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Work for June in the Garden 
I By John Johnson, Massachusetts 
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WAR on bugs ! At no time of year is this advice 
more appropriate. During the month of June 
the ravages of various garden pests begin in real 
earnest and must be dealt with by the available means — 
Prevention and Remedy. In some cases in the larvje or 
caterpillar stage insects are most destructive to plant 
life as in the case of cut-worm, wire-worm and the sur- 
face caterpillars. The rose bug or rose chafer, potato 
beetle and squasli bug are examples of insects which in 
mature form do injury to crops. Preventive measures 
may be sometimes adopted by making the surroundings 
of the plant repulsive to the insect. Spray the ground 
about rose bushes, for instance, with a solution of kero- 
sene and it will be found that the kerosene odor is suf- 
ficient to ward off the rose chafer. The first application 
should be made before the insect makes its appearance 
and should be continued at weekly intervals during the 
month. I have even known onions planted in rose beds 
as a deterrent to this pest. Begin early and spray con- 
tinuously with Bordeaux and arsenate lead mixture for 
potato bug. Against tent caterpillars and the elm-leaf 
beetle take similar measures. 
The second or third week of June is a good time to 
sjjrav elm trees. Dust in good time with slugshot, squash, 
pumpkins and allied subjects, to keep down the squash 
ijug : and above all, try to keej) all growing crops clear of 
weeds and in a vigorous condition so that insect pests 
•can indict but little permanent injury. Spray plum trees 
with Bordeaux arsenate against brown rot and curculio, 
and repeat the operation until danger is past. 
( irnamental water basins and ponds are often covered 
with an unsightly scum growth, a nuisance which gar- 
deners have sometimes to contend with. Small ponds 
inav be cleared of floating algae or similar growth by 
spraying the surface of the water with a very weak solu- 
tion of copper sulphate (poison), 2i/. ozs. of dilute sul- 
phate for everv 10,000 gallons of water will be sufficient. 
Thus applied no harm will result to lilies or fish. It is 
Avell, however, to underestimate rather than overestimate 
the quantity of water when treating lily ponds. For larg- 
er areas place about one pound of finely broken copper 
sul[)hate in a muslin or cheesecloth sack and drag through 
the water in parallel lines at intervals of 4 or 5 yards. 
There is yet time to plant hardy water lilies while to- 
ward the middle of the month will be early enough to 
plant the more tender species. Nymphaeas for small 
ponds, fountains or tubs are: N. Arethusa, N. Aurora, X. 
Laydekeri \'ars and Pygmae Alba. Varieties of strong- 
er habit and suited for planting in larger ponds and lakes 
include: X. Gladstoniana, XT. Alba and varieties of X. 
Marliacea. Some of the choicer varieties of X^mphaeas 
are not hard\" in our climate but can be grown with suc- 
cess outdoors if the tubers are wintered in a temperature 
■of 50 degrees and stored in sand. \^arieties as X^ Gigan- 
tea, X'. Stellata, X. Gracilis and X. Pulcherrima are very 
beautiful and worthy of a place where the most select 
varieties are looked for. When ])lanting in lakes or ponds 
use shallow baskets filled with rich fibrous loam, insert 
tubers and tie down, then sink the receptacle where re- 
quired. 
Do not cut asparagus too late, discontinue as soon as 
the first-crop peas come in. When cutting ceases give 
the plantation a stimulant. Liquid manure or a dressing 
•of nitrate of soda will work wonders at this season. As 
growth advances give some support. A good plan is to 
fix stout stakes in the ground at intervals along the row 
and run string on either side. 
Plant out celery with extreme care, and if possible 
choose a dull day for the work. If planted in hot dry 
weather shade the plants and give abundance of water. 
Pea brush laid across the trenches will give sufficient 
shade with minimum trouble. 
Make further sowings of string beans, sweet corn, rad- 
ish, lettuce, onion for salad, cucumber for pickling and 
chicory for winter use. 
Their previous sowings of vegetables that need it as 
onions, corn, carrot, turnips, parsnip, kohlrabi, lettuce and 
parsley. Sow okra in drills three feet asunder and thin 
the plants to 18 inches or two feet apart in the row^ 
Plant tomato, eggplant and the more tender kinds raised 
on the hot-bed earlier in the season. 
Leeks intended for show purposes should be planted 
in single rows in shallow trenches not more than a foot 
wide. In the process of earthing the sides of the trench 
should be partially chopped away and the soil drawn to 
the stems of the plants. By this method a furrow is 
made on either side of the row. Artificial feeding and 
watering can be, therefore, continued throughout the 
growing season without injury to the bleaching stem. 
There is some discrepancy as to what constitutes a "show" 
leek. It is not uncommon to see on the exhibition table 
ungainly specimens, having bulbous bottom and with 
partly blanched lower ends of the leaves, carrying off the 
prize in preference to leeks less large perhaps, but of true 
type and excellent finish. Yes — methinks size is not 
everything ! The principal aim in blanching should be to 
secure a perfect division between the white stem and the 
green part. Prevent soil falling between the bases of the 
leaf blades as this is not readily removed and when left 
clearly shows through the white skins. 
Rain and artificial watering tend to pack the ground, 
therefore, keep the cultivator at work. It is almost im- 
possible to stir the surface soil too frequently. 
This is a month of hustle in the flower garden. Plant 
out at the earliest possible moment all bedding stock ex- 
cepting the very tropical subjects which may be left till 
last. Support gladioli, dahlia and perennials that need 
it, cultivate and water in dry weather. Phlox, delphinium, 
peony, iris and kindred plants require moisture at the 
root to give best results. 
Protect strawberries against the ravages of birds and 
pick ripe fruit early in the day. Prepare the earliest run- 
ners for forcing purposes or for future planting in the 
open. 
Disbud grapevines and tie in new wood, stop rampant 
shoots to ensure stocky growth and ripening of the cane. 
If tent caterpillar is troublesome spray with arsenate of 
lead, three pounds to 50 gallons of water. For black 
aphis use a nicotine solution, or a combination of lead ar- 
senate and nicotine when both insects are prevalent. 
Water young and newly planted fruit trees. Disbud 
and thin out the fruit. It is a mistake to allow any fruit 
tree to carry a too heavy crop. 
Toward the end of the month mulch sweet peas, roses 
and newly planted trees and shrubs. Under the extreme 
pressure of seasonable work rubbish is apt to accumulate. 
Thin out weedy growths of perennial plants and en- 
courage the stronger ones by exposure to light and air. 
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