GARDENING NOTES

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13434, 22 July 1911, Page 12

GARDENING NOTES

OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH. FLOWER GARDEN The condition of the soil is not favourable for much of the actual heavy winter work of digging or planting, as if this is done while the soil is in its present saturated condition, more particularly upon the heavy clay soils, it is liable to set too hard both about the roots and upon the surface, which later on becomes hard, baked, and checks the growth, so that nothing is gained iu point of time, as it is much better to, delay the planting for a few weeks if necessary rather than to work the soil while in a saturated state. Pruning may be done now with almost all kinds of shrubs and trees. The heavy work of draining, trenching, or levelling for new lawns or gardens should be gone on with, so as to have the whole completed as soon as possible, so as to get the planting done as soon as convenient, as it is not advisable to leave all till the end of the season. Roses and flowering shrubs of all kinds can be planted at any time, and in forming new beds of these the soil should have a good preparation by a heavy dressing of manure bo ing trenched into it before starting to plant. Iu the older gardens all beds and borders require some attention each year, to remove any plants that have passed their best, or are in any way unsatisfactory, as some become worn out, oir are too large for the places they occupy, while others begin to show signs of exhaustion or disease, and a close .inspection is needed each year to keep the garden up to its proper condition. All box borders, pittosporum, and other hedges should now bo clipped neatly, and the season is favourable now for planting new borders and hedges, horizontal's, or torulosa, which have been planted within the past few years, should be examined occasionally to see that the leaders of the trees •are kept upright. This is more important the first two years after planting, as after this they have assumed a permanent habit, and do not need further training, Gravel paths that require a fresh coating should have attention, before the winter is over. FRUIT GARDEN.

Wot weather is delaying tlic work in this department, as planting cannot lie gone, on with alter such heavy rains with good results. Wet places in the orchard should he drained before the planting is started, as this work ean.be done better then thjau after. In planting out a large orchard it has always been recognised as being important to endeavour tn plant a fair proportion of some early variety, as there are plenty availalile for the mid and late season, and it is not advisable to have the whole, area of a large orchard planted with varieties that come in all at one time: Trees in old orchards that are affected with woolly aphis or mussel scale should be sprayed now prior to priming with red oil or the kerosene omultion, and later on a second spraying alter the trees have been pruned should clean the trees for the season. For,woolly aphis upon voung trees it is advisable and necessary-to'-.spray in December and Jannary, with «a'strong tobacco spray, as during these months this pest becomes very troublesome, unless checked. Orchard tfcc-s-of. all, kinds may lie pruned now at. 'rtii'y'fnne'in fnul. This work can be proceeded «'il v h > when il is too wet to plant. In pruning peach frees as much of (he old y'iVood ' lis possible that bore fruit last yif»v should be cut away, and the well-ripened growUw of the current year retained for next, year's planting.