GARDENING FOR MAY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 May 1916, Page 3

GARDENING FOR MAY.

Kitchen G-akdex.—A small sowing of carrots and turnips may be made. Broad beans, sow in drills about three feet apart and four inches in the rows. Peas, to obtain the earliest crop, so^ iv rows in a diy soil and warm situation ; select the earliest and most approved kind, such as William Hurst or Gradus. Hoe and stir the soil around broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, prickly spinach, and other growing crops ; earth up any that require it. Hoe and thin crops of carrots, turnips, onions, and spinach sown last month. Dig up sweet potatoes; dry and store in boxes with dry eand. Continue to

gather and store in a dry place, free from damp, pumpkins, piemelons, etc. Potato-onions, plant in rows of eighteen inches apart by six. Shallots plant iv rows 12 inches apart by four. Celery, earth those plants previously planted as the plants require it Asparagus, cut down the old stems, and fork up the surface of the bed? ; then throw some of the soil on each side, and give a good dressing of stable manure to the depth .of three or four inches ; n.ix salt or kainit with the manure, afterwards return the soil on the top ; the winter rains will send the manure to the roots. Beds, of asparagus can x scarcely be too highly manured, as its good quality depends upon the quiokuess of its growth. Rhubarb beds should be dug over and thoroughly manured..; the old roots shonld be lifted arid placed under a tree till required for spring planting. If the beds have been down two years, a new bed should be trenched and manured, so that the young plants may be planted in the spring ; divide those that have become too large ; old roots are better to lie upon the surface of the ground for a month or so previous to planting. When putting in give a liberal amount of manure ; plant •from two to four feet apart, according to size and age of roots. Plant out strawberries on a well manured plot of ground ; see that the ground has benn thoi'oughlj7 cleaned of sorrel and other weeds. Plant in rows two feet apart and six inches from plant to plant in the row. Marguerite, Phenomenal, Madam Melba, rlrollope Victoria, Royal Sovereign are the varieties most highly recommended.

Flower Gtardkn".—Any alterations that are required ought to be completed by the end of this month, such as manuring and trenching, forming new lawns and renovating old by top dressing with a good rich compost, swept and raxed well into the ground, and by sowing a little fresh seed. With the exception of the chrysanthemums, sal via splendens, bouvardias and a few other late blooming plants, there will be little in flower, Lift dahlia roots as they ripen, and lay out to dry previous to storing away for winter. Plant out }ate crop of bulbs for spring flowering-) viz., iris, ixia, hyacinth, narcissus, sparaxis, tulips, etc.; also gladiolaa, Colvellei and The Bride, for early flowering. Anemones and rannuculi prepare beds for same. The best soil for these is one which has been well manured the previous spring, adding a sprinkling of basic slag, as fresh manure placed in the beds or borders; is apt to generate a little white insect, which is very injurious to the tubers. They siicceed besc in a somewhat moist and cool situation. Fork, manure, and. dig all flower beds and borders, and remove decayed flower stems. Cinerarias can be planted with effect, but ouly in such positions as are not subjected to much frost. Cut back and trim all herbaceous and softwooded plants, divide those that are over-grown, regulate and replant.

The Orchard. —Trenching and digging and all those operations in preparation for wet weather should be pushed on; manuring is best left to the spring. All trees may now be planted, choosing a dry day for the purpose. Don't plant deep, and don't tread the ground hard on the roots. Out *back coarse, fibreless roots, and remove all cut and wounded ones j sproad them out -nicely and equally all round the tree, and if there are more than one layer of roots, don^t bend d.own the u,ppor ones, but spread eaph ]ayer sepa.ra.tely so as to run horizontally. I),o not seek to sustain tU© tree in its; position by pressing the roots, but secure it to stakes,, and be careful that your t^es do not injure the b,ark when \\\e wind causes the tre.e to $fyake, Gooseberries and currants j Plant them very shallow, well secured, and four feet apart (at least) every way. Pruning can be gone on wirh. this month, particularly gooseberries, currants, and early bearers.