THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 7 June 1900, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK,

KITCHEN GARDEN.— The operations here aie now becoming limited to the preparation of the ground for spring crops and keeping the surface soil free from weeds. As previously pointed out, the chaiacter of the crop must be ,t>orne in mind in preparing the ground, making the change of crop as diverse as possible. Changing the subjects grown, or cross-cropping, should always be practised,, but as the loutine of cropping- is often dependent upon soil azid situation no definite rule - can be laid down. Turn over compost heaps, and -collect all hedge clippings and garden refuse for a, smother. Aiacange the heap so that it shall burn slowly. {There is always a large proportion of soil among thai weeds. collected irorn the garden, and the burnt earth and charred -vegetable refuse will form a useful addition to onion beds and other bulbous crops. ' FLOWER GARDEN.— The formation of a bod of hardy. perennials, which will be interesting at all seasons, can be carried out now successfully. For an evergreen bed plant Yucca gloriosa- in the centre, and around it a ring of (Yucca- filamentosa and flaccida mixed. These sorts flower regularly and well. A few bulbs of the dark varieties of gladioli planted between them would contrast with the white flowers of the yuccas in summer. Around the ■yuccas plant a ring of Iberis correcefolia, and succeeding that a ring of Erica carnes. Auibrietia. purpxirea. will form the margin, and by 'dropping in a few bulbs of Scilla bifolia and snowdrops between the circles of erica and au"bretia the effect will be all the better.

. GREENHOUSE.— Damp is the great enemy to contend with. Let the house be well ventilated, keep the plants free from dead leaves and bloom stalks, stir the surface of the soil In the pots, and be careful in watering, which should be done early in the morning.

FRUIT GARDEN.— Prune apple trees. If any shoots are required for -scions these should be selected and tied in bundles, putting the name to each' lot. Xheir ends should then he inserted in the soil at the foot of a wall facing south, or where they may be kept fresh until the time for grafting ariives. Trees on walls should have any shoots not required for filling in vacant places shortened, back to one or two buds. Cut the leading ones back to plump wood buds well placed. Shorten the leading shoots also of pyramids to a bud on the side you wish the future growth to extend. 'Any branches that require regulating should be tied in position while they are young, otherwise they will become too strong to be brought into that posture afterwards. It will now be cafe to prune and nail apricots to the wall. -When pruning take care to make a clean cut from the under side of the bud in such a manner that the next season's growth, may heal over the wound. Be very careful when nailing not to let the nails come in contact with the shoots, if this occurs gumming will be sure to follow. If the wood is well ripened cut the leading shoots back to triple buds, leaving them abcut three parts of their length. The spurs should be shortened, according to their strength and distance from the walls. A bud or two more may be left on those that are short- jointed and near to the wall than on those that are farther away. Strawberry beds in the oper? ground that have become weedy should be ■■lightly forked over when the soil is dry enough for this purpose. Gooseberries, currants, and raspberries should now be pruned. Keep the .centre of the gooseberry bush well open, clea-r out all sickly branches, and shorten, all strong shoots to oneliali their length, removing suckers ; with raspberries, cut away the_ wjpod which bore this year's fruit, then cut the suckers, leaving a dozen of the strongest for fruiting next season, which should be tied together. Black currants will not bear cutting back; they should, however, be freely thinned out.