The Garden

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 15, 8 July 1893, Page 3

The Garden

———.— NOTES FOR Ji IT.

(By Murihiku.)

Vegetable Garden. —At thi t'.aou of the year, when the state ot the • -.her often impedes and interferes‘with ■ ov.eeoo! operations, all work that can be an •--■! within doors should l»e attended to. ..rt should now be made with forcing se.tm.m icr early use; choose strongest roots . c ;-er over with box or barrel, placing sou . mating stable manure round each to ai " ■ growth. Also plant roubardroots, and ; r.iu the old beds are covered with manure, . inch besides protecting the crowns during .. .mr, nelps to give them agood start when ~-.v ■-an begins. Where the ground is ciry and ■ a few early potatoes may be plante and also a first sowing of peas and broi.-r 0.-ai.s. As hard frosts invanauiy occur her.' m July, it will be advisable to uerer sowing small seeds until end of month, when the e rui may be expected to have moderated a ;iun. Flower Garden. — Work in this department this month is not of a very pressing nature the chief object being to keep all parts of the garden in as orderly a state as possible—the lawns, walks, etc., free from fallen leaves and other rubbish, and the borders clear of decayed vegetation. Flower roots may now be divided and re-planted, and the planting ®f bulbs, where omitted last month, should be brought to a completion at once. Ail kinds of flowering plants and shrubs, such as roses, laurestinus, rhododendrons, etc., may be planted, and any required alterations in the formation of gronds or garden. Fruit Garden. —Take advantage of dry weather to transplant fruit trees and bushes, and proceed with the pruning. This operation is frequently overdone by attempting to bring bushes which have been neglected at once into the operator’s favourite shape. It will be found safer practice to prune moderately, removing suckers from the roots, and leaving the centre of the bushes rather open. Prune and tie raspberry canes, leaving about four or five to each stool. Plant strawberry runners and finish the dressing of.. old beds. When planting fruit trees, a good criterion as to depth is to note previous nursery landmark, and insert to same depth. Deeply planted trees never succeed, and are more liable to canker than those with roots just under the surface. Quicks for hedge rows should be planted about four to six inches apart, and hedges of two or three years standing will make closer and stronger growth if shortened back half their length or more.