Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 23 July 1915, Page 1

Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes.

j JULY, p ! KITCHEN GARDEN. Operations in the kitchen gar- ! den during this .month will be at I a standstill, as the ground is cold | a °d generally wet. Embrace | all favourable opportunities to j look over growing crops in the j way of weeding and keeping t down insects. If the weather is i favourable towards the end ef the month, a few early potatoes [ may be planted in a dry and I sheltered situation. Parsnips: A few may be sown in drills so ■ as to allow the surface of the 1 soil to be stirred by hoeing beI tween. Make it a rule never te ' SOW when the soil adheres to the j foot, or when in a sour and ungeneral state; the seeds may germinate, but seldom flourish, j and this often causes the seedsman to be unjustly blamed. Better wait even for another month before sowing, as one j good crop is worth two or three bad ones, besides loss of time, as the same amount of preparation and labour will be required for each crop. Gooseberries and raspberries may be pruned, dug between, and manur-

ed. Also, old beds of strawberries; attend to those lately I planted. FLOWER GARDEN. The present being the depth of the winter season there is but little of an attractive nature in the outdoor department of a garden. Proceed with the planting of hardy shrubs, trees, etc., paying particular attention to the arrangements of heights, colours, and different styles of growth of various kinds, each being placed so as not to destroy the beauty jof the other. This is of the utmost importance in ornamental planting. Planting should not be done When the ground is very wet. Examine all trees and shrubs to see that they are ; perfectly secure in the ground; when otherwise, stake and tread. Camellias: Thin flower beds where necessary, and remove all decayed blooms. Plant roses and other hardy plants. Keep the soil well stirred around all bulbs above ground. GREENHOUSE. Calceolarias and cinerarias that are well advanced shift into their flowering pots. Pelargonium* that have been placed in cool frame remove into house; place in an airy situation near the glass. Tie the plants nicely out as the shoots lengthen. Pot a few liliums and amaryllis for early flowering. Attend well to airing on bright days to prevent damp. FARM. Still attend well to your drainage, and see that no water lies in pools in your paddocks. As your ewes lamb remove them to other paddocks. On dry soil you can plant a few early potatoes. Log up and clean bush land as much as possible for autumn burning. It will pay you to give every attention and go to some expense with milking cows, as the price of the produce at this time of the year will fully repay it. Work hard for your manure heap. Heap and increase it as you would increase your cash, for it will turn into cash when your crops, cattle, and sheep have to be sold. If you can have a tank or tubs manure it would be well, for it is very valuable, and may be used just when and where most wanted. Artificial manures, such as bonedust, guano, salt, or stone lime, are very useful where it has to be carted any distance before spreading on the land as the amount of cartage is much less than with common manures. Lime is very useful on clay soils and should be used on the top, and not ploughed in deep. Lime mixed with ordinary soil form* an excellent top dressing for grass land. It would be well if you could have your manure heap roughly thatched with rushes, raupo, or nikau, to throw superflous water off, and also to keep the hot sun from drying it up.