A GOOD GARDEN

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 13 December 1889, Page 2

A GOOD GARDEN

« Last week we had the pleasure of visiting Mr McLennan's garden at the Oroua Downs estate. To those who are fond of gardening, the visit would be a treat, as everything is not only in " apple-pie " order, but the growth denotes the thorough knowledge and attention of the gardener, Mr Mark Sherrin. Owing to the long continued dry weather, the vegetables were not so forward as they would have been, had they but had an occasional shower, but notwithstanding this we should say that the garden crops were fuily six weeks in advance of most gardens. The cabbages were fine, but were getting a little spoilt on the outer leaves, but the lettuces were a treat, both kinds, the coss and the cab* bage, going into pounds weights, and with hearts as white as snow. The onions were backward, to what they were expected to be, but the carrots made up for them. There was a very handsome row of scarlet lunners over six feet in heighth, all out in a solid mass of blossom. The dwarf long beans were ready for picking, and, of course, the broad beans had long provided many a dish . The Jerusalem Artichokes stood between two and three feet high, as bright .and fresh as though rain was the thing they least cared for. The vegetable marrows planted out, had never been forced when young, and were stretching themselves all about with runners six or seven feet long. The melons were also doing well but had received a bit of a check by the frost. Potatoes of all kinds were ready for getting up, the real true Ashleaf, the Kidney, and a new American sort with a pinkish flower. We trust a sample of these will "be on view at the show next week.' Under a hedge doing well, was the New Zealand spinach, which Mr Sherrin thinks superior to all other spinach, as it is always growing, and can be cut all the year round. Cauliflowers had beautifully snowy [ heads, and proved delicious eating. ! We believe we have mentioned most of the forward crops, but of course there are plants ready to take the ! places of what may be cleared away. ! In fruit, we saw raspberries ripe, and gooseberries, some of whioh were very large, one sort " The London" are claimed to be the largest kind grown. Cape gooseberries were heavily fruited. The Red currents were hanging in handsome pink clusters on the bushes. Strawberries had not been successful. Of the larger fruits, the plums showed the best, some of the trees having heavy clusters of fruit. The apples have suffered much from blight in the past, and though vigorous efforts have been made to combat it, which appear now fairly successful, the trees have not had much rest. The flowers were very pretty, but here we admit our inability to do fair justice, but roughly ; we may say that the roses showed a large selection, but the flowers were nearly done.. The dahlias were another collection which had representatives of nearly, all colours, but all of the single variety, and after seeiug these, we are becoming a convert to the single blosso-n, as against the heavy double blossom ones. Poppies, also in variegatpd colours, brightened many a spot. We admit that "probably we have, missed many flowers which de« serve better notice, but our interest laid in the vegetable portion, and we thoroughly enjoyed noticing the care and attention paid to (hem; We have to thank Mr and Mrs McLennan for the very pleasant visit we enjoyed.