THE GARDEN DIRECTIONS FOR APRIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 737, 7 April 1881, Page 2

THE GARDEN DIRECTIONS FOR APRIL.

Compiled/or tk ' ' Nm Zealand Mwtrial \ Gazette, and Pastoral and Agriadtwal ]] News, by F.Cooper. '. KITCHEN GARDES. Sow in the driest portions of the garden mustard and cress, spinach, broad beans, j' and radishes (the turnip varieties, will ! thrive beat now), also, for transplanting "" out in the spring, cabbage, cauliflower, i onions, and lettuce, Thin out advancing ! \ crops of turnips, carrots and spinach; ■' which should be weeded and well worked ■ between the rows with the Dutch hoe. • Plant out as soon as convenient cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, endive and silver beet, for Bpring use. -Dig up potatoes, . \ carrots, and all other foot crops as they .' come to maturity, and carefully store up || for the winter. Hoe up cabbages, cauli- ; flower, broccoli, and leeks, and keep the V ground well.worked about all advancing % crops. Attend the celery beds; it is best I not to earth up too Boon j carefully cut away all forerigbt shoots at the roots before commencing, and see that rone of the earth enters the- hearlp of the plants in the process. Towards the endi of the "" month, clear off the old l leaves from , rhubarb,and sea kale; fork over the - ground lightly, clear off all weeds, give the rhubarb a good dressing of manure. Out down and fork over gus beds; but not until the yellow, and the seeds ripe. FRUIT GARDEN. The operations in this be of an extensive character. berry beds should be as possible. Choose for a deep, rich, sandy loam, be trenched or deeply liberally with well rotted jm wood and coalashes are also an excellent f I ingredient.to mix, with the soil.—Choose well rooted plants of the present year's ;■ growth, taking care the roots do not get -:l dry in the sun or wind. Plant them in rows w eighteen inches apart, and one foot from -M plant to plant; if the weather is dry .let 'M them be watered after the bud hai gone off, M Beds intended to be left another season H should be cleaned out of all suckersJH weeds, and dry. leaves, and a top dress- ;'■ ing of manure lightly forked in. Cafe- r M fully gather and store apples, pears, M quinces; - etc. Thin out superfluous wood from the centre of peaches', VI nectarines, and apricots, to admit more |1 sun and'air, for the purpose of ripening ; jl the remaining wood. Grape vines-Trim, .»■ on all wood not required for next year's :M crop, leaving only one or two leaves .'/,■ beyond eAcli.' buooh.; Prune oijt the ."• .■ middle branch^.'of currants'and goose' 'jm berries when the leaves fall offj leaving

their shape something like that of a cup, Do not, however, top those branches intended to he "left, unless, they have grown out of bounds. Trench and manure _ ground . for new plantation, leaving it as loose and rough as possible that it may be well sweetened; also aeo that the drainage is good., Apple trees afflicted with'the American or other blight Bhould be carefully dressed. A mixture of softsoap, sulphur, and tobacco, boiled together in water will be found effectual, but a small portion of keroseno added to the mixture will improve its efficacy. Where root pruning is to be carried on this is the month to begin operations. This will be found of groat advantage to trees inclined to make too much wood at tho expense of the crop,