GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 12 August 1915, Page 53

GARDENING NOTES

(By Mb. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christ church.)

-fl-imougn we olten get bad weather in the month of August, yet it is the herald of spring, and the early part of spring. means a busy-time in the garden. Now, all lovers of a garden will be making up their minds what to sow and what to plant. So,,the first thing to do is to consult a seedsman's catalogue, and make out a list of vegetable and flower seeds. It is always a wise plan to procure your collection as early as possible in the season, so as to have things ready when opportunity offers. Very often when fine weather sets in, and the ground is in good order the seeds are not at hand, and consequently a good opportunity is lost. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. The work to be done here during the month of August is to plant in a favorable situation some early potatoes,- where they can have shelter from the late frosts, which usually come when the shoots appear above ground. It is always wise to be prepared for such a contingency by having some dry stable litter spread between the rows, so that it can be drawn over the stalks any night when frost is expected. Peas and broad beans should now be sown. To have a succession of peas, a very good plan is to put'them in when the previous sowing is well above ground. Broad beans are quite different : they do not want sowing so often, about one or two sowings would be enough in the season, as they last a long time when they begin to come into use. Kidney beans must not be sown until all danger of frost is over. Lettuces and radishes may be also sown in some well-prepared ground. The young lettuces and peas must be protected from the birds, or else they will destroy the lot. The small birds are very destructive to the early crops of peas; also to turnip and cabbage seeds. Therefore the early sowings must always be protected by a guard of fine wire netting, so arranged that the birds cannot get underneath it. The netting must be raised in the middle to give the plants room to grow. A little early Milan turnip and round spinach may also be sown, and some early cabbage and cauliflower seed. Cabbage and cauliflower plants should be planted now in well-manured ground. Towards the end of the month will be a good time to plant an asparagus bed, which ought to be a part of every kitchen garden. It is a fine vegetable, and comes in early, when other vegetables are scarce, and will last until the early peas are fit for use. A bed will last for" very many years. In making a bed, procure plants two or three years old. If plants cannot be procured, seed can be sown and the young plants thinned out to the required distance. Seed will take a year or two longer before the bed can be used. Seakale and rhubarb may also be planted. In fine weather, when the ground is dry, use the cultivator among the growing crops, and keep well in hand any weeds which may be making headway. IN THE FRUIT GARDEN. All the pruning ought to be finished, and the trees should have the necessary spraying done. The planting of fruit trees may be carried on right into the month of September, if circumstances prevent it being done before. The bursting of the leaf buds is a good guide to planters, for this is a warning note that all planting should be completed. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. The warm days warn us that the time is drawing nigh to prepare for the summer display in the beds and borders, and the best way to be prepared is to get a quantity of garden fertilisers, and sprinkle a handful in each patch where seed is intended to be sown. Afterwards work it in with a rake or Dutch hoe. This must be done on a fine day when the soil is nice and dry and in good order for working. Then > the seed can be sown and nicely patted down with the back of the spade, and the space marked by a small, label to indicate what has been sown there;

This refers to hardy annuals and perennials, which'can ... stand a little severe weather. -When, sowing seeds "early -i in the season, it s is wise" riot to sow all the packet, but ' \. to reserve a quantity for later on, as September is usually the month for sowing the bulk of flower seeds. | But most of the hardy annuals, biennials, and perennials will stand a fair amount of early spring weather, therefore it is not time lost to sow them early. The tender annuals are better kept back until the warm days of September. "; THE LAWN. % ■ 1 If the lawn has suffered from the grub or any r other cause, now is the time to renovate it by sowing some fresh seed on the bare places, and top-dressing with nice fine soil prepared for the purpose. A good dressing of garden fertiliser (bone dust) or basic slag would . be very beneficial to a lawn which does, not give general satisfaction. A lawn, which has all the grass ' taken off during the summer growth, will need a little help to keep up its condition. Naturally it must get exhausted in time if all the produce' is carted away and nothing is added in return. Now is the time to lay down a new lawn. If sown now, it get a good start before the dry weather set in. The seed ought to be sown pretty thick—from four to six bushels per acre is the usual quantity. It is wise to use a good lawn mixture, which usually costs from Is per lb. There are a good many kinds of grasses in a lawn mixture, and some kinds are pretty dear, so the price depends on the quantity of those fine grasses. The lawn ought to be well rolled this time of the year, as the roller will have more impression when the ground is soft after the winter rains.