Farm and Garden.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 317, 9 March 1878, Page 21

Farm and Garden.

Mr. Eustace Fannin, says the HawJce's Bay Herald, has sold his run at Mohaka, 9500 acres i in extent, 600 acres of which are freehold, with 1400 sheep, to Mr. Milne, of Moeangiangi, and has bought Mr. Milne’s run, 3200 acres in extent, all freehold, with 3000 sheep. As the transaction partakes of the nature of a barter, the price cannot be stated with exactness. The value at which Mr. Fannin’s late run has changed may be stated at £3500 ; that at which Mr. Milne’s has been disposed of, £6OOO. 5 Referring to the slug-like animal that annually denudes our fruit trees of leaves, a farmer informs the Wairarapa Register that the theory of flies depositing the eggs which produce them on trees is a mistake. He says that they always begin at one end of his orchard, gradually spreading all over it. This led him to believe that they travel, and he tarred the stems of some of the trees in order to ascertain whether his theory was correct. The result was that the leaves of the trees in question remained untouched. He is, however, of opinion that the inseGt does not injure the tree. How to Test Seed Before Sowing. —Those who are interested in such matters will find a ready and certain method in the following formula (which please clip out and make use of) :—Draw 100 grains promiscuously, lay them in two pieces of thick flannel well saturated with rain water, place it in a warm temperature, keep it wet, and in fifty or sixty hours you will find it sprouted. The general adoption of such a handy method would give a certainty to what a farmer was actually sowing. Thus, if he found the germinative percentage low, he must add more seed to make up for the deficiency. The Buff Cochins. —Here is what one hen did for her owner in Placer county recently, according to'an American journal. She stole her nest away, laid sixteen eggs in it, and hatched every one. When the chicks were six weeks old she weaned them, or the twelve that were left at that time, and went to laying again. , In a few weeks she was setting again, and again brought off a brood of twelve chicks, ten of which lived. The twenty-two chicks at six weeks were worth 10 dollars, while the eggs the hen laid during the balance of the season amounted to about two dollars more, making a total of twelve dollars income from this one hen. She is of the Buff Cochin species and weighs five pounds., The Great American Strawberry. —A farmer da Sacramento, whose strawberries have been eagerly sought after in the markets on account of their size and flavor (says a Californian journal), is preparing to plant out a variety called the Great American, which is a general favorite in the New York market, and which is grown successfully in the gardens of New Jersey. He proposes to test its adaptability to our soil, and if it succeeds it will be a most valuable acquisition to our long list of excellent berries. If any one should be told that strawberries had been grown measuring over eight inches in circumference he would hardly believe it, yet specimens of the Great American have stretched the string at that girth. Small Things. —Every farmer should have a small room, tight and warm, which he can lock, and where he can keep his small tools. Then he wants a good solid work-bench, with an iron vice on one side and a wooden one on the other. For iron working he wants a solid piece of iron for an anvil, a seven-pound steelface hammer, a riveting hammer, one large and one small cold chisel, two or three punches from one-fourth to three-eighths inch, a rimmer and countersink, to be used with bit stock; a screwplate that will cut a screw from onefourth to three-eighths inch ; then with, round iron of the various sizes and ready-made nuts, ha can make any bolt he wishes. For carpenter work he wants a square, a shaving-horse, drawing-knife, a set of planes, auger from onehalf to two inches, a fine handsaw, with coarse crosscut.and rip saw, large crosscut for logs, and a grindstone. HUTT SHOW. The autumn show, under the auspices of the Hutt Agricultural, Horticultural, and Pasteral Association, was held at the schoolroom, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday ; the exhibits ou the whole, for this time of year, being highlv creditable, and speaking volumes for the fertility of the soil in-the district. This show must be reckoned as one of the best held by the above association. The vegetables and fruit were very fine, the lack of flowers in any

