GARDEN NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 19, 10 May 1911, Page 38

GARDEN NOTES.

Crops , . ith s • . all refuse cleared off and burned before the heavy winter rains fall. We advocate burning on the retuse heap in order to destroy all weed seeds and spores. The comport heap should be turned, and some unslacked lime mixes in when ■ - ---- ' Composts s ild .- • ays be worked over when in a dry condition, and the raw material always placed in the bottom layer. Ail vacant pieces of ground should be dug or forked over or trenched where

necessary. and either left in a rough condition exposed to the elements, or sown uvw n with oats, barley, or mustard, which later on can be turned down as green manuring. Onions <an be sown for transplanting, and al*o a small patch of carrots and turnips. A sowing of early peas of some hardy sort may be made. Pride of the Market, although not the earliest, is a good kind for the season. Broad beans, citiier Longpods or Windsors, can be I .anted in rows 21ft apart and 4in between the beans. Keep the hoe going amongst cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, and ail other growing crops, earthing up as they advance in growth. Don't neglect to thin out growing crops of turnips, carrots, etc. Kumeras should be dug and stored away in a dry. cool place: pumpkins, pieme.ons. squashes, etc., can be carefully gathered and stored if the ground on wr.ich they are growing should be needed for other purposes, but experience shows that these keep better if left on the vines as long as possible. Of course, where rats or mice abound thev must be lifted and

stored where these pests cannot reach them —not always an easy undertaking. Elevated shelves erected outside, and so constructed that a cat can get around, we have found the safest means of keeping these winter vegetables. The planting of potato onions, tree onions, shallots, and garlic can be put in hand during the month. These will grow on almost any soil if fairly rich. Potato onions w ill stow where <eed is not successful. Asparagus beds should be top-dressed, all old stems cut down; fork over the surface soil, and then dress with stable manure 4in thick: some salt, or kainit. should be scattered on the manure. Sow sweet peas in pots, boxes, or in open—red lead the seed before sowing to protect against mice. Plant out anemones, ranunculus, early gladioli, and other bulbs in their flowering quarters this month. Cut down harbaceous perennial plants which have done flowering, and. where required, propagate by dividing the roots. Aquilegias are best left undisturbed till spring before subdividing. Plant out layers of carnations and picotees into beds or borders prepared for their reception.