GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 250, 2 May 1866, Page 2

GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

I Still continue to plant out all the cabbage and cauliflower tribe ; sow radish, and mustard and cress foi' 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 feet deep, and well manure for the making of asparagus or sea-kale beds, or the planting of rhubarb, as they are permanent x crops ; they should be well done at first to secure success. Suckers from all kinds of fruit trees should now bd 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. Easpberfies toy new beds j plant out strong with well rooted suckers; let the ground be well trenched and manured, and four ioet 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 j where convenient, give a watering to settle the earth into the fibrous roots, and cover with dry earth. Strawberries on old beds fork over, giving a coat of manure, clearing ,away all runners and dectyei leaves. Vines, out of door, seiMire to the wan, 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 pre?erve 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 and picotees that are well rooted, to th?ir blooming place in spring. Roses — This is about the best month in the year for transplanting ; they duhgnn in a strong, stiff, rich soil. Kanunculas roots ; look over and see that they are free from damp, as they are very susceptible of dampness. Sow a few hardy annuals for early blooming. AJI 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 hj,ve done blooming take up, divide and repl&nt. . ' Prepare compost for potting in spring, two parts turf loam, one pare wed rotted 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 ia a good plan, after taking off th.c sojj,

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 aslies will soon become hard, and yet will let the water through, so that the path is always- dry.