The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 3

The Garden.

Kitchen Garden. The season is not far enough advanced for very extensive operations in this dopartment. On light dry warm soils and situations a few rows of early potatoes should be planted ; also make a sowing of peas. All operations in planting and sowing on stiff, wet soils or cold situations aro better deferred till the season becomes moro advanced, as anything that was planted or ' sown would have little chance of giving | even a fair crop. The break of ground for spring onion crop should be dug and manured as soon as a few fine days can be obtained. Tf dug now, it will be in splendid condition for sowing towards the end of August. Cabbages and cauliflowers : Plant out a few moro rows ; earth up those thab are growing. Sow another patch of seed for later spring planting ; also, a small patch of red cabbage. Lettuces : Prick out another bed ; tie \ip advanced plants for blanching. Sow a small I patch of seed so as to have a succession of plants coming on. Thin out all advancing crops, such as turnips, carrots, etc. "Whenever the soil is sufficiently dry, hoe between bhe rows, and earth up those that require the hill system of cultivation. In line weather have all pieces of ground that have become bare of crop dug roughly, using plenty of manure during the operation. The strawberry break should receive attention : all blanks that may have occurred amonsc the young plants should be filled up. Keep weeds under with the hoe, taking care not to injiuc the young fibrous roots feeding near the surface. Gooeben-ics can now be root-pruned ; either lift altogether or insert the spade down perpendicularly all round the plant at a moderate distance from each, thus cutting many root?. Thin out superfluous sprays from the centre of the bushes, and cut back such shoots asare becoming too long. Raspberries can also now be pruned. Cub out all the old canes that fruited lasb season. Thin out all the weaker shoots, leaving a few of the best of last year's shoots at each stool. Make a successional sowing of broad beans. Keep the soil well stirred about potato onions. Sb'.gs are very troublesome ; use lime frequently after dark. Keep the garden as free from rubbish or weeds as possible, as these give the slugs both shelter and food, to the detriment of the vegetable ciops.

Flower Garden. During this month there cannot be much clone in this department, unless when the soil is in a comparatively dry state. Treading on the border while the soil is wet generally does more injury than good. It is compressed into a state like putty, and ib will take half the next summer before it gets into good condition again, especially in wet retentive soils. Whenever the soil is in a favourable condition finish planting all herbaceous and evergreen shrubs. These should, if possible, always be planted early in the winter. Planting or removing them from one position to another should never be left till the spring, as late - planted shrubs as a rule never succeed so well as early-planted ones. Still continue when the soil is dry planting roses ; place plenty of well-rotted manure at the roots of each plant. For early flowers, prune a few plants ; the pruning of the bulk of tho plants for general flowering must be deferred for about another month. Many of the early spring flowering bulbs and tubers are now making strong growth ; some of fcbem are also showing flower stalks. The soil should be frequently stirred about them, and they should occasionally be watered with liquid manure. Plant a few more gladiolus bulbs, so that there may be a succession of flowers. Only the common varieties should be used for this purpose ; the best varieties should be retained for planting towards tho ond vi August and during September. Keep all weeds under as far as possible with the hoe. Lawn : The grass should be kept as short as possible and ought to be frequently rolled, for the wet weather causes the soil to expand and the roller compresses it into its place asaic. Throughout the spring the roller should be more frequently used than it is during the summer as it is required m»re svhile the soil is in a moist condition.

Greenhouse. Pelargoniums and double scaileb geraniums in pots which have been placed in winter quarters should now be moved into the "house. Stake and tie and place them in an airy situation near the glass. Calceolarias and cinerarias : Still continue repotting as they require it. Give each plant plenty of room to fully develop its foliage without getting drawn. Keep near the glass. Hardy border flowering plants that have been struck from cuttings or raised from seed, begin to harden off, 50 that the planting-out can take place as early in the spring as possible.

Orchard. A few words to those who may be planting out young fruit trees may be of value. Prune back all young trees &o that they may break low. The branches of all ordinary orchard trees ought to break away from the stem about a foot from the ground. The advantages of low-trained trees are manifold. Low-headed trees are much «a&ier to handle in the way of pruning. Besides, it will be much easier to gather fruit without injuring either the fruit or tree, and any fruit which may fall from the tree will notreceive so much injury as from tall-growing trees. Then, too, the branches being short, strong and stumpy, will not be so liable to get broken by heavy winds, or strained by an overcrop of fruit. Again, the low branches will keep thesun\s rays from reaching the soil immediately around the base of the tree, consequently it will keep the moisture longer, and at the same time be cooler — a great advantage during the hottest part of our seasons. Lastly, upon low-headed trees that arc liable to be infected wifch injurious insects it will be much easier for the grower to apply with effect the different applications required so as to keep them under. In training trees wj£h a low head the training must begin while the tree is young, and the best time to cut back is when the tree is one year old from bud or graft, Heaving from four to five buds ; all after training will be easy.