THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
~6SeSsr 
OPERATIONS FOR MAY. 
Given favorable weather conditions, a 
sufficiency, not a super-abundance, of rain 
to render the soil in fit condition, . the 
operation of planting should be in full 
swing during this month. Only in wet, 
cold districts is it advisable to delay plant- 
ing until'spring. The soil being both 
warm and moist, the roots will take kindly 
to their new quarters, and will go on 
forming before the depth of winter over- 
takes them. ; 
Assuming that the soil has been thor- 
oughly cultivated, and that the grower has 
made a study of his area, that he is 
familiar with all the varying nature of his 
soil, and, the variety of sites and aspects 
his orchard offers. Assuming, too, that 
he has some acquaintance with the indivi- 
dual tastes and predilections of the sub- 
jects he is about to plant to guide him in 
the matter of their disposal; we can pass 
on to a few suggestions connected with the 
all important matter of planting fruit 
trees. Choose in the first instance 
healthy, straight-stemmed young trees, 
neither overgrown nor stunted, with a 
‘good root system, and every indication of 
‘ healthy development. The roots must on 
no account be allowed to become dry, the 
trees should, therefore, not be lifted too 
soon. They must not be exposed to the 
air whilst awaiting their turn to be 
planted, but should be protected by straw 
or hessian. Damaged and broken roots 
should be cut back with a sharp clean cut 
to a healthy part, which will induce new 
growth to spring. Every plant should 
have a perfect wreath of roots. As we 
desire the’ headgrowth to be perfectly 
symmetrical, so we must ensure an equal 
distribution of the roots. Avoid crowd- 
iny them all in one direction. The few 
main roots should spring at regular dis- 
tances from the base of the trunk, and the 
fiLrous growth should be evenly disposed 
between. Carefully disentangle the roots 
if at all matted, and spread out in layers 
to their full extent. If the tree has come 
from the nursery with a faulty root sys- 
tem, give the side deficient in roots the 
most favorable aspect, and do everything 
‘to encourage an equal growth. 
The hole in which they are placed must 
be wider than the length of the roots to 
allow of their being spread out to their 
full extent. The bottom of the hole 
shculd be convex so that when the tree 
is placed on the slight elevation in the 
centre, the roots will have a gentle in- 
clination downwards. Each layer of roots 
should be covered with a layer of light 
soli. Care should be taken not to throw 
it in heavily and so to jam the roots, but 
with just a light sprinkle to sift through 
and fill in the interstices. This soil 
shculd be brought for the purpose, and 
should be a light loam combined with 
vegetable mould and wood ashes. When 
covered make the soil firm, but do not 
tread if inclined to be at all heavy and 
stiff. 
The soil mark on the stem is generally a 
geod guide as to the depth at which the 
young tree should be planted. The 
top, layer of roots 
covered with more than an inch or two of 
soil. Young trees want careful staking, 
as they are liable to injury if blown about 
by reugh winds. The stake should be 
driven in before planting, and the base 
dipped in creosote or tar. 
Prune the head of the tree as well as 
the roots before planting, and give the 
weaker side the more favorable aspect. 
Tliree or four well disposed shoots are 
sufficient to form the foundation of a 
symmetrical and profitable head. _ 
In planting a new orchard the square 
style is the mosti economical and satisfac- 
tory to adopt. The distance apart at 
which trees should be planted naturally 
varies according to the nature of the soil 
and the native habit of the tree. We 
have to consider the breadth and height to 
which a tree will attain under given con- 
ditions, the necessity of a free admission of 
light and air and of facilitating cultural 
operations. If a tree spreads twelve feet 
—that is, six feet each way from the 
trunk, eighteen feet should be, the mini- 
mum distance at which to plant. In the 
case of pears, plums, apricots, and apples, 
being somewhat vigorous of growth, from 
eighteen to twenty-four feet should be the 
dstance. With cherries, quinces, and 
peaches, from sixteen, to twenty feet is a 
good average distance. <A free space of 
six feet at least should be allowed between 
the extremities of the trees. 
