The Garden.

Southern Cross, Volume 6, Issue 9, 4 June 1898, Page 10

The Garden.

(Br “ Murihiku.”)

NOTES FOR JUNE.

Vegetable Garden. —Garden work may be likened unto farm work in that it is never done, although at certain seasons of the year the weather, and othor circumstances forbid a too active prosecution of labour in this direction. June may be regarded as a slack time in both vegetable and flower garden, as beyond keeping the beds and flowers in an orderly state, little remains to be done, Stspart of the ground which is intended to be left idle during the winter will be greatly benefited by being dug over and left in a rough .state. Rhubarb beds should be cleaned and a good mulching of manure placed over each crown ; this besides protecting the crowns during the winter assists growth in the spring. Keep the soil free between growing crops, and where required remake and renew paths, lay down turf and make and trim edgings. Parsnips, carrots and other roots should be lifted and stored or otherwise protected from frost. Now is the time also to transplant or make new beds of rhubarb, seakale, asparagus, etc., and also hardy herbs, such as sage, thyme, mint, marjoram, etc., though these may also be procured from seeds sown during the spring. Flower Garden. —The directions as given for last month will also apply for the present one, only that the planting of bulbs —hyacinths, tulips; narcissus, lilies, crocus, etc., should not be deferred longer than possible, as it is already getting late if good results be anticipated. No class of flowers is more welcome on its appearance than the very varied and beautiful one of bulbs, and flower fanciers are recommended to plant these largely, either singly, in masses or in edgings, when very satisfactory results will be obtained. The borders should be cleared by this time of all the past season’s growth and weeds, and wherever practicable, but especially in the case of the herbaceous plants, such as dahlias, phlox, pteonies, etc., covered over with a layer of stable manure as recommended in the case of rhubarb. Now is the time also to made alterations in the formation of the garden, or to lay out new beds, etc., and in the shrubbery the planting of shrubs and coniferse should be proceeded with, macrocarpa and other hedges trimmed and fresh ones planted ; while if a top dressing of manure be spread on the surface over the roots of both permanent and newly-planted trees, the benefit will be very substantial in the growing season, and will also protect the roots from frost. Fruit Garden. Whenever the weather is favourable advantage should be taken of it to proceed with the planting of all fruit trees and bushes, shelter hedges, etc., and with the prunningof thesame. The favourite style of pruning standard fruit trees is to remove all surplus growths from the centre so as to leave it open to sunlight and air and to stop back the heads of leading shoots, thereby inducing the tree to form vigorous fruit sours. Winter dressing to destroy the various kinds of blight which affect our orchards should also be applied now, either by spraying machine, syringe or brush. The former will be found of most service to owners of large orchards, but in the case of the majority of small growers about Southland the latter is the most general and inexpensive.