THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 9

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOB THE WEEK. FRUIT GARDEN.— Whers strawberries still rcmuin implanted they should be put out at once. ". »Vhen such late planting is adopted no fruit can be expected the first year, but a. good growth is generally made, such as krins strong fruiting crowns, for the following season, which is a distinct gain of time over deferring to another season. All planting of bush and tther fruits should be completed as early as* possible. Such young trees as were planted early should receive what pruning is required; the shoots should be cut well back so as t secure a strong break from well-developed bud?. Grafting of all kinds of ston« fruits should now be in a forward condition,' as« the growth on these will Boon be very ".rapid. Apple trees" or stocks which sue to » be grafted should be worked during the month of September. Only such varieties should be grafted as have proved lo be suited to the district, as very many apples which produce excellent crop 3of fruit in one locality are useless in another far distant. FLOWER GARDEN.— AII the early flowering bulbs are now pushing through the soil, which "should "be lightly hoetKover, and from this time kept quite free from weeds,- which offer "such shelter foir slugs as frequently "to lead to the destruction of many of the earlier spikes of bloom. Resort should be had to hand-picking late at night where slug* are numerous; this, together with frequently tuoving the surface of the soil- with an occasional dusting of fresh-slacked lime over the. ground late at nigh^, on a warm or muggy f RJght; this will settle the slugs, and not harm any plants, except rhododendrons. Strong plants of wallflower, sweet-william, pansy, and other hardy annuals and perennials should now be planted out into the borders - where they are to flower. The pruning of roses should now be general. KITCHEN GARDEN.— As soon as the former sowings of pea* are we!! abore the soil, Buy about &n or 4in, suocessional sowings •hould be made in rather larger quantities than for the earlier sowings. Stratagem, Yorkshire hero, and pride of the market are itill the best for sowing. In sowing small leeds of kinds of salads and cauliflower sc'jd." % raised bed of soil should be formed well above the »rdinary Icv«l of the surrounding soil I 5 4J to make a dry seed bed, which at this- season is important, as young seedlings make no progress in a water-logged «oiL Where golden ball turnip seed was jown lftta the plants should be thinned out • vxd kentfrec from weeds. This variety ia one^olthe best for keepiug late on into the ■pring, as it is not so early in -throwing up for- seed- as many of the white kinds. In planting out the early rows of potatoes me-dium-sized sets only should be used, or there will be many losses from decay. Whei& seakale is grown, ■ a portion should now be covered up for the earliest supply. The cultivation of this excellent vegetable i* n ot

«« general as ttn merits deserve in this colony ; a small bed *nee planted out, with ordinary care, will 'act for many years. The stems should be bltnched in the -same mamer as celery, as they should be perfectly white to be fit to ccofc. This can be secured by placing a large flowerpot or box over the crown, so as to exclude all light and air until the seakale is out. when the covers should bo at one» removed. The crowns can be forced in the same manner as rhubarb. Ther6 is still time for the planting out of rhubarb and asparagus. If the land has not been deeply worked and well manured, this should be done as soon as possible. Planting out the asparagus may be deferred until next month if other work is pressing, but the rhubarb should be planted without delay. A small sowing of celery seed should be made in a box, aad placed in a frame or under some other shelter to bring on into growth early, thinning out and transplanting as soon ; as the plants are strong enough to handle, and exposing to the sun and air. When well I established by thjs> treatment, large celery 1 may be had very early in the season. As the weather improves more frequent sowings of salads should be made, and those which require transplanting should be attended to and not permitted to become over-crowded in tha seedbed, or the plants will become weak and drawn, and such are difficult to establish early in the season. A small sowing of carrot seed, either shorthorn or intermediate, should 'now be put in. VINEBIES. — The plants in the early house are now mJoving nicely, and the shoots should be thinned as Soon aB the strong growths can be distinguished from the. weak ones. As a rule", one shoot to each spur is sufficient, though if these are rather farther apart than usual, or th» vines are weak and require encouragement — and "to do this there is nothing like, permitting plenty of foliage— two or even three breaks to each spur may be allowed; but in this case only one, as a rule, should be allowed to bear fruit, the others being pinched beyond the second or third leaf. As ' soon as the bloom can be seen, stop the bear- ' ing shoots at one joint beyond this. Maintain a moderately moist atmosphere, and ventilate very cautiously; at this stage, a temperature of about 60deg at night, or certainly not less than 55d*g, will suit Hamburgs, etc., though Muscata, arid some other delicate kinds, require sdeg to lOdeg more. Take care that the plants do not get dry at the roots, and if planted outside, that both the borders and -.he exposed portions of the stems 'are ttor^Wekly protected by means of a good deptn of mildly-fermenting manure, witb plenty of btybands or sacking wrapped round the stems. Canes for all but the latest crops should now be pruned and started.