326 Journal of Agriculture. [10 May, 1910. 



This is especially necessary on land that has gxown French beans, tomatoes, 

 or potatoes. The various insects that attack these plants so freely, such 

 as red spider, various caterpillars, aphis, &c., are destroyed by the lime 

 ■dressing. 



Keep all weeds hoed out, and thin out all seedling vegetables. 



Flower Garden. 



The fairly dry season has necessitated an extra amount of autumn 

 watering, and, unless the flower garden has been well trenched or drained, 

 gardeners will have many losses during the winter ; as, owing to the 

 continued waterings, the winter rains on top of these will, provided they 

 come as usual, render the soil to a very sodden condition. Hence, if 

 there are any plants of a delicate nature, or plants that will suffer from 

 an over wet soil, they should be lifted to a drier situation; or they may 

 be even stored in dry sand in a cool place. Even in well drained gardens, 

 it is advantageous to lift and store a large number of herbaceous perenninls, 

 so that the beds may present a more tidy appearance; and also to allow 

 the soil to be thoroughly renovated and ventilated. Wherever possible, a 

 good top dressing with fresh soil is very desirable ; and also an addition 

 of peat, leaf mould, or well rotted stable manure. A dressing of lime 

 is always an advantage ,in the au*tumn ; the value of lime for garden soils 

 cannot be too much emphasized. In addition to its manurial properties, 

 lime improves the physical character and qualities of the soil in many 

 desirable ways. The lime should not be placed in immediate contact 

 with the growing plants, and it should be left on the surface for some 

 considerable time before digging in. Further, lime must never be used 

 in conjunction with stable manure; the .soil should be dressed with lime 

 at least three or four weeks before adding the manure. 



By this time all bulbs and tubers for spring flowering will be planted ; 

 and in many instances these are above ground. They should be protected 

 from the ravages of slugs, snails, and other pests. Summer flowering 

 txiilbs and allied' plants, such as Iris and Lilium, may now be planted. 

 A planting of seeds of hardy annuals, particularly, sweet peas, may now 

 be sown. In growing annuals, a great mistake is frequently made in 

 sowing the seeds too closely. Plenty of room should be given to each 

 individual plant, and the plants should not be in any way overcrowded. 

 Quick growing plants are generally gross feeders, and to have a large 

 number of plants, all in need of considerable nourishment, will only 

 .return one result — ^stunted plants, and dwarfed blooms. It is better only to 

 have four or five sweet pea plants in one clump, well spaced ; the plants 

 will be more vigorous, and the flowers will be of the finest character 

 possible. 



All flowering shrubs and trees that have flowered may now be pruned 

 and cut back into reasonable bounds. There are very few shrubs that 

 are not amenable to such treatment ; and they will always repay with good 

 results. Even strong wooded shrubs as Acacias, and such trees as Eucalypts, 

 may be headed back, so as to allow them to branch out and torm a more 

 bushy habit. 



Chrysanthemums, delphiniums, dahlias, perennial phlox, polygonum 

 and other herbaceous perennials may now be cut down, and if necessary 

 lifted for storing. 



Preparations may be made for the planting of rose cuttings; these will 

 be planted in June, after the ordinary pruning. 



