WORK IN THE GARDEN

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 8, 12 July 1928, Page 6

WORK IN THE GARDEN

Kitchen Garden.

The important work at this season of the. year is to keep the growing crops free from weeds, using the hoe at every favourable opportunity. Continue to dig and trench all vacant ground; plant out cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce. Garden paths can be formed up and renovated, hedges trimmed and cut into shape, burning the surplus cuttings and rubbish that cannot be dug in, and spreading the ashes over your beds and borders.

Flower Garden,

The time has now arrived for com-

mencing general planting. Fruit trees, roses, flowering shrubs and those who have taken time by the forelock, will now be in readiness to order and plant out without further delay.

Planting new flower borders or rearranging old beds and borders can be done at any time from now on until spring growth sets in. Avoid working on the ground in wet weather. It-is

necessary in the first place to liberally manure and cultivate the ground deeply, remembering that probably., the plants will remain in the "same position for several years. In new borders it is an advantage to prepare the ground a week or two before planting to allow the soil to settle.

Eose Planting.'

The rose is universally recognised as the queen of flowers and reigns supreme without a rival in the hearts of British people. Its popularity is deserved if only for its brightened period of • blooming. Roses' can be seen in bloom in this valley "at least nine months of the year. The Hutt Valley is peculiarly adapted to rose culture, requiring as they do a deep, cultivated, clayey loam, well drained and well open to sun and am Eoses, however, ■will make themselves at home under varied conditions of soil, but will not give the resists that can be had by good culture. Dwarf roses can be planted from two feet apart; where planted singly the soil should be thrown out to ,a depth of two feet, and unless it be of good quality replaced by some good loam mixed with manure. In planting the soil should be filled in and slightly trodden to prevent sinking; the roots should be spread out evenly and not crossing them. Fill in some soil and tread firmly around the roots; fill and firm the soil to within a few inches, of the surface leaving the surface loose. See no manure comes in direct contact with the roots. The depth to plant'is to cover the union of stock and bud a few inches. Some amount of shelter, either natural or artificial, is most essential for roses, to withstand the breezes peculiar, to this Valley. It is. downright cruelty to plant them in the teeth of the wind, blow from what quarter it may. Order your roses at once and make sure of the varieties you require. If you cannot plant $>n arrival dig a trench and lay the roots in and cover with soil until ready to plant.

12 Good Garden Boses,

Betty Uprichard, Golden Emblem, General Macarthur, Etoile De Holland, Mrs Hy. Morse, Queen Alexandra, Lady Perrie, Frau Karl Druschki, Ophelia, George Dickson, Shot Silk, Margaret Dickson Hammil.

The Value of Soot.

Besides forming an excellent stimulant to all kinds of plants, especially when applied in liquid form, it may also be used in a dry state. It is frequently used as a deterrent to various insects, which lay their eggs on the young leaves of vegetables, or just under the surface soil near to the tender roots. If applied whilst the plants are wet with dew, or after a shower of rain, it makes the surroundings distasteful to the carrot, onion, and celery fly, and a shower of rain will wash it down to the roots, when its fertilising properties become available to the young roots. It is not so often used amongst fruit trees, y-et I have seen some remarkable results obtained on trees and bushes which showed signs of impoverishment. The specimens treated resulted in larger and deeper green leaves, which are especially desirable for the production of fruit buds.