THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2884, 30 June 1909, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOE THE WEEK KITCHEN GARDEN.— Digging ar.i trenching, v/Ueeling out manure upon the quarters, and turning compost heaps tan ba proceeded with. Generally all work should be pushed forward which will relieve 1! c pressure chvriiig the busy time of sp:ing. Where conveniences do not exist for iorc;i:j rhubarb it is a g-ccd plan to cover som-e of the strongest roots in the open ground •with casks or large pots, surrounding them with l-eaves and 'itter from the stable, ix produce a gentle -warmth. In pieparir.g the ground for new plantations of rhubaa-b. asparagus, and swkz.le ihe son camiot be made too rich. If not already done tske this- earliest opportunity of nuid ■weather to sow a fey rows of peas and beans, selecting the best early varieties. FRUIT GARDEN.— Where orchard trees have been neglected and axe crowded with a, thicket of useless sprays severe thinning and pruning of the inner branches must he resorted to, as the trees cannot produce fruit «xcep' at the extremities of tho outei branches whilst thej have to support a forc3t of useless wood. FLOWEB GARDEN.— Opportunities -wili occur when holes for planting choice shrubs and trees rna-y be prepared by removing unsuitable soil and substituting a proper composv. When trees or shrubs are not doing well tko soil may be carefully removed from the roots and replaced with fresh compost. . This timely attention will often sav-a a ohoice shrub and cause it to a»ake a healthy growth. Hardy annuals must bo protected after frost *by a few branches of evergr^een from sunshine, whkh is very destructive of new growth. The tubers of dahlias suffer from both damn and over-dTyness. It is best to pot choice tu]>erj» in a. jamdv compost, and place them

where thsy will not be liable to drip in a house from which frost can be kept cut. - GREENHOUSE.— The demand for flovrc-rs from ihe giass structures is always great when none are to be obtained from the garden, therefore it requires a considerable amount of thought and management to kceo up a supply., especially if the space is limited and no fire heat is at command. It is useless to look for bloom from plants whioh do not flower naturally sA this sea»son, or which have not been prepared beforehand. Azalea amoena is perhaps the most manageable of this showy ttihs of plants, and it has the merit of being very fiori-fero-us, and tb.e bloonra are very suitable for bouquets. Mardner's Pauline, the bride, and the flag of truce are aho good for the purpose, 'durable in ptrtial and distinct in colour. Where many camellias are grown they should be arrauged by themselves and occasionally syringed with " tepid water, as they are very impatient, of being subjected to a dry air, which is a frequent uause of bud-dropping. Ksep a low -termperature during the c&f. to avoid exciting plants j into piemature growth, and take every j I means to guard against damp.