THE GARDEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 168, 4 September 1886, Page 1

THE GARDEN.

Grafting (Continued). ~« - Slip grafting;iB:i»plhei i meth'dc( Lji: that ina^ be used" when the : stocks aw<«'o cross* grained or tough that thay will not split with a smooth edge, - It. may be^also tv&d J in connection with clef t - graftingy where limbs three inches in diimet^r mtta't^be oat under this system. - The; bark is slit '< and slightly raised. The scion is cut half off square, and, the remaining portion is then out slanting towards the bark to a point. This part is inserted into' the opening in the bark, and crowded down till the square part rests on the end of the stook. Slip, grafting is also ueeci wßon stocke'only a little larger than the scions ore grafted. In this the stock, is split, .and the scion whittled] wedge shaped, and ' inserted and orowed down firmly, and the whole wound with waxed cloth, or Bound with' a strip of < cloth and covered with, wax 'or clay. Groove grafting, like' slip, is also extensively used when the stocks cannot be smoothly split.' TM9 system is much employed in America for grafting old stocks o£ the grape vine, et9.' ' The groove is cut with a fine saw by taking out a V shaped piece, "and tlighrly paring the edges of the bark with • Sharp' knife as as to leave them smooth The scion is whittled to fit the shape/ and a small section of the scion is made of such a size that when driven into the ' groove by a few tape with a email mallet or stick, it will fit tightly when the cambium layers are in ' contact. If the stock is large, and it would suit the purpose of the operator, two or more scions may be used on each stock/ putting them round the stock : also tie and clay immediately after the operation. Bears-mouth grafting is another method adopted in America with refractory stocks. It has the advantage of having more of the wood of the scion left to resist high winds, which, in some positions, are very destructive to navrly-applied grafts. In thfo, the stock is sawed 10 two places, nearly as wide apart as th« scion is thick, and an inch and a -half down the side. This piece ' is ' then nicely cut out with a chisel or a narrow* bladed knife. The small scion is slightly scarped, on the side, and cut half off with a slant that will fit in the kerf. The remaining portion is then cut to a point with a leng taper. The bark of the stock is then slit below the kerf, and the point «f the scion inserted, and pushed down under it until the slanting portion of the scion is crowded down into the bear's mouth, then tie and clay. By the above method there is much more woodfleft for tying, so that they can|be more firmly held in position. The system should only be used on large trees which are very much exposed to high winds. Kltofcen Gardan. The sun is beginning to have more power. When by chance a fine day occurs the atmosphere is considerably warmer, showing its effects by a considerable increase in the growth. All vegetables for early crop will need to be sown now, as soon as the state of the soil will allow. The main crop of onions should be sown this month if possible. Peas : Continue the fortnightly sowings for succession : always choose the dwarf varieties if it ia hard to procure stock. Make another small sowing of carrots, turnips, and parsnips. Prick out a few more lettuces. Sow a fresh patch of seed, tie up a few more of the advanced plants for blanching. Sow fortnightly mustard, cress, and radishes in small patches. Continue planting out cabbages and cauliflowers, earth up those that are growing, sow another paten for later spring planting. ' Plant out another row or so of early potatoes, choosing the warmest section of the garden. Rhubarb which was lifted in the beginning of winter should now be replanted. Make a large hole in the ground, put about a barrow-load of well-rotted manure in each hole, cover with soil, and plant the rhubarb on this. A few seeds of tomatoes, cucumbers, marrows, and pumpkins should be sown in pots now and placed under glass so as to have a few ready for planting out early. Stir the surface' soil between the rows of growing vegetables. Look well after seeds of all vegetables just coming through the ground. Slugs often make sad havoc with them. Dust 'with • lime frequently.to keep them under; 'Thin out all superfluous plant* as soon as they attain -sufficient size". 'There J is nothing to.be gained by allowing over-crowding' in the early stages of tHeir growth 1 .; All debris of spent vegetables should be cleqred'away to , the rot heap, as these usually are the'scrong*, hold of slugs. .--*...' • j , - ■ Flower Gnrdep,,, ; • • Many of the early-spring favourites aro beginning to show active growth. Roses,: Continue the pruning in such a manner as' to bring them into flower in succession. Clear away all haulm of dead or decaying winter flowering plants. Go "over all the' plants on the border, reduce in size those, that have 'grown too large.' -Afterward*' wheel over the 1 borders < all the 'decayed manure you can obtain, and 'fork or dig it into 'the 'borders/ J' nb* manure c«n< be obtained give a heavy 'dose I*of1 * of rough' bones. The cuttings "of ■'» soft- wooded plants ' that have been struck ' during the winter can how be pat out in the positions they^ are, to, .occupy for the summer. The earlier" they "are put out the better. • Gladiolus: Plant, out a Jew more bulbs., Continue sowing hardy annuals in the open' border or in pots, as described last weekV 5 Tender annuals should also be sown in pots and placed under glass, sola's" to 'get' them' well advanced for picking oat as the season advances. " 'All seedling and tender plants in 'the border 1 will^neeii- to vt b*e- carefully looked after in 6rder,;to k%>sf slugs under. , Lawn : , > Vhere t a .'first-claaa ; jsward is required, during the season/carefoK attention must be giyen^to^the'/euttitig^aud rolling' If the lawn is neglected; during the mo/st weather in the spring, it would ; Walm : Si iiripossible to get it in goodord^ dSg tbe.dry.'MasonVj/: V»VJwS™ - *»*»* i

. ...'.; n' :• . ; Greexiboiise. , „,- ■ As 'the spring -advances, attention will 'Deed' to be 'given' to the pot-plante, repotting as required. Cinerarias and calideolariasi Continue potting, as they fill their present pota -with xoote. • Occasionally give liquid ; manure,? and; keep near the' glass. Coleus :*• Strike a; fgw cuttings. Have all dhsy,*p6ta washed and, placed in j& dry place -far; futuroj use: Azaleas in flower, give plenty of waiter. Camellias past flowering, take out of .the hous,e, and placeJn.Bummer: quarters.; Give plenty of air on *11 fine sunny. days. 1 \ 'Camellia Show.' ' Last Saturday the Gardeners' Hofticul,tu^al Society heW the annual winter show. There ; were pome splendid camellia blooms exhibited* proving how, well they succeed in oiir soils und climate ; a, r so some good spe^mens of locally grow, » apples. In the sub-tropical /r.uii., /collection ' some fine oranges and .lemons grown in the Remuera ( distriot were staged. • Fer years it has been the cry that oranges, etc., succeed well here,, apd it was a, pity that more of the, growers from the northern portion of our provincial district didn't send down some' of their collections. On an occasion like Saturday last it was that the different northern growers would have done their utmost to put collections before the Auckland public. We only hope that next winter more of the growers will' come for- ■ ward. The above ahpw.was an entire auccess with the exception of th« weatker, and that was simply terrible. - _-__ Horxtts.