The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 205, 28 May 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Garden.

Potatoes. It is just as well to run over once or twice the potatoes which are stored past for winter use. By doing so you can easily re move any that are getting bad. One or two bad ones will soon affect all they come in contact v. ith. The turning over can take place during a wet day. Even if there is a total absence of disease, they are very much improved by turning over in this way if at all damp. To ha\e potatoes in the best condition, they should be quite dry for a considerable time before using.

Planting Fruit Trees. As the planting season is just coming on, a few lines may be of use to sonic amateur*. Some think that if they simply dig a hole iw any soil and inseit the roots in such, then cover up with sufficient, soil, they have done all th.it is required to be done. Now, in only a few instance*, where soil, etc., .11 c suitable, can such be done with a fair chance of -access. But in most instance, especially whevu the ground has, not been previously laboured or drained, more preparation'is necessary before planting i* undertaken. In fact, 1 have always attached the greatest importance to the mode of planting by which not only the actual putting the young tree in the ground, but, the- piop.T preparation of the ground also is. well attended to ; and in doing -o I have alwa> s pointed out, that the first essential ispio'per drainage, especially in stiff, wet or letentivo soil. No kind of cultivated, hauly fruit, from a peach to a strawberry, will or c; n be expected to succeed where the soil 15 in a stagnant, wet state trom the end of May till perhaps, the beginning of November. The root* in such ea-e- are liable to contract dieeases which Mill destroy all chance of good crops of fruit. (.iood drainage ia such Svjila. is imperative so as to obtain healthy tiecs. The drain* draw oil all superiluous water, thus allowing a freer access of the Mm's rays and air, and increasing by several degrees its temperature, thereby promoting a more healthy growth on theV.ue-. The kind of soil that suits fruit trje- generally i.s a calcareous loam of modetate texture, that is neither light nor heavy ; biU of necessity the quality of tlie soil must be -abject to local considerations, as often the best «oil suited for truit trees mot to be obtained in all gardens. Fniit trees, as a rule, are not fastidious, but will give good a\ erage crops on a variety of soils and all soil- worthy of the name can, by a little out by of time and money, be made to grow fruit well. Light soils should be trenched very deeply, and if procurable at moderate expense, heavy loam or clay should b>3 incorpoiated with it as it is laboured. Very hea-\ y loam or elaj , besides being well drained, should al=o be trenched, taking care to keep the top .-oil still on the surface. At the same time light porous soil, sand, coal, or wood a-he-, or any other mateiials that Mould render it more porous should be added, and it f-hould be allowed to subside naturally, without artificial compression. Unless soil be very poor indeed, no litter manure of any hind should be placed near wheie the roots are planted, for the simple reason that the disposition or all fruit tree-, when planted in rich soil, 'inclines towaidg the production of wood rather than fruit. If manure of anyf-oifc is wanted when planting give rough bone, as they aie not apt to cause rank gross wood. It must not be inferred from thifc tfiat manure is not es-ential to the producs tion of good fruit, for it most certainly i,bufc never till the trees have fairly begun fruiting, and then annual spring dressings will ha\c the desired effect. Thus applied, it is not only -valuable from a fertilising point of view, but help* materially wh keeping the roots of the trees in olst find cool during our usually l° n g> dry summer, and at the same time Ib tends to bring the little feeding fibres' enarer the surface a position in which they are most benefited by the action of the sun's rays and atmospheric action. Tho.se who have plenty oi ground for growing vegetables, independently of the part set apart; for fruifc trees, should never think of encroaching on the fruit trees after they have been planted a few years, as great injury is sometimes done to the surface roots by injudicious cropping. Those who from force of circumstances must crop between the trees, should at least leave each tree a fair modicum of space when planting. Never under any circamstance plant the young trees deeper in the soil than what they were while growing in the nursery. Deep planting has ruined the chances of many a tiee giving crops of fruit. When planting, see that all the roots are properly spread out from the base; work the soil carefully in amongst the roots, treading It gently but firmly down upon them. After the tree has been planted it should be properly staked and tied so as to prevent wind- waving. If this is nofc properly done all young fibres stand a chasfflp of "being destroyed through the swaging to and fro of the tree. Another great matter to be observed while p%ft£i n g trees is to always choose a time when fihe soil is in a comparatively dry state—never when it is web or claggy, as when in this state placed about the roots it is very iujurious ; it keeps wet and spongy till the hot weaiher sets in and then becomes hard like bricks. When possible, plant early in the .season, ag trees planted early will succeed rauoii better than late ones. 1

The Moth Catching Plant. — With reference k) this plant, concerning which we reprint ?rom a Nelhon paper an interesting letter Tom Mr M.iskell of Wellington, it appears that the seed of this creeper is> very fco "buy even at the Cape. Captain ,-ockett of Wanganui has received a letter com a. 1-ela.tive, in Scmtli Africa, in -which ft is .stated that the .seed of the plant, which is indigenous, costs as much as 16s an ounce. Captain Lockett, has we understand, communicated with an Auckland seedsman on the matter, and has sent to the Capo for a supply of seed, and will shortly bavo some to dispose of.