GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 247, 27 April 1866, Page 2

GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

Still continue lo plaut out all the cabbage and cauliflower tribe; sow radish and mustard and cress for a spring supply. Earth up advancing crops, particularly celery, taking care that the earth does not enter the heart of the plant. Sow peas and beans in a dry warm border. Gooseberry, currant, and other fruit trees may now be pruned as they shed their leaves ; but where the process of disbudding has been carried out during the summer, little of this work will now be necessary, and the less the better. Trench ground from two-and a-half to three ieet deep, and well manure for the making of asparagus or sea-kale beds, or the planting of rhubarb, as they are permanent crops j they should be well done at first to secure success. Suckers from all kinds of fruit trees should now be removed, and all trees when pruned should present a cup-like shape, so as to admit light and air, and thereby produce a higher flavor in the fruit than if closely wooded. Raspberries for new beds ; plant out strong with well rooted suckers; let the ground be well trenched and manured, and four feet from row to row ; in old plantations cut out the old stems that have borne fruit this year : thin out the young shoots to three or four of the strongest of each stool, and shorten the top. Plant out as early as possible all kinds of fruit trees, and in the planting take care to spread the roots out carefully with the hand ; where convenient, give a watering to settle the earth into the fibrous roots, aud cover with dry earth. Strawberries on old beds fork over, giving a coat of manure, clearing away all runners and decayed leaves. Vines, out of door, secure to the wall, merely pinching off the green tops, and leave the pruning till spring. Herb beds clean for the winter and top dress with well rotted manure. Rhubarb should now be cleansed and heavily manured. In the flower garden where large trees or shrubs are to be removed, be careful that they are taken up so as to preserve the small roots. Auriculas — Look over them, take off all dead lives, and see that the plants are in a healthy condition. Continue to remove carnation aud picotees that are well rooted, to their blooming place in spring. Roses — This is about the best month in the year for transplanting ; they delight in a strong, stiff, rich soil. Rannnculas roots-; look over and see that they are free from damp, as they are very susceptible of dampness. Sow a lew hardy annuals for early blooming. All bulbs should now be in, if not so, lose no time in planting if you wish for a fine bloom next season. Plant out box edging, and clear all weeds from walks and"borders for neatness sake. Herbaceous plants that have done blooming take up, divide and replant. Prepare compost for potting in spring, two part 3 turf loam, one part well fotted manure, either horse or cow, a little lime, rubbish, or road sand, to shaipen it. Walks should now be cleaned from weeds', and in laying down a new walk, it is a good plan after taking off the soil about three inches to fill up with coal ashes', before putting gravel or white' shingle on, as worms and slugs do not like to travel through or over it, the coal ashes •will soon become hard, and yet will let the water through, so' that the path is always dry. Riverton and Campbelltown — On Thursday ', 26th inst., at 10.15 a.m. Dunedin, Mataura, Long Bush, G-ore and Switzer's — On Thursday, 26th inst., at 7 p.m. The Northern Provinces — Per Overland, on Thursday, 26th inst., at 4 p.m.