THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3114, 19 November 1913, Page 12

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. FRUIT GARDEN.—Those who have taken the precaution Re mulch beds of strawberries and raspberries will be saved much labour and secure finer crops of fruit at less cost for labour than where water has to be applied by manual labour. Unless a sufficient degree of moisture is kept up the fruit, which should shortly be swelling, will ripen off prematurely, and succcs•ional fruit will fail at once if the roots suffer from dryness. All runners should be cut clean away as often as required, as with a good supply of moisture their growth is now rapid, to the detriment of the swelling fruit Apricots should bo trimmed out, as in most cases far too heavy a crop of fruit is set for the trees to develop properly. It will always be found more profitable to grow a small quantity of reallv good fruit than a large quantity of small, and consequently inferior. If for the tabic of the amateur or the grower for market purposes judicious thinning w ll be found- to pay. One is told often that a crop was hardly expected off such a tree this year because it was loaded last season; but this system of culture is a mistake in every way. Trees with the fruit so dote to the branches as to make them appear one mass of fruit will not make any substantial bloom buds, and all the fruit or, these crowded trees will be below the average in size. Indeed, it will only be thirdrate, whereas by judicious thinning the whole crop might easily bo secured of a first-class character, and the trees would go on bearing year after year with the greatest regularity. The best time to do this is before the fruit is half-size, or earlier; then there is time for that which remains to get the full benefit of the reduced crop. In thinning remove any fruit that is in any way deformed first, and do pot take a lot from one place and none from another, but remove it from all over the tree in a regular, way. As is well known, the finest fruit is always on the outside of the tree, and nof on the centre branches, as it is frequently too much shaded there, and in removing any fruit ft should bo taken rather freely from such parts, and let the most prominent specimens remain outside. Even where the crops are somewhat light, it is well to thin off deformed fruit, ns these take a considerable amount of nourishing, and are all but worthless when ripe. In localities where the codlin moth has made its appearance, bandages should now be placed upon the fruit trees in order to catch the worm, and the usual precautions taken to destroy them.

FLOWER GARDEN.-Bulb beds which have been planted sufficiently deep to admit of forkinar over the surface without injury to the bulhs should have the surface lightly dressed with manure as soon as the foliage has died off, and the soil lightly forked over. The beds may then be planted out ■with annuals, or verbenas, petunias, or other favourite summer plants, or, where desirable, the bulbs may be lifted and etored Tin's, however, should not be attempted until the bulbs are well ripened off, and even then they must be stored in sand in a rool shed or many of the hyacinths will decay. A sowing of mignonette should be made on any spare spaces where ft is found difficult to find room for many of the largo subjects. Avoid covering the seed too deeply; very much of the seed sown fails to appear above ground from this cause alone. A very good plan is to sow on the surface and cover with sand. In soils deficient in lime old mortar or plaster prmv bo added with advantage. Much additional beauty may be added to the flower borders by planting out such plants of luohaias and pelargoniums aa have become

too large for growing on in s*>ts for the greenhouse or verandah, These, if turned out early, and without destroying the ball of roots, will quickly establish themselves, and continue to flower all through the season. The work of thinning out and transplanting annuals should be attended to. The fullest advantage should be taken of any change in the weather to plant out during dull and moist days as far as possible. The growth of all climbing plants will need regulating, as growth is now rapid. KITCHEN GARDEN. The late sowings of peas now being made should always be given a moist situation, as without this they are not a profitable crop to grow. If sown in sunken trenches they succeed much better, as on shallow, dry soils much Labour is involved in keeping them sufficiently moist. Spinach should only be sown in very small quantities; now that the weather is hotter frequent sowing should be the rule, as the plants run to seed very quickly. Asparagus beds which have furnished the supply for the table should now have a rest, and all the grass allowed to grow, or the crowns will be weakened by excessive cutting. All coverings on tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., may be now dispensed with, and the soil will require loosening with the hoe close up to the plant. If very early fruits of tomatoes are desired the plants should be staked, and one or two leading shoots taken up, pinching off the side growths as they appear, only leaving the trusses of bloom. These, then get the fullest benefit of the sun, and ripen early.