GARDENER'S CALENDAR. AUGUST.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 539, 13 August 1866, Page 2

GARDENER'S CALENDAR. AUGUST.

This month may be termed the commencement of spring, and all the changeable characteristics of an English February ; prepare ground for future culture by digging and manuring whenever the weather permits. Asparagus beds to be looked to and cleansed, fresh, beda made if required. Beans plant : cabbage and cauliflower sow, and plant out autumn sown celery; sow for early planting, leaving the general crop for September ; cucumbers plant out, thrust a stick into the hot bed to ascertain the heat, and if too powerful •remove some of the soil around the plant but not disturb the plant, and well saturate the bed with water to prevent burning, sow more seeds for succession; dwarf kidney beans sow; cress sow also rape, or mustard for salads ; carrots sow, the early Horn is the best for first crops ; garlic, eschalots plant, if not already done ; lettuce sow and plant out from last sowing; look after the slugs as they now begin to be busy in their destructive habits ; majoram and basil sow ; sow full crops of peas, distance between rows must be regulated by the sort. Best dwarfs are the Emperor, early Queen of dwarfs, Lord Raglan intermediate Fanbeards, early superior Woodfords green marrow and Blue Prussian ; Sangster's No. 1, or Daniel O'Eorke grows tall, but are ready nearly a fortnight sooner than other peas. Onions, sow for early pullings, also plant out the Autumn sown, the underground onion if not already done may be still planted; rhubarb sow and plant from last year's sowing, they like a rich, deep soil, radishes sow of each kind ; parsnip sow for general crop, they like a rich, deep and rather strong soil ; parsely sow, the curled is the best for garnishing, but the common best for seasoning, potatoes plant in light dry borders for early use ; •spinach, Jhe round, and the New Zealand sow. PETTIT. Graft all those that show early budding as early as possible, reserving those last that are late in breaking. Ail pruning should now be completed tha t can be done, choosing the early sorts of trees, first cutting out all old and useless wood, leaving a supply of last summer shoots. All trees recently planted, see that they are not too much shaken with the wind, stake them, and mulch them would be of eervice ; suckers of all kinds should be re-

moved forthwith, and planted forstooks for future grafting or budding. Strawberry beds look over and clean, and if not already done, fork in some, well rotted manure. Raspberries not yet done should be staked and tied, the soil turned with the fork, and well decomposed dun? forked in. Gooseberries and currant trees finish pruning. Planting out all kind of fruit trees should finish this month, where practicable. Filbert trees, remove all suckers, fork in some rich manure around them, shorten last year's wood, but not the spurs. Root pruning, if not done, should be finished without delay. PLOWEES. Hardy and half hardy annuals sow ; auriculas sow, and top dress those in pots : azaleas and x'hododendrons lay, polyanthus, cockscombs, sow in a slight hot bed ; box edgings finish planting ; carnation, picotees, pink layers, remove if not already done from the parent stork ; calceolarias pot from well rooted cuttings, dahlias, look to and plant ; herbaceous plants of all kinds may now be divided and planted ; ranunculus plant, the soil rather silicious and rich ; roses prune, reserving a few for v latter blooming ; verbena cutting put in, the cutting may be very small and divided in the centre of the joint. Mowers in bloom, violets, jonquil, narcissis, snowdrop, daffodil, and the primvlais. Dig and prepare all vacant ground for the September croppina, beth for kitchen and flower garden, and be not sparing of the manure heap, when it can be obtained. Throw nothing away, all weeds, cuttings of trees, bones, or anything that will char, collect them and they form an excellent manure for your crops.