quantity being the only thing wanting to make it an entire success as an horticultural show. Messrs. P. Laing, T. Mason, F. Cooper, and McNab were the principal prizetakers. Mrs. and Miss Jordan, and Mr. N. Valentine and daughters added greatly to the musical part of the programme. The following is the list of prizetakers. OPEN TO ALL. Class I.—l new or rare plant, Ist prize, .1. McNab; 2nd, J. Maunders. 2variegated foliage p ants, Ist, F. Cooper; 2nd, J. McNab. 4 fine foliage plants, Ist, J. McNab; 2nd, F. Cooper. 3 greenhouse plants in flower, Ist, F. Cooper. 3 coleus, 2nd, J. Maunders. 3 begonias in flower. Ist, J. McNab. 4 geraniums, tri and bicolor, Ist, F. Cooper; 2nd, J. Maunders. 3 fuchsias, Ist, J. Maunders. 1 fuchsia, Ist, F. Cooper; 2nd, J. Maunders. 1 climbing plant in flower, Ist, F. Cooper. 6 plants for table decoration, Ist, J'. McNab; 2nd, F. Cooper. 24 varieties of conifera, Ist, J. Maunders. 2 palms, Ist, J. Maunders; 2nd, J. McNab. Class ll.—Best collection of annuals and biennials, Ist prize, F. Cooper. 6 verbenas, Ist, F. Cooper ; 2nd, J. McNab. 12 verbenas, Ist, J. McNab. 6 asters. Ist, J. McNab ; 2nd, T. Mason. 6 g adioli, Ist, J. McNab ; 2nd, T. Mason. General collection of phlox, Ist, T. Mason. 6 dahlias, Ist, T. Mason ; 2nd, P. Laing. 12 dahlias, Ist, T. Mason. Best collection of cut flowers, Ist, T. Mason ; 2nd, P. Laing. 6 roses, Ist, T. Mason. Class 111. —12 kitchen apples, Ist prize, T. Mason ; 2nd, J. H. Corbett. 12 desert apples, Ist, T. Mason ; 2nd, P. Laing. 12 peaches, Ist, T. Mason ; 2nd, P. Laing. 24 Spanish blackberries, Ist, T. Mason. 4 oranges, Ist, T. Mason. 4 lemons, Ist, T. Mason. 3 bunches white grapes, Ist, F. Cooper. 3 bunches black grape 3, Ist, J. McNab ; 2nd, F. Cooper. 25 filberts or cob nuts, Ist, T. Mason. 12 walnuts, Ist, J. H. Corbett. Best collection of fruit on tray, Ist, P. Laing. Class IV.—2 cucumbers, 2nd, P. Laing. 6 stalks rhubarb, Ist prize, F. Cooper ; 2nd, P. Laing. 25 pods kidney beans (runners). Ist prize, P. Laing. 25 pods kidney beans (other kinds), Ist prize, T. Mason. 25 pods broad beans, Ist prize, P. Laing. 12 kidney potatoes, Ist prize, J. H. Corbett ; 2nd, T. Mason. 12 round potatoes, Ist prize, T. Mason ; 2nd, J. H. Corbett. 3 cabbages, J. 11. Corbett ; 2nd, P. Laing. 3 red cabbages, Ist prize, P. A. Buckley ; 2nd, P. Laing. G turnips, Ist prize, P. Laing; 2nd, J. H. Corbett. 9 carrots, Ist prize, T. Mason ; 2nd, P. A. Buckley. 3 cauliflowers, Ist prize, P. Laing. 6 parsnips, Ist prize, P. Laing ; 2nd, T. Mason. G red beet, Ist prize, T. Mason ; 2nd, P. Laing. 3 lettuces, Ist prize, P. Laing. G onions, Ist, F. Cooper; 2nd, J. H. Corbett. 3 beads of celery, Ist prize. P. Laing. 12 tomatoes, Ist prize, P. Laing. 2 pumpkins, Ist prize, P. Laing. 2 vegetable marrows, Ist prize, P. Laing ; second, P. A. Buckley. Collection of salads, 2nd, P. Laing. Collection of vegetables, Ist prize, P. Laing ; 2nd, P, A. Buckley. Collection of potatoes, Ist prize, T. Mason ; 2nd, J. H. Corbett. AMATEURS. Class 1.—3 fuchsias, Ist prize, H. Willis. 4 petunias, Ist, H. Willis. Collection of native plants. Ist Mrs. Cudby. 4 pelargoniums, special prize, H. Willis. 1 geranium, special prize, Mrs. Cudby. Class ll.—Best collection of cut Cudby. 3 nikau palms, special prize, Mrs Cudby. 6 pansies, special prize. Mrs. Cudby. Hand bouquet, special prize, Mrs. Allen. Bridal bouquet, special prize, Mrs. Allen. Bjuquet of native flowers, special prize, Mrs Allen. Class 111.—12 kitchen apples, Ist prize, T. Allen ; 2nd, C. W. Brown 6 pears, Ist, Mrs. Johnson. 12 paaches, Ist, Mrs. Johnson. 24 mulberries, Ist, Miss Freethy. 3 bunches black grapes, Ist, T. Allen. 25 Alberts or cob nuts, Ist, W. R. Prosser ; 2nd, J. Knight. 12 walnuts, Ist, W. R. Prosser; 2nd, J. Hall. Class IV.—6 stalks rhubarb, Ist prize, V. Random ; 2nd, S. Sanson. 25 pods kidney beans (runners). Ist prize, J. Hall. 25 pods kidney beans (other kinds), Ist prize, V. Ransom. 25 pods broad beans, Ist prize. V. Ransom. 50 pods peas, Ist prize, S. Sanson ; 2nd, V. Ransom. 12 kidney potatoes, Ist prize, W. Russell ; 2nd, C. W. Brown. 12 round potatoes, Ist prize, \V. Russell ; 2nd, T. Allan. 3 cabbages, Ist prize, W. Russell; 2nd, N. Valentine. 6 turnips, Ist prize, S. Sanson; 2nd, V. Ransom. 9 carrots. Ist prize, V. Ransom ; 2nd, W. Russell. 3 cauliflowers, 2nd, S. Hanson. 