Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 3 December 1915, Page 1

Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes.

DECEMBER.

KITCHEN GARDEN. The garden will begin to feel the dry weather towards the end of the month. Where there is a plentiful supply of water, use it freely ; but where it can only be given in driblets, better leave it alone and trust to nature. Dress asparagus beds with salt or liquid manure, continue the successional sowings of beans, peas and turnips if the weather is showery. Bommence pinching tomatoes, cucumbers, &c. Continue to earth up and stake advancing crops.

FARM. Haymaking should now go ahead, especially if the weather looks settled. Fern lands should be broken up, burning done and summer fallowing commenced. Don't leave the land bare, put in a catch crop of turnips if there ii time, and give them help with some fertiliser.

ORCHARD. One of the most important duties of this month is summer pruning of trees, the unequal growth in the trees should be checked to endeavour to keep the trees as nearly as possible even, in apple trees especially the strong shoots if kept back in this month form healthy fruit spurs for the following year, the trees require great care and attention. All insects should be fought down, and this can only be done by constant attention, lop back shoots in peach trees; wall trees should be frequently sprayed, but unless confined in area open trees are the best, remove all shoots below the graft on newly grafted trees, and remove the bands, syringing and spraying should be done late in the afternoon, or the strong sun will curl and destroy the leaves. Continue spraying for codlin moth at intervals of 20 days.

FLOWER GARDEN. All bulbs that have done flowering and have withered may b 8 taken up. you may then fill in more delicate plants in their places. Carnations and pinks may be laid out this month, transplant annuals from pots, taking care to have a large ball of earth round the roots, bow more annuals for succession flowers, keep lawns mown and paths clear of weeds, top back roses for late blooms, continue to water your garden from the first, of the month. Young chrysanthemum plants want watering with liquid manure from this month until after they have bloomed, dahlias, pansies and lobelias may be planted out. A good w'ay to grow pansies for planting out, is to plant the seed in an egg shell, having a hole at the bottom, set the shells with the seeds in them in a box, and plant out as you require to do so.