GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 24, 1 July 1925, Page 53

GARDENING NOTES

" WORK - FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. . The Vegetable Garden,-7-This month’s work in the garden, should be a continuation of that outlined for June. As very little vegetable planting can be done digging .! and manuring vacant spaces intended for cultivation should be the main work at present. As recommended in previous notes, the surface of the ; dug, soil should be .allowed . to remain in a rough and open state. The' more the manure used in the vegetable garden j the better will be the quantity and quality of the crops. . The present is' a good time, to prepared an asparagus bed, arid' for this purpose dig in a plentiful supply of decayed stable manure with a good sprinkling of rough bone meal, then cease operations till {September, when the plants may be obtained at the nursery. The plants should not be more than. three years, old, arid require to be planted ’ about 2ft apart. , An asparagus bed is a very profitable part of the garden, and {when once : established it will last for • many -- years. ■.Early • '‘peas > and

beans may now be sown, taking care to protect (he young shoots and even seeds from the small birds.- If brocolis are coming on ; r too quickly bend over , a few of the leaves to protect the heads from frost." -y The Flower Garden. —Continue the ; dig- {{ ging and tidying up of the beds and borders, shifting shrubs and plants which have grown too big and' out : of place, All strong growing < roses --.'and/climbers may be , planted ,in shady situations.' - Plant all" cuttings at least 6 to 9 inches deep, leaving two or three inches, above ground ; and stamping them ' firmly at the base. .All soft-wooded cuttings in boxes require to be kept fairly dry and have all decaying leaves picked off. The lawn should be well rolled while the ground is in a soft state, and if the grass is in a poor condition • give a top dressing of good rich y soil, and when dry a rolling followed by a raking. The 'soil should not be walked .. on during wet weather, and digging delayed until the soil is in a fit state for handling.;:;' . . • . { >

. The Fruit., Garden.— and spraying require; to be well advanced- and thus conclude the winter’s work so that the work in other departments for early spring may be attended to. If planting is to 'be done 'this should, be seen to without delaythe sooner the better— that the trees will have time to make a good start when the spring growth sets in. " Root-prune trees which are inclined to make, more wood than fruit; this is done by digging down halfway around the base of the tree, throwing • out thersoil and cut-' ting back all the strong growing roots, ialso excavating to get at the .tap roots/'/AH this work , requires to be done with a clean sharp spade. Prune at once all r vine’s under ,glass; if left too late they ; bleed from the cuts, especially if the sap is making a start to flow. 1 ’ Clean' away all loose bark from the canes. ~ .. V". , 1