THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 6

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. FLOWER GARDEN.—In all gardens there will be a considerable amount of cleaning up requiring attention. All kinds of annuals, dahlias, etc., should be cut down and the borders cleaned" up. The spaces between the permanent shrubs should have a dressing of manure dug in between at this season of the year. Pruning of' 1 all kinds of shrubs should now be pushed on with, using the knife as much as possible in preference to the shears. The growth of all kinds of climbers should be regulated. In dealing with the climbing roses as much of the old wood as possible should be cut out, heaving the long, well-ripened growths of the past season. These will, if shortened in, produce more and, at the same time, far finer flowers than are produced upon the older growths which have been cut hard back from time to time. The best climber for covering a large space in a short time is the climbing Sov de Malmaison. The amount of growth made in one season is surprising, and being a sprout from the well-known dwarf variety of the same name, it will doubtless prove a valuable autumn rose. Other good climbing roses to plant are Marechal Niel, Rev. T. 0. Colo, William Allen Richardson, Gloire de Dijon, Roine Mario Henrictte, Mons. Desire, Lamarque, Madame Berardi, and Fortune’s Yellow. Thesc_ give the most distinct colours and are vigorous growers. The finest of the yellows, Marechal Niel, still appears difficult to grow in some gardens while in others it is one of the most satisfactory growers. A little extra care should be taken in planting where it is found difficult to establish, and fresh turfysoil added to encourage an active root action, as if tho roots can bo firmly e-stab lished in tho clay better results may be looked for. The early narcissi should be kept free from weeds, and where slugs are numerous traps for their destruction should bo set, or many of the choicer bulbs will bo eaten off as soon as they appear above tho soil. The final planting of the springflowering bulbs should now be made.

KITCHEN GARDEN.—The work of sowing: and planting the early spring crops should now bo pushed on. In regulating the position of the various crops a distinct change should be given to. the land each year, as growing the same crop on the same land year after year does not tend towards the best results. Plant rhubarb in well-manured trenches, and cover over with stable litter. Give seakalo a sprinkling of salt; and remove all decayed leaves. Plant a few early potatoes in a warm, sheltered position, drawing a loose covering of stable litter over the rows. Sow a few seeds of Early Horn carrots, some Early White Stone turnips, and plant out a few hardy herbs, such as mint, sago, thyme, and marjoram, bleep all the growing crops free of weeds, and tho .ground well loosened with the Hutch hoe in dry weather. Autumn-sown onions should bo examined at least once a week. To keep down all -weeds the hoe should be freely used between the drills on dry days. Continue tho planting out of asparagus and rhubarb. A few stools of Topp’s Winter should be included in each bed, as this is now in fuS growth and producing a good supply of well-coloured stalks, which give a desirable change for the table at this season. Herbs of all kinds should

bo planted or divided at tins season; old stools should bo discarded in favour of young plants. Parsley seed should now bo sown on clean soil, as it generally takes some weeks to come up. Unless sown on clean land much labour is incurred in keeping it clean. Bods of cauliflower and cabbage should have an occasional dressing of fresh slacked lime, which should always bo applied late at night, as it is almost worthless in so far as killing the slugs is concerned unless brought in contact with them while fresh and dry.

FRUIT GARDEN—The planting of all kinds of bush fruits should now be pushed on with. Instead of allowing old worn-out bushes of gooseberries to take up time m pruning and cultivating, yielding small crops of fruit, young two-year-old plants should be planted out, which will give more satisfactory results in every way and with loss labour. In pruning these a good supply of young wood should be retained. The older growths devoid of vigorous spurs should he cut clean out. Rod currants produce their fruit from spurs which form upon the older wood. Most of the stopping of cutting back should be done on these and the white varieties during the summer time, when buds arc formed in clusters where pinched off. After the trees have attained their full size the whole of the regulation of their growth should ho done during the summer. Black currants require the opposite treatment to the red and white, as they produce the best fruit upon the young wood. The best black varieties are Lee’s Prolific and Carter's Champion. In planting all bush fruits the soil should be deeply worked and well manured, so as to produce a vigorous growth from the first -season, as the ultimate success greatly depends upon a good start. The old beds of strawberries should he cleared of all rubbish and old dead leaves of runners, and where the beds wore mulched last fruiting season the plants should now he lightly dug in without injury to the crowns or roots. The space between the rows of plants should be kept in a good state of cultivation by the frequent use of the hoe. Raspberry plants may now be lifted and planted, and old beds should be dressed and cleaned and tied up, cutting out all the old cones and thinning out the new ones, leaving five or six shoots to each stool. These should he shortened back after tying. GREENHOUSE.—Cinerarias, cyclamens, and primulas arc now. very effective, and keep up the bright appearance. They should be carefully attended to and watered, for if allowed to become too dry the foliage will get curly and have a yellow tinge; but care must he exercised in this, for the watering may ho overdone, and where the plants are made too wot the effect will be veiy much the same. The true test is to tap the side of the pot, and if too dry it will sound hollow. If this should he the case the plants should have sufficient water to moisten the mould and go right through tho pot. A full knowledge of when to water may be acquired by the exercise of a little attention Camelias are now showing flower buds, and if allowed to become too dry the buds will drop off, and a choice display of these lovely flowers ho thus spoiled. Bedding and other plants in frames should bo looked over, and all dead leaves removed. Be sparing with the water-pot, and give air on all favourable occasions.