6 parsnips, Ist prize, N. Valentine ; 2nd, S. Sanson. 6 red beet, Ist prize, W. Russell ; 2nd, V. Ransom. 3 lettuces, Ist prize, W. Russell. G onions, Ist prize, C. W. Brown ; 2nd, W. Russell. 12 tomatoes, Ist prize, J. Strachan. 2 pumpkins, Ist prize, S. Sanson. 2 vegetable marrows, Ist prize, J. Hall ; 2nd, W. Russell. Collection of vegetables, Ist prize, V. Ransom ; 2nd, W. Russell. Collection of potatoes, Ist prize, W. Russell ; 2nd, V. Ransom. OF KITCHEN GABDENS. A practice that has become quite colonial consists in the conglomeration of kitchen garden and orchard, and we have noticed instances of a far more objectionable practice of combinations of ornamental plantations, orchard, and kitchen gardens. The sequel to any of the above is that, in the course of a few years, they are not used for their original purposes. and generally result in a partial or total failure. There is not the slightest objection during the infancy of fruit trees to utilise the spare ground with the growth of vegetables. Neither is there any great tangible objection to plant,, as a protection, a belt of trees in proximity to the garden ; but the trees planted should be of those kinds well known for not over-rooting propensities ; otherwise they will resolve themselves into total extractors of all moisture and nutriment that may be putin the land. As a matter of fact the kitchen garden should be as free from trees as possible. Vegetables, as a rule, delight in open situations, and shade, as a rule, is detrimental to the growth of all kinds of culinary vegetables. To all who have given the subject any consideration it must be apparent that all our supposed wornout gardens are attributable to nothing else than to the exhaustive and nutriment-robbing functions of the roots of all trees whatsoever. And vre believe that no matter how old a garden may be its vitality is easily kept up, providing it receive its periodical dressings of manure, and has not to do double and treble duties. Again, it must be apparent that fruit culture and vegetable cultivation can scarcely agree together ; the first requiring but very shallow cultivation, while the latter requires very deep shiftings of the soil. Thus much on that subject. In the way of renovating old gardens, the best method to adopt is to halftrench the land ; thus the soil that in all probability has been the recipient of surplus manure and unused by the roots of vegetables, which generally are only shallow feeders, will be shifted to the top, and begin, if we may so term it, its period of servitude. This system of renovation will be found without doubt the best, coupled with the good old plan of putting all pieces of ground not required for immediate use into rigdes, thus allowing by such process, which is easily done, a perfectly sweetening and aerification of the soil. Again, however well such land may be supplied with stable manure, we believe that great advantages will be obtained if the ground receive occasionally a good dressing of mediumcrushed bonedust, such material introducing into the soil a chemioal product not found in

stable manure, or, if found, it is in insufficient quantities to act as a restorative. The proper time to apply either bonedust or guano is when there is a surety of wet weather—say, during the autumn, winter, or very early in the spring: the application of either during hot dry weather resolves itself into a mere matter of waste of time and money, moist weather being, in both cases, requisite to develope the bonedust’s and guano’s fertilising pooperties. In these days the introduction into new gardens of all kinds of rooted stock should be attended with the greatest caution. We advise that the roots of all should be washed before being planted, to free them from hidden enemies in the way of knot grass, sweet allium, sour grass, &c., pests that, once introduced, can scarcely ever be got rid of. We know of gardens, far away from the recognised habitats of those plants, that are now sad spectacles to behold in the above way. Again; if any of the above is discovered, no neglect should occur in carefully raising it out of the ground, many a garden being saved by the quick discovery and quick eradication of small pieces. The cropping of kitchen gardeens is an all-important feature in their management; and, as a general rule, no plot of ground should be cropped twice in succession by the same description of vegetables. There is a great