GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 4 July 1918, Page 43

GARDENING NOTES

(By Mr. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.)

WORK FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. The. Kitchen Garden.—Providing the ground has been dug and manured, or is receiving the attention suggested in recent notes, a sowing of early peas and broad beans may now be made ; also the planting of a few early potatoes in a sheltered place may be ventured on. 'Dig up rhubarb and divide the clumps with a sharp spade, leaving a few strong eyes to each piece. Old plants can be renewed in this manner, provided they are replanted in well-manured soil. Seakale may also be planted in like manner. It should have about six inches of sand or clean coal ashes placed over the crowns to blanch the stalk. To produce an early supply, both rhubarb and seakale require to be covered with a half-cask or box, and this, in turn, with fresh stable manure. Light and air must be excluded from seakale or else the crowns will be useless as a vegetable. Plant cabbage for succession, and also sow a little onion and lettuce seed for early spring supply. The Flower Garden.—Continue digging the beds and borders, and take up and separate any clumps of herbaceous flowers that are growing too large, and replant in fresh soil : they will then grow and bloom better. Flowering shrubs and roses may now be selected, as it is a good time for planting them. Plant roses in well-trenched soil in which farmyard manure has been well mixed ; they should be pruned back to a strong eve facing outwards. Flowering shrubs, if too bushy, and not having roots in proportion, should be reduced. Weeds must be prevented from making headway, and the best plan is to dig them in. The most effective way to eradicate weeds on gravel walks —especially at this seasonis to use the Acme or other weed destroyer, which may be procured from seedsmen, with instructions regarding the method of using. Oxide of iron, procurable at gasworks, is a good weed killer. It can be obtained in liquid form and sprayed on where required. Sprinkled on the paths in solid form it thoroughly destroys all vegetable lite. Trim all garden hedges, cutting well back to the previous year's wood. The mistake of not cutting in close enough is a common one, and in the course of a year or so the hedge becomes too wide for its position and out of place, the consequence being that it has to be cut in very hard to fit its situation. Most garden hedges ought to be cut back twice a year to keep them close and compact. Mow and roll the lawn, and if the grass is poor apply a top-dressing of well prepared soil. Deeply rake, but do not dig, bare patches : sprinkle seed on these, cover with soil, and pat down lightly with the spade, or use the roller if much work of this nature is required. The Fruit Garden.—Plant fruit trees as soon as possible. It is requisite to plant deeply and firmly in well prepared soil, and prune to a good head. Always prune to an eye facing outwards. Trees that shoot from an inward eye grow unshapely. Get the general pruning over now as speedily as possible, and burn all the refuse to prevent the spread of garden pests. When pruning is complete attend to the spraying with materials easily obtainable at seed and hardware stores, together with instructions regarding approved methods of applying same. Scale and American blight can be combated now and other diseases later. There are several apple trees which are blight proof, and for the benefit of anyone who may wish to confine his fruit garden to these I append a list of some blight-

resisting trees taken from the Journal of Horticulture: Sharp's Summer, Sharp's Late Red, Sharp's Nonsuch, John Sharp, Willie Sharp, Marjory Hay, Mona Hay, Winter Majetin, Northern Spy, Black Spy, Carleton, Climax, Irish Peach, Magg's Seedling, Twenty-ounce, Magnum-bonum, Welcome, Cliff's Seedling, Lord Wolseley, William Anderson, Sharp's Early, Springdale, Lord Carrington, Alsop's Beauty, Yarra Bank, Taupaka, Tairaru, Kennerley's May, Lady Hopetoun„ Nay lor's Supreme.