GARDENER'S CALENDAR. JUNE.

Southland Times, Volume 1, Issue 501, 25 June 1866, Page 2

GARDENER'S CALENDAR. JUNE.

" See winter comes to rule the varied year, Sullen and sad with all its rising trains, Vapours and clouds and storms." Yet when we compare our June to December of England, how different. Picotees, pansies, heliotropes, ageroturn, niexicana, and fushias, are still in the bloom ; should there be any tender plants out of doors, shelter them in the event of a, frost. The signs of a frosty night are, a calm, clear sky, and stars at night appearing with more than usual brilliancy. Give the borders a top dressing of well decayed manure, or well prepared compost. Planting and pruning must now be earned on as quick as possible ; root pruning particularly should now be attended to. Where fruit trees are in the habit of making wood and n ■ fruit. Forest trees, evergreens, fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, whether native or not, should be planted as early as possible ; and in planting see that the rootlets are spread out ; don't be afraide of bending the back nor, of using the hand where necessary. In the successful planting of a tree of any kind much depends on the manner in which it is planted. Pruning must be well looked to. Clean strawberry beds not already done, and fork in well decomposed manure ; in cleaning it, it is best to have a basket and take every weed clean away, for if they are left, and dug in with manure they will take fresh root and be more troublesome. Make new raspberry beds if required in shady and moist situations. Gooseberry and currant cuttings plant for young trees. Trench and ridge up every sparo piece of ground whenever the weather will permit particularly where the soil is of a clayey nature. In the vegetable garden we can only repeat that in our Almanack of last year viz. Early York cabbage sown in summer may now be planted out to produce early spring cabbage, also any of the cabbage tribe. ' Cauliflower sown at the same date will produce ilowcrs much superior to those sown in spring aucl planted in summer. Peas : sow in a dry border for early crop. Beans : plant. Also prepare ground for early potatoes ; dig in manure throughout the ground, not placing the manure close to the set, and plant a few in a dry border for very early use. Asparagus and rhubarb heels should now be formed. Asparagus in rows eighteen inches wide, and nine inches from plant to plant ; rhubarb, if in beds, thirty inches from row to row and eighteen inches from plant to plant, the beds of each to be well manured. "The potato onion, garlic, and eschalots to be now planted as early as the weather permits; they delight in a rich sandy loam, and top coating'of wood asher will assist them. We plant them on the top of the drills so that when cleaned the earth is level ; and the bulbs can fully enlarge <he ridiges being IS inches apart, the plant 6 i'ehes. All bulbs and tuberous rooted flowers ought *o be in ; but if not, plant as early as possible, taking care that the border is well drained, or they are liable to rot oil". All herbaceous plants take up, divide, and transplant. Roses, transplant. In the pruning of roses greatc are should be taker, as some sorts will not bear the knife, while others require a great deal. Auriculas should now be placed in the pots for blooming. Carnations, &c, not yet separated must be uone as early as possible to secure strong blooming plants for the spring. Pansies secure against too much wet and wind ; peg them down and keep them close cut in to ensure a good bloom in the early spring. In small gardens it is well to train the gooseberry tree as an espalier ; it takes up less room, produces a larger fruit, and is easier gathered and pruned* In planting trees of a large growth where it requires stakes to prevent their being blown out, place hay bands or some soft sub3tance to take the abraision, it" not, it -will materially aifect its growth.