190 Journal of A gncuHurt, Victoria. [10 March, 1916. 



OKCllAUD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



Ed. E. Pescoft, F.L.S., Principal^ School of Horticulture, Burnley. 



The Orchard. 



Green Manures. 



If a cover crop of leguminous plants is required for green manuring 

 a start at planting may now be made. ' This can only be don© when all 

 the fruit has been gathered from the trees. An early crop is a distinct 

 advantage. The cover crop should make a good growth before the winter 

 sets in, as the plants make very little headway in the cold weather, 

 and they require to be ploughed in as soon as the ground is dry enough 

 in early spring. It will thus be seen that it is necessary to get a good 

 autumn growth, as dense as possible, and one which will well cover the 

 ■surface before winter. 



Cultivation. 



Should the weather become hot and dry it will be very necessary to 

 give the land surface a good stirring, so as to conserve water supplies. 

 Where fruit crops have been gathered a start may be made late in 

 the month with the autumn ploughing ; whatever ploughing is done 

 should be left as rough as possible. 



Pests. 



No codlin moth-affected or diseased fruit of any kind should be left 

 on the ground after the crop has been gathered. These should all be 

 destroyed by boiling. 



All rust-affected foliage and fruit of plum and peach trees, as well 

 as all other stone fruits that have been attacked by this and other 

 fungus diseases, such as shot-hole, &c., should be burned if possible. 

 This will minimize the possibility of future attacks. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



Autumn weeds must be kept out of the kitchen garden. These 

 rapidly grow, and remain as robbers right through until the spring 

 time. 



The section should be well dug over for planting winter crops. 

 Before digging a light sprinkling of bonedust and a good top dressing of 

 stable manure should be spread on the surface. These may then be 

 dug in, as they provide humus for the soil. Large plots should be 

 avoided in winter ; where such occur a path should be run down the 

 centre. This will provide more efficient drainage. The beds, too, may 

 be more raised than in the summer time. 



Early onions may be planted out in the beds, and, if not already 

 done, onion seed should be planted at once. 



All classes of seedlings may be planted out, and seeds of lettuce, 

 early peas, beet, carrots, radish, cabbage, cauliflower, and swede turnip 

 may be sown. 



Asparagus beds should be cleaned up and cut down as soon as the 

 berries begin to colour. Celery rows should be kept earthed up ; 

 rhubarb beds should be given a dressing of manure to encourage the 

 coming winter crop, and new rhubarb plantations may now be 

 established. 