probability that one genera of ordinary vegetables will leave behind them a certain class of insects ; so of course if the like or even a different variety be again placed in such plot of ground, the insects have free play to commence their depredations, whereas if vegetables of a different genera be planted, the great probability is the class of insects will have to seek elsewhere for their proper food, and thus leave the crop unscathed. A certain exhaustive process has taken place during the maturing of a crop that can only be replaced by rest and cropping vyith other distinct classes of vegetables. Some little difference exists in respect to the proper description of potatoes to use for sets. Our attention was called to the fact of a person putting in sets of the Early Bose of the largest possible description, the planter asserting that sets cut at this time of the year would rot in the ground. We have no doubt they would rot if merely cut and planted. There are, however, two sides to the question: if the sets are cut and exposed to the sun to dry for a day or so, then they will not rot ; also, at this season of the year, with heavy rains, it is very injudicious to plant sets, unless the shoots have begun to giow—a matter of ease, providing the sets are placed in a heap and some litter thrown over to exclude the air. Not only is this matter applicable to autumn, but good management prompts the cultivator to adopt it even for spring planting.' Anyhow, in no case, if we could help it, would we use large sets, medium-sized and well-divided being the best for all purposes. Practically, it is not the quantity of shoots from a single set that produces the greatest quantity of potatoes, two or three strong shoots to a set being found the best for reproduction. The use of manures for different crops is a very important feature in the management of the kitchen garden. It may appear strange, but the application of manures may be abused, certain crops requiring more than others. Thus, many of the brassica family, such as cabbage, cauliflower, brocoli, Brussels sprouts, savoys, kails, are known as gross feeders, and can scarcely have too much ; while in the same class garden turnips require it but moderately, and if applied in the shape of bonedust so much the better. Peas again require but moderate supplies, the production of flowers and pods being the requisite instead of a sujjerabundance of stems and foliage ; and in all cases where stable manure is applied, it shoald be in the form known as decomposed, fresh stable manure being more or less objectionable for supply to any kind of vegetable. Perhaps one of the best, though it is rather tedious, is the application in its liquid form, and adjacent to all manure heaps should be a sunken receptacle for conserving the oozings from the manure heaps, and even if manure tanks are sunk in the ground, an additional one for receiving the surplus liquid from them should be attached. Wonderful results are obtained by supplying manure in a liquid state to all growing crops. What kind of vegetables to plant may next be considered, and here we may advise for private use not t© grow large coarse kinds ; there is nothing gained by growing large stuff, independently of the fact that large varieties of all kinds of vegetables are coarse in flavor. No benefits are obtained in the way of quantity, as in most cases weight for weight may be obtained, whether the crop be of the small kinds or large varieties. It should also be borne in mind that small-sized crops arrive quicker at maturity, and thus greater results are obtained in favor of small kinds of vegetables. The next question in the management of kitchen gardens is the desirableness of having flower borders in them. If a garden is of a limited extent, such may then be admissible, but not otherwise. The borders, in lieu of flowers being planted in them, ought to be strawberry beds, plantations of herbs, or, if necessary, utilised for saladings, &c., &c. The edging of the paths again should, in our estimation, be used for something in the culinary or herbal way only, and for which sections for lavender, rosemary, thyme, &c., should be found in every garden, such being extremely useful for domestic purposes. A good kitchen garden should consist of as level a piece of ground as is obtainable, and, if possible, the shape of it should either be a parallelogram or a square, with walks through it of sufficient