8 August, 1907.] Garden Notes. 497 



Flower Grarden. 



Pruning of roses should be completed by mid-August in the greater 

 })art of the State. In cold and late districts the operation may be 

 deferred till later, Imt when the growth buds are showing prominently 

 along the shoots, the dormant season has passed and pruning should be 

 finished. Roses were badly infested by aphis during autumn and 

 winter, and close observation will probably show that the buds on the 

 shoots that remained after pruning are still infested. The plants should 

 be cleaned at once, and prunings burned or l)uried deeply. A strong soap 

 or tobacco wash, or a mixture of each, will destroy the aphides, and no 

 harm will ensue if the application is sufficient to drench the soil at the 

 base of the plants. An infusion of tobacco should be used, not a boiled 

 and comparatively useless solution. One thorough spraying is necessary, 

 which should be repeated if any aphides are present a few days later. 



Divisions of herbaceous plants may be planted. Many of the finest 

 summer flowering plants are of this class, and will repay, by abundance 

 of fine flowers in season, a thorough preparation of the soil before planting. 

 The tall and large leaved kinds, such as cannas, require a deep and 

 well enriched soil to assure a supplv of moisture at the roots, sufficient 

 to maintain a large evaporating surface of foliage during dry weather. Plants 

 with abundant leafage need abundant moisture and cool soil during summer. 

 When the plants are set out and sufficient water applied to settle the soil 

 around them, a mulching of stable manure will lessen the need of after 

 watering. The surface should be reduced to a fine condition before 

 applying the mulch. Herbaceous plants suitable for most parts of the 

 State are delphinium, jjerennial phlox, canna, pentstemon, helianthus, 

 dielvtra, shasta daisv, oriental poppy, peony, tritoma, hemerocallis, 

 rudbeckia, salvia (herbaceous). Bulbs of gladioli may be planted to 

 flower earlv and divisions of dahlias for the same purpose. Seeds of 

 hardv annuals may be sown, and transplantings made from sowings in 

 autumn. 



Vegetable Garden. 



Ground should be in readiness for planting out from former sowings, 

 and sowing seeds of most vegetables in demand during the summer. In 

 limited areas, if the soil is suitable, vegetables that require to be used 

 quite freshly gathered tO' give satisfaction should be grown. Herbs 

 and sala dings are worthv of consideration and can be grown well in 

 small gardens. The class of vegetables grown should be changed as often 

 as possible. Better results are obtained bv a quick rotation, and also 

 greater immunitv from insect and fungoid attacks. Growing crops should 

 be thinned, and kept free from weeds. The hoe should be kept going 

 between the rows, and the soil brought to as fine a condition as possible. 



