«6o8 Journal of Agriciilttirc. [lo Sept., 1910. 



back the trees some time before the operation is performed. Then \vhen 

 the grafting is carried out, the dead ends may be cut off, and the grafts 

 inserted in the new cuts. If the ground is at all warm, all varieties of 

 citrus trees may be planted. The soil re(]uires to l)e very sweet, and well 

 drained. 



Vegetable Garden. 



Tomatoes may be planted out wherever they can be sheltered from the 

 late frosts. For late crops, tomato seeds may still be sown. Later on in 

 Ahe month, plant out also seeds of marrows, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, 

 French beans, celerv, carrots, parsnips, and peas. Potatoes should also 

 be planted. 



Where tomatoes have been planted, their energies should Vie restricted 

 to three or four main growths, and all laterals pinched out, leaving only 

 the flowers and flower buds. 



The vegetable garden soil will need frequent hoeings ; all clods and 

 lumps should l)e well broken down, and the hoe kept going consta'ntly. 

 After a watering, as sooin as the soil becomes firm, a good hoeing is the 

 means of conserving most of the water that has been given. 



Flower Garden. 



As in the orchard, so in the flower garden, the work this month will 

 require a lot of attention. The garden area previously dug over, will now 

 be somewhat mellowed and sweetened, and will be ready for the hoe or 

 other cultivators. 



Attention is again drawn to the value of the hoe in the garden. The 

 use of the hoe is too often disregarded ; yet it is one of the most valuable 

 tools for garden purposes. The use of the hoe will obviate the necessity 

 for a large number of waterings. A loose pulverised soil is far better for 

 garden plants than a continually wet soil. With a fine loose earth mulch, 

 gardening gives greater success than with a heavy, hard and often sodden 

 surface, the result of frequent waterings. Further, excessive water con- 

 siderably weakens garden plants, and the more water they get, the more 

 they want ; in an undrained soil, excessive and constant waterings result 

 in weakened i)huits, a decaying root system, and loss of good and useful 

 plants. 



This is the month for jjjanting out Australian .shrul)s and trees. In 

 ordinary gardens there is a lamentable absence of our native flora. Every 

 garden should contain a few representative species of such plants ; they 

 are easy to grow, require a minimum amount of manure and water, and 

 .are quite as effective, and are even as gorgeous and often more so, than 

 ordinary garden shrubs. Our Hakeas, Grevilleas, Prostantheras, 

 Eriostemons, Chorizemas, Melaleucas, Swain.sonas, Tecomas, Correa, and 

 many others, in addition to the various useful Acacias and Eucalypts, de- 

 serve a place in every garden. 



Roses and other growing plants should now be carefully watched for 

 any signs of the usual aphis troubles. These insects considerably enfeeble 

 the young growths, and are productive of considerable loss. Wherever 

 ■ observed, the aphides should receive frequent sprayings and washings 

 with tobacco wash prepared from waste tobacco, or with " Nikoteen," 

 " Pestend," " Soaperine," each preparation being useful for the purpose. 

 For mildew on roses and otheT plants, frequent and liberal dustings of 

 •sulphur will be necessary. All useless shoots on roses and shrubs of all 

 varieties should now be rubbed off. so as to direct the sap into useful and 

 ■necessarv channels. 