The importance of providing a perfect 
drainage system at this season should be 
fully realised. The benefits are so ob- 
vious. The accumulation of water in the 
scil-excludes air and prevents its mineral 
ingredients being assimilated by the 
plants. Moreover, the heat from the sun, 
instead of warming the soil and promoting 
growth, has to expend all its precious 
pewers on, evaporation. Where drainage 
is provided the rain is enabled to pass 
freely through the soil, and with it air 
and several beneficial gases. The system 
of drainage depends upon the nature of 
tlie soil and the class of crops. In a cold, 
wet district and a heavy soil deep drains 
are best, as the soil is then partially dried 
and warmed to a greater depth. From 
three to four feet is a fair average depth. 
They may be placed forty feet apart, or 
frem four to eight drains to the acre. 
Harthenware cylinder pipes are the most 
durable; these should be packed, so to 
speak, in brush wood or stone rubble to 
prevent them being choked by silt. If 
the land has been well graded draining is 
considerably facilitated. One must, be- 
fore deciding on a system, consider the 
contour of the land, take the highest and 
lowest levels, choose the lowest point for 
the outlet, and ascertain the best gradient. 
should not bg. 
May 1, 1903. 
A. sufficient fall should be provided to en- 
able the drains to clear themselves easily. 
Drains should not run up and down, but 
acioss hill sides. Orchard soils should 
now be so cultivated and arranged as to 
throw off moisture and to attract the sun’s 
rays. No weeds, fallen leaves, or mulch 
should be allowed to lie about the surface. 
Ti: addition to planting young trees, 
many established subjects can be trans- 
planted or removed always provided it‘is 
effected with the utmost care. Pears, 
plums, peaches, and apricots will all bear 
remoyal if their roots are not hacked about 
ov otherwise injured. Of course, this 
treatment does not apply to old established 
trees, but to those in the first years of 
their existence. Apples and_ cherries 
cannot be transferred, they resent such a 
disturbance of their roots. 
HESSSESES © 
FRUIT. 
bi 
Pruning and planting may be gone on 
with this month, as soon as the leayes have 
fallen. After pruning the trees should 
have a spraying with some insecticide. 
Goossberries, currants, and raspberries 
should have a coat of rotted manure dug 
in, and 2 fork should be used in digging. 
. 1 GSSSSSeee 
HISTORY OF THE TURNIP. 
This vegetable was cultivated by the an- 
cient Greeks, and after them by the Ro- 
mans, among whom it was‘used as a food 
for slaves and cattle; and it was also pre- 
s-nted ‘at the tables of the wealthy, dyed 
in at least one of six different colors. 
Thesa people were thoroughly conversant 
with the requirements of the plant, for 
which they cultivated the soil with a care- 
fulness unattempted in modern times, and 
made use of the seeds, the foliage, and the 
bulbs with discrimination. A. curious su- 
perstition is mentioned by Pliny as having 
been practised by those who sowed the 
seeds. ‘They performed the operation 
while ina nude condition, meanwhile pray- 
ing that the turnips might grow for them- 
selves and their neighbors; it was a Roman 
custom that anyone could help himself to 
turnips from his neighbor’s field, just as in 
the north of England and in Scotland it 
was till quite recently permitted to anyone 
to enter a field of turnips and eat one, but 
it was illegal to carry the root away. The 
Welsh people at one time ate largely of 
raw turnips. The foliage was boiled in 
pottage. The stalks in spring were 
stretched, and after being cut into suitable 
lengths and peeled, were cooked as a sub- 
stitute for asparagus. A not uncommon 
way of preparing the roots was to wrap 
them ina piece of paper, tol be placed under 
the glowing embers till roasted, afterwards 
eating them with sugar. and butter. The 
seed leaves of the turnip are sometimes 
used in thd same way as mustard as a salad. 
—“Australasian,” 
