THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 14

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

KITCHEN GARDEN.—As soon as the soil is dry enough further and larger plantings of potatoes and early—or, rather, second early —peas should be sown. All early-sown peas must bo kept quite free_ from weeds; jf necessary, these should be lightly dug in. As soon as strong enough, young plants ot lettuce should be transplanted out in beds raised somewhat above the usual level, in order to keep the roots dry, and, as a consequence, warmer —an essential point for some time to come. Artichokes should all be dug up, and if not required for immediate use, they should be pitted and/ covered with soil, in. which state they can be kept in a fresh and sound condition for a considerable time. Where the largest roots of parsnips are required, the seed should be sown without further, delay, as it should be borne in mind that this vegetable takes much longer to mature than either carrots or turnips. The latest sowings of turnips ■will now require to have their last thinning out in order to allow them to bulb freely.

SHRUBBERY.—Prune shrubs such as laurels and hollies. Rhododendrons should be pruned as little as possible. It is better, where nice clumps of those beautiful plants overhang walls, to turn aside the walks, if possible, to give the rhododendrons aroora. Clip, holly and other hedges. Where hedgings of box are to bo replanted, this should now be done without delay. Plant hardy azaleas in beds of sandy peat, and the same kind of soil should also bo used for rhododendrons when those are to be planted. Sandy loam, if free from lime, will also grow these plants well.

FLOWER GARDEN. —Early-sown pansies will now be advancing rapidly into flower These, where largely grown, will tend to brighten up the borders somewhat during the dull of winter yet to come; still, tho proper colour and character of the flowers are not brought out till the weather is much warmer than at present. Later-sown plants that are strong enough to plant out should be placed where they are to flower. The soil for these plants should not be made too rich. If manure is necessary, well-decayed cow manure is tho best that can be used. Antirrhinums and dianthus should also be planted out. These have the best effect when in flower if they are planted in beds or in masses, and as they continue in flower for a long time, they are worthy of considerable space, especially if a good strain of tho striped or spotted varieties of the former is obtained. Old stools of perennial phlox and pentstemons should at this season be lifted and divided, as when they are left for several years undivided they do not produce large spikes of flower; but a quantity of small and inferior flowers. If small

divisions are planted in rich soil, they .will start to root at once, and flower most freely during the coming season. The same remarks apply to old stools of primroses, polyanthus, and auriculas, which are much benefited by occasional divisions and replanting. The pruning of roses should be completed during the present month, except in a few cases where old bushes of tea-scented varieties are producing useful buds which it is desirable to preserve as long as possible ; these may be left some time longer. Some little care'is necessary in pruning that most popular of all roses —Marechal Niel It should be remembered! that this variety produces its -best flowers upon wood of the last season’s growth. These shoots, which upon healthy trees attain several feet in length, should be preserved almost to their full length, but the older growths cut clean away to a prominent, eye at the base, which in time will produce a shoot for the following season, which in turn must be cut away. By this treatment a good growth is kept up, and much larger quantities of superior blooms are produced than can be expected from old spurs cut back year afteryear. Evergreen and deciduous shrubs may still be planted out; also all kinds of conifera and ornamental trees. The work of pruning all kinds of established shrubs should now be completed as soon as possible.

FRUIT GARDEN. —An effort should be made to complete the planting out of all strawberry plants, or they will not make a good growth early in the season. Where the soil is too wet for the planting out of fruit trees and bushes, the general work of pruning should bo attended to, so that the whole work of the department may be kept well in hand. All the cuttings and branches should bo gathered up and destroyed by burning.