FARM AND GARDEN NOTES FOR MAY AND JUNE. (N.Z Country Journal.) The Farm.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2167, 29 May 1886, Page 6 (Supplement)

FARM AND GARDEN NOTES FOR MAY AND JUNE. (N.Z Country Journal.) The Farm.

Wheat sowiug should now be pushed forward : too much care cannot be exorcised in selecting seed, which should bo plump and free from the seeds of weeds, and properly dressed with unadulterated bluestone for tho prevention of ninut — I o/. to every quart of water used. On deeply tilled clean lind in good heart, ouo bushel of seed will produce good results drilled in, but l^ bushels are more frequently used. Huuter's Pearl, and Velvet chaff wheats are good varieties for sowing in May, June, and up» to the middle of July. Stock of all kinds will, as the winter advances, require special attention. A plentiful supply of turnips and mangles should have been provided to compensate for the failing pastures ; nhelter should also be provided, for cold cuttinjf winds and rain soon strips the fle«h off animal*, however well they 'may be attended to in other respects, and much of the food supplied is consequently lost. Potatoes should now be got out of the ground to prevent a second growth, and. if not required for immediate sale, should be carefully pitted in a dry place. Carrots should be raised and pitted, if left in the ground they will make a fresh growth, to the injury of their feeding value, and to the detriment of the ground. These remarks do not apply to turnips or mangles, at least for the next two or three months. Green Foddek.— Cape barley, rye, and tares may not be sown for early spring soiling ; sow two bushels of tares and one bushel of barley, winter oats, or rye, per acre. This crop may be sown on land which has born a com crop, and if not in the best condition as regards fertility, a couple of cwt. of half-inch bones per acre will produce good results, and the land will be in good condition next season for a crop of turnips. On good soil tares have been known to yield 20 tons per acre, but half that quantity of green soiling is a fair crop. Every farm should have a patch of green stuff, which will be found of great value in the early spring before the grass begins to grow plentifully. Live Fences. — The sites intended for fences should now be prepared. Plough a strip three feet wide, and if subsoiled at the same time all the better ; let the ground lie rough till required, either for planting quicks or sowing gorse. Quicks may be planted at any time from the beginning of May till the end of August or nrtddle of September, they should be cut well back when planted ; early spring will be soon enough for the gorse seed. Working Horses should always be fed on crushed corn, as they usually feed ravenously and bolt much of their food, which yields but little nourishment. Wheat lands are frequently fouled in thin way. Never turn working horses out of tho stable till well-filled, thoroughly cooled and well covered. Better far to keep them under cover during the wintor seasons. Flax. —Ground intended for this crop whether lea or stubble should now receive a deep ploughing and be allowed to remain so till early spring when it should be cross-ploughed and grubbed. Wheat Sowing. — Let no timo ha loitin fretting in the remainder of thin crop, always remomborintf that the early sown wheat in favourable soils has often two chance* to one over the late sown. " Hour after hour, and day to day succeed, Till every clod and deep-drawn furrow spreads To crumbling mould, a level surface clear, And strewed with corn to crown the rising year." The Garden. The month of May may be said to close the season in the orchard, the kitchen and the flower garden, and all future opertions will have in view the necessities for the comiug year. The successes and failures uf the growing months just past will have suggested muny alterations which the careful gardener, be he amateur or professional will not be slow to note and act upon. The usual routine of pruning, transplanting, manuring and trenching requisite at this season will claim attention. Now is the time to clear away the decaying leaves and haulms of rhubarb, seakale, and asparagus, and to treat with a liberal dressing of strong loose manure. Make new plantations for raspberries in rows four by four feet. Planting Orchard Trees. — At this season, when planting is being largely carried on, it may be well to warn the inexperienced against tho too common practice of planting too thickly. It is an every-duy remark that two trees are put in where there is only room for one, yet fresh plantations continually come under notice in which the trees are planted much too thickly. Large, strong growing kinds of apples and pears should stand at least from twenty-five to thirty feet apart if the soil is strong; for although many planters say they will cut out the supernumerary trees as soon as they encroach on each other, it is very doubtful whether, if they are producing anything like good crops, they are not left long enough to spoil all before any are removed. A good plan in cultivating orchards is to plant the tall standards at the fullest range they are ever likely to occupy, and to fill the intermediate spaces with dwarf spreading bush treei, as orchards thus treated are sooner remunerative than when they are all planted with standard trees. Transplanting and Pruning. — Fruit trees and bushes should be attended to as soon as the leaves begin to fall. However carefully young trees may be lifted, some of the roots will be broken, these should be pared clean with a knife. Blighted trees should be carefully dressed with a mixture of soft soap, kerosene, and hot water, applied with a hard brush. Gooseberries, currAnts, and raspberries should now be pruned. Keep the centre of the brush well open, clear out all sickly branches, and shorten all strong shoots to one-half their length, removing suckers. With raspberries cut away the wood which bore this year's j fruit, thin oat the suckers leaving sor J G of the strongest for fruiting next season, which should be tied together. Black currants will not bear cutting back, they should, however, be freely thinned out. Tho withered stems of asparagus should now be cleared off, and the beds dressed with strong manure, say thre.e inches thick, together with a good sprinkling of salt ; top-dress rhubarb and seakale beds as the leaves decay. Tomatoes. — When danger from light frosts is apprehended, the season may be prolonged by protecting the plants, or some of them, by cloths or papers. Some pull up their vines und hang them up in sheds, etc., for the same purpose. Secure tho green tomatoes in sufficient quantities for spiced and other pickles, before the fros* injures them. Green tomatoes make nn excellent jam. THE FLOWER GARDEN. Dviilias are spoiled by the first hard frost. Cut the stalks near the ground and lift the roots, selecting a warm day, and doing the work the mornirg, that the roots mar dry all day in the sun before putting them away. Be sure to securely label the different varieties, and pufr. them away, any place suitable for keeping potntoes will answer. Spring Bulbs should be planted as soon as possible, provided the ground is

naturally dry. Double tulips are very whowy, and are deserving of more attention than thoy receive. The bed-* for the bulbs ihould be>nriohea with old wellrottpdfmanure.