GARDEN MEMORANDA FOR JULY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 309, 4 July 1879, Page 2

GARDEN MEMORANDA FOR JULY.

WRITTEN .EXPRESSLY ?0H TB*E. AKAROA MAIL

.._.,. ~ Kitchen^Garden, ~..v , -j Last Saturday's" heavy "rain has put a stop for a week at least to work in this department, for, .nothing is worse than puddling amongst ground saturated with wet. Towards the end of the month, if the weather keeps favorable, another 'sowing of peas-and beans may be put in. Where the ground has been previously, dug, any of the cabbage tribe may be planted out. Manure rhubarb aud make fresh plantings. Stir the surface amongst autumn sown onions to prevent the frost frohv heaving up the soil. -,-•:, Fruit Garden. Examine trees that were planted before the rain-storm ; where they have worked a hole round the neck, tread the soil about them again, and where necessary put in a stake to keep them straight. Take advantage of dry weather to transplant trees and bushes, and where trees are on grass proceed with pruning. This operation may be overdone by attempting' to bring trees and bushes which have been; neglected at once into the operator's favorite shape. The safe practice with such is to remove all suckers from' the roots and branches that cross each other; leaving the centre of the tree or bush open.' Red and white currants require close pruning ; black currants require very little cutting, merely keeping the bushes "moderately thin of wood. • . ■>•■■, \ j...-.■•■ Prune and tie raspberry canes, leaving but four ox five to each stool; in expbsed garden's it is a good way to tie raspberry canes in the form of arches. Manurefand dress strawberries,-but avoid the old {barbarous practice of cutting off-the leaves. Flower Garden./ ; ' Little can be done in, this department at present; if, np.t seen :tq .before, as soon as the ground is fit to work get it turned up roughly to the action of the .weather, as a few frosty nights will have 'a beneficial effect on it. ' Flower roots may now be divided and' planted. Bulbs may still be set-where it has been omitted. See that the planting and pruning of roses is to, and that they have a good dressing * of rich, half-decomposed manure. A few hardy annuals may now be sown.