The Garden. GARDEN MEMORANDA FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 457, 7 December 1880, Page 3

The Garden. GARDEN MEMORANDA FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

(Written expressly for The Akaroa Mail.) KITCHEN GARDEN.

This is a busy time in the garden ; vege tables are growing vigorously ; root crops require thinning, peas and beans staking and, above all, hoeing and weeding. See that no weeds are allowed to ripen. Sow peas, beans, runners, turnips, lettuce and radish. An occasional watering with manure water will greatly benefit onions, Jeeks, cabbages, etc. Early varieties of potatoes may still be planted. FRUIT GARDEN. The strong northwest winds we are having are very trying to newly planted trees, where it is possible give them a good mulching with rotten manure. Pinch the tops of the strongest growing Bhoots of young fruit trees to equalise the growth and induce a busby habit. Remove all suckers as they make their appearance below grafts, and pinch the tops of their main shoots. This will encourage the growth of lateral shoots, and in some measure prevent the trees from being injured by wind FLOWER GARDEN. See that dahlias and hollyhocks are well secured to stakes and encourage their growth by frequent watering with liquid manure. Lillies, phloxes. &c., will require stakes/, Verbenas, Petunias, and other trailing plants pegging down. Stake sweet peas, canary creepers, and convoluses-major. See that annuals are not too thick, if possibleithin them well when the plants are young.