GENERAL GARDEN WORK.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 29 July 1908, Page 39

GENERAL GARDEN WORK.

July is generally a very wet month; the soil is cold, aind consequently work is often at a standstill. When we get a few dry days, every effort should be put forth to push on with planting roses, fruit trees, etc. Continue sowing broad beans for succession, and also peas. July is a suitable month for sowing onions in the place where they are to mature. Some growers still prefer this method to transplanting, and when the land is clean, they do very well. Tomato seed for early work may be sown on hotbed this month; sow seed thinly and give as much air as possible after plants are up to prevent damping and “drawing.” Ten weeks stocks and asters may be sown either in greenhouse or in hotbed frames. To get stocks and asters in perfection the seed must been sown early, and the plants put out during August. Late sown plants, as a rule, never give such a good display of bloom. Many amateurs prefer to buy these plants from the seedsman, and we believe this is the cheapest plan, especially with asters, as the seed very often is of inferior germinating power. Stocks, of course, are very easily grown, but unless great care be exercised during the seedling stage they are exceedingly liable to “damp.” Fruit trees may now be pruned, branches regulated, and all moss, etc., removed. Too much care cannot be bestowed on orchards in order to get thoroughly clean trees. Slugs and snails are very troublesome this month and must be hunted vigorously. Nothing beats shell-lime for this purpose, if fresh and good. We always use “R on S” and have never found it to fail. Look over carnation beds and growing sweet peas, and destroy slugs.