THE GARDEN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 981, 11 June 1879, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

GARDEN OPERATIONS FOE \ JUNE. ] tWRITTKJf JOR TOE SEW ZEAtAST* , *osictrtxrßi3T.l ;, ErrcarßS OARDK?*Tiiku advantage of dry tT -"»>" 3 t(> trin ® in j 1 tuul ruxnove manure, ami lay it upon vacant plot* or quarters of ground that require it. Tile Into raina h»v# softened the surface; and no time should be lost. Dig op and , ti'unclv ground in order that it tnay receive tho advantage of fallow Every piece »» it i» dug or trenched should b«laid U P rottghly. Dicing all vacant qututaM during the winter mouths ia not only an advantage to tho soil, but it looks nuat and tidy, . gruutly forward th« work ia spring, when thuro ia generally a rush; of work. The ground buiog roughly laid op in soon levelled down iu spring, whoa it is required (or the roeuptinn of seeds and plants,, anil it ia t>en«fiuially improved by tying, and converted into a rnullow, fertilised soil, which, absolutely nucctmary fur Iftha production of suporiar kitchtoa garden crops. Sow peas for auccessioo—the aorta #& raconitnended last month. Plant out early York cabbage oc M'Ewaa'a early. Plant oat a few tarty couliifcweta in a •warm situation. Onions should tie weeded out and kept clean by stirring; the soil on dry days between the rows, giant out. asparagus, acakale, and rhubarb. , MMfWXS. QAKDX*Hardy flowering shrubs and evergreens for furnishing the shrubbery compartments should be planted oot at once. Dig ami fork over ffower and plots, and where trw*; navc f w€€B mode, %•'that t£«y are securely staked

from winds, especially in exposed situations. Balks of every description would be pat in | without delay. To grow hyacinths successfully in glasses the water should be previously boiled, which will have the effect of destroying all the insects and animalcule which may he in the water, and which, although invisible, do great damage to their fine soft rootlets. A piece of camphor or a little sa!t, about the size of a pea, will be found highly beneficial in promoting the vegetation of the plant.

riicrr gardes'. Apples, pears, plums, and cherries may now be pruned both in gardens and orchards, and all kinds of fruit trees may be safely transplanted. The ground should he deeply dug or trenched, and if it is poor apply some decomposed rotten manure. The place for tftch tree may at the present time be prepared or the holes dug for their reception preparatory to final planting. If not already done, finish pruning gooseberries, currants, and raspberries. Strawberries may be safely planted oat, and be,l3 of such should be formed and planted without delay. TTie following list of plums, peaches, and cherries are of sterling merit, and well worthy the attention of intending planters : pLni.H (2-t varieties). —Caledonia, greengage, July greengage, yellow gage, purple cage, Rivera early prolific, white magnum bontun, red magnum bonum, Coe's golden drop, Goliath, St. Catherine, golden cspcren, Coes late red, Washington, early Orleans, Prince Engelbert, Tay Bank, Mitchcbon gage, Jefferson's gage, Totheram, Pond's seedling, Dcnyer's seedling, prune plum, btae diamond.

Damson*.—Large Dutch, large English. Cherries {l2 varieties). —Black eagle, king of the cherries, bigarrcau (Napoleon), Governor Wood, Royal liuke, amber heart, Kmperatrice Eaginii, Heart of Midlothian, Harrison's black heart, white heart, Florence, May Dtike. (Peaches 12 varieties). —A vondale favorite, Belgrade, Royal George, late admirable, white Malta, Lee's new commercial, noblesse, Camden excellent, early Newington, Royal Kensington, Smith's lr.te Mirabeillo, Willis' late red.

PRUNING THE APPLE FOR PROFJV.

The apple is of universal European growth, and is believed to have been introduced into Britain by the Bomans. It was greatly cultivated in the rarden3 of the monasteries during the middle ngea, and from that source we are told the greater number of otir cultivated varieties have originated. The crab, or wild apple, is the type of the fruit we get if left to degenerate, and to which it would speedily return but for constant culture, such as crossing, selection, grafting, &e. Culture, without crossing or grafting, is found to prevent an immediate" return to the erab ; therefore when an improved variety is obtained it will pro- - <iuce seeds productive of a similar variety. The extent, however, to which varieties may he preserved without crossing has never been actually determined, 33 the practice amongst professional gardeners is not to risk degeneracy in the fruit, and they generally resort to one or the other methods of grafting above mentioned. In regard to the genera! cultivation of the apple, it delights in a soft, hazel loam. In such a soil the tree will attain to its fnll size and vigor, and the fruit will be of fine flavor, color, and size. The trees will be productive and continue to flourish longer, and disease will seldom attack them if not hereditary or brought on by accidental wonnd3, or, as we often see, wanton and unnecessary lacera-

tiona. Climate, also. has much to do with fruit trees. Ifenee we see productive and healthy trees growing with little care at no great distance from others which greater care can scarcely keep in existence. This is the direct effect of soil ; the effect of climate would not be so obvioii3 within a few hnn-

dred yards where the shelter and situation are the same. Deep soils are not necessary tor the apple tree, but wet bottoms mu3t be strictly guarded against by proper and effectual drainage. A dry bottom is indispenaibte. The various operations of pruning fruit trees are generally practised at two different periods of the year, winter pruning being performed while vegetation is at rest, and summer pruning, or stopping, at different periods of vegetation. \Vc shall first point out the best time for performing the operation of winter pruning—that is, when the trees are quite dormant, choosing dry, elcar weather. Never attempt to prune in hard froaty weather; the instruments cut the frozen wood with difficulty, the resnlt beintr that the branches are ' J=r „ - jagfc'cd; W neai, and the injur}' descends hctow tUcr neevroafe hud. which is destroyed, [n pruning or cutting tha branches ot fruit tr'.'es, if a branch requires to be shortened, make the amputation as near as possible to a bud and cut in a slanting direction, coming out a little above the bud. 'W hen it is necessary to cut away a branch entirely, the cut is made quite at the base, leaving, however, a small stump. By this means a smaller wound is made, and it heal 3 much quicker than if it had been cut cioaar to the atom. If a branch'is too largo to cut with the knife the pruning saw must be applied. After sawing off the branch a rough part will be teft made !>y the s.nv ; this should be carefullv smoothed down by the pruir.nir knife, otherwise the part will heal badly. Ji the parts that have been cut are large it will be necessary to cover the wounds with graft-ing-clay or mastic. fTo be continued.)