GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 4 June 1914, Page 59

GARDENING NOTES

(By Mr. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.)

Practical Hints,

, Now that I have nearly exhausted my subject, I will give a few rules which may be of a little service to the young amateur. Never work with bad tools. The difference between the work done in a month would buy a set off new ones. Always keep your tools bright and clean. If two men apply for a job of digging, and one has ,a bright, clean spade and the other a dirty one, employ the one with the bright spade, as he will do more and his work will be well finished. Always keep your spade clean, as then it is a pleasure to work with it. Before hanging it up in the toolhouse wipe it clean and dry, and then it will be in good order when you want it. Have a place for every tool. Keep a ■diary of your garden work, as a guide for the next year.

If your neighbor has failed in his crop, help him all you can with yours; it might be your case the next time. Never plant two plants where there is only room for one to grow. When planting evergreen plants always give them some water. In your spare evenings, read and study garden books. Do nothing carelessly. Whatever is worth growing should be grown well. If you do not like a plant do not grow it. Never be afraid of experiments. Every time you fail you learn. The humblest practical gardener can often teach you something. Always listen patiently. Never fill a pot with soil ; leave plenty of room for sufficient water to •saturate the soil. ,

The best advice that I could give to the amateur gardener is constant attention to his garden, but to the man who loves his garden there is no need for this advice. You can always judge a man by the appearance of his garden. When you see a nice, well-kept garden, you will, be sure to find nice people there. The man who loves his garden finds more pleasure and happiness in his life than the man who cares nothing for the garden. The man who can admire the beauty of a little flower has a superior mind to the man who will pass it by and not give it a thought. If I wanted to choose a friend, I know I would prefer the one who loves his garden and flowers. The lover of flowers always looks a happy man; he is, incapable of doing an injury ; his mind is cultivated, his heart is kind, his manner gentle and cheerful, and he is always generous in all his dealings. This has always been my experience. School Gardens.

And here I would suggest that more attention should be given to the instruction of school children in the art of cultivating flowers, fruit, and vegetables. There should be nice plots laid out" in' every schoolground, well planted with suitable trees and shrubs, flowers, etc., all being properly named with their English and botanical designations, so that the children could become familiar with trees and shrubs. They should have charge of these plots, and a prize should be given for the best-kept one. Practical demonstrations on different subjects of horticulture should be given

by a practical gardener on several occasions during the year. I think this would be a step in the right direction, and I consider that ; one of their lesson books should deal with practical gardening. If more was made of this subject, 1 think our boys and girls, would grow up with a taste for horticulture and it would engender a love for rural employment, and when they settled down in life they would be sure to have their homes brightened by a well-kept garden, where they would spend their evenings and other spare time, enjoying the beauties of their surroundings and gaining health by cheerful recreation in the keeping and cultivation of their gardens. If you observe you will not find the man who loves his garden spending his time in the public-house or at the races, spending his few spare shillings on betting, as unfortunately is now too' often the case. His evenings and holidays are spent in his favorite haunt, and his spare money is cheerfully spent on seeds and plants which he will have the pleasure of enjoying when they open their flower buds later. This is the happy man.

We should all cultivate a taste for beautifying our homes by providing a nice, well-stocked garden of flowers, fruit, and vegetables. A nice garden gives an air of comfort and independence to the owner, and it also enhances the value of the premises to a considerable extent. And, besides, there is the supply of good wholesome vegetables and fruit, with plenty of flowers to cut for indoor decoration.