clean land if possible. .Further sowings of onions, parsnips, spinach, .and various salads should now be made, the Uast-named in much smaller quantities and at longer intervals during the last two or .three months, as most of the varieties grown .•will remain much longer fit for use than those jjlanted earlier in the season. The planting of rhubarb should now be commenced, as the earlier this is done the better it will ue for the crop the first season. If it is desired to pull any for use the first season, it is necessary that extra strong roots should be planted oarly. Small crowns should be allowed a full season's growth before commencing to pull. The land antended for thi^-crop should be deeply worked and heavily manured, and the crowns should - 'be planted from 2ft Gin to 3ft apart each' way. '-The crowns should also have a surface dressing of rather long manure. Old crowns or /beds which have ripened off their foliage should "be cleaned away, and the ground should be tvell dug over. Where the crowns are mulched annually, the old mulching should now be dug dn, and a fresh application be given either at ,the time of digging or before the new growth Bets in. As the season advances, a large area of land should be prepared for winter cropping. This will soon be required for broad beans, peas, and parsnips, *a during the next few weeks the Bowing of these should be commenced, late-planted celery will require attention in the earthing up if the plants are not making a good growth. Before giving the first earthing .•up, a light dressing of bone dust, if pointed dn, will assist the plants considerably, it being necessary to have a regular and rapid growth po as to ensure large and crisp heads of wellblanched celery.

FLOWER GARDEN.— The present i 3 a good .time tc form new lawns, or renovate old ones iwhich may have become full of weeds or mossy. If a new Idwii is to be laid down the 3oil should be thoroughly levelled, or graded if on a slope, and should then be deeply dug, breaking up the soil as the work proceeds, taking care to throw out ajl weeds, stones, etc. If the soil ds not in good heart add a dressing of bonedust. After fhe digging ia completed, tread the whole down firmly and evenly, raking over ioui?hiy, after which sow rather thickly especially-pre-pared lawn grass seed. It is better to err on the side of too much seed than too little, as if sown too thin a tufted growth follows, which seldom makes a good bottom. Aftor sowing rake down fine and roll firmly to set the seed. Jf an established lawn becomes full of weeds in any part, or, as often occurs, the grass dies out in patches during a hot, dry summer, these uarts should be dug over and the .weeds carefully picked out, and the land then sown' down as before advised for' new lawns. 014 lawns may be much improved by dressing

with soot or bonedust. If after the seed is well up upon the plots it shows at all bare in any places, sow additional seed upon the bare places to secure an even braird. The flower borders are now becoming very bare and seedy looking. Chrysanthemums of course afford the principal show. Violets would be much benefited by a top dressing of well-decayed manure. Continue to plant out hyacinths, tulips, ranunculi, ixias, sparaxis, etc. Mark the position of each class or row with a label, as often the surface becomes overgrown with weeds before the bulbs are above the ground, and it becomes a dangerous proceeding to hoe amongthem unless marked.

GREENHOUSE.— More care must be taken now in giving air and watering, as not so much of either will be required during the dull months we are entering upon. It will be found necessary to water with greater care to prevent damping off. Cuttings of pelargoniums which were inserted early should be examined, and if well rooted should be potted off singly into 4in pots, and kept close for- a week or 10 days until started. Cyclamens must be kept giowing in an airy position near the glass.