GARDENING FOR MAY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 26 April 1917, Page 3

GARDENING FOR MAY.

KITCHEN GARDEN

A small sowing of turnips and carrots may be made. Broad beans sow in drills about three feet apart and four inches in the rows. Peas, to obtain the earliest crop, sow in rows in a dry soil and warm situation, selecting the earliest and" most approved kind, such as William Hurst or Gradus. Hoe and stir the soil around brocolli, 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 sand. Continue to gather and store in a dry place, free from damp, pumpkins, piemelons, etc. Potatoe* onions, plant in rows of 18ina apart by six. Shallots, plant in rows ) 2ins apart by four. Earth those previously planted as the plants require it. Asparagus, cut down the old stems and fork up the surface of the beds; then throw some of the soil on each side, and give a good dressing of stable manure to the deprh of two or three inches; mix salt or kainit with the manure, afterwards return the soil on the top ; the winter rains will send the manure to the roots. Rhubarb beds should also be dug over and thoroughly manured ; the old roots should also be lifted and 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 bo planted in the spring ; divide those that have become too large, or put in young roots. Old roots. are better to lie upon the surface of the ground for a month or two previous to planting. Plant out strawberries on a well manured plot of gaound, See that the ground has been thoroughly cleaned of sorrel and other weeds. Plant in rows two feet apart and six inches from plant to plant in the row. FLOWER GARDEN. Any alterations that are required ought to be completed by the end of this month, ouch as manuring and trenching, fciming new lawns, and renovating old by top dressing with a good rich compost, swept and raked well into the groand, and by sowing a little fresh seed. With the exception of the crysanthemums, sal via splendens, bouvardias, and a few other late blooming plants, there will bo little in flower, Lift dahlia roots as they ripen, and lav put to dry, previous to storing away for winter. Plant out late crop of bulbs for spring floweriug, viz., iris, ixia, hyacinth, narcissus, sparaxis, tulips, etc. Anemones and ranunculi 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 *bordeis is apt to generate a little white insect, which is very injurious to the tubeis. They succeed best in a somewhat moist and cool situation. Fork, manure and dig all flower beds anc borders ; remove all Qecayed flower stems, and maintain everywhere the most perfect neatness, Cineratts can be planted with effect, and numbers of them can be used in masses, but only in sr.ch positions as are not subjected to much frost. Out back and trim all herbaceous and soft-wooded plants, divide those that are. over-grown, regulate and replant. • .....