GARDEN MEMORANDA FOR APRIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 178, 2 April 1878, Page 2

GARDEN MEMORANDA FOR APRIL.

written expressly for the akaroa mail.

KITCHEN GARDEN. Continue to store onions; take up and pit potatoes, beginning with the earlier sorts, the end of the month being soon enough for the late ones. In the case of the true ashleaf kidney and one or two other of the very early varieties which are preserved only for seed, it would be better to spread them out thinly on the floor of a loft or shed, as, when pitted, they commence to grow so soon that by planting time they are thoroughly exhausted, and therefore almost useless for seed. As the various summer crops are taken off, the ground should be cleaned, manured, and laid up rough to the winter frost; any ' parts intended to be trenched should be commenced as soon as rain comes, for it would be very slow and tedious work now, after so much dry weather ; but if it will not do for trenching, it will for hoeing, and care should be taken to clear the young crops of turnips, spinach, brocoli, cabbage, &c., of weeds before the rain seta in, as it will be next to impossible to do it after, as the ground will probably continue damp for the rest of the season. Earth up celery, cut down the-old stems of asparagus, clear the beds of w % eeds and rubbish, stir the surface, taking care not to injure the crowns, then give a good heavy dressing of decayed manure, and if a little salt be added so much the better. Make the last sowingof cabbage and cauliflower for spring plants, also of spinach, radish, and turnip, and thin out to proper distances those previously sown and now well advanced. FRUIT GARDEN. The storing of the late kinds of apples and pears should be finished before the end of the month, and where fresh plantations of fruit trees are intended to be made the preparation of the ground by trenching and manuring shouid be commenced as soon as the condition of .the ground will permit. The trees can then be planted at any favourable opportunity afterwards, the earlier the better after the leaves have fallen. New beds of strawberries should be planted without delay, and plenty of manure may be used when preparing the ground for their reception. Pruning may be commenced by cutting out all the old canes of raspberries, and thinning out the new ones, leaving from four to six to a stool according to their strength; those left should have a foot or more taken off,* their tops, and then be tied up neatly to stakes; the ground between the rows should then be forked over, taking out all suckers and weeds, and then give a good dressing of half rotten manure by laying it on the surface of the ground, to be washed in by the winter rains. After the raspberries and strawberries are done, the gooseberries and currants may be proceeded with, leaving the larger fruits till the last. FLOWER GARDEN. The directions given for the past fewmonths in keeping tbis department neat and trim by the removal of anything unsightly .in the way of decaying flower stems, leaves, &c, will need more than ever to be attended to if we would have things look at all passable, for we shall now see the end of the greater portion of the plants that have embellished our gardens during the summer and early autumn months, but if the old blooms of roses, dahlias, phloxes, geraniums, and the few other subjects that are still affording a littlo bloom, are removed as soon as they decay, those that remain will be greatly benefited, and the garden will have a fresher and much more lively appearance than if allowed to remain. Look after the crysanthemuins, and see that they are properly staked, and as the season has been so dry of late, a good soaking of water will help their blooming very much. Bulbs for spring flowering should be planted without delay, and summer flowering ones gone out of bloom should have their bulbs taken up, or the spots, where they are, marked, so that no injury may come to them in digging the borders during the winter. This remark as to marking applies to many herbaceous plants as well as bulbs, for nothing is more common than to put the spade right through some choice clump, if not destroying, greatly injuring the same, and now is the time to mark anything we wish to preserve before it is lost Bight of altogether. Take off layers of pieottees and carnations ns soon as sufficiently rooted. Sow hardy annuals for very early flowering ; these will prove valuable, as-they will com jjitp bloom while flowers are comparatively scarce out of doors. Where it is intended to make beds of roses the

ground should be now got ready by trenching and heavily ■ manuring; the rose can scarcely be overdone in this respect. The beginning: of next month will be soon enough to put in the bushes, and from that time forward till the month of August, but it should be borne in mind the earliest planted will bloom much the finest the first season ; the plants should be cut back a good bit at the time of planting, but not altogether pruned till the end of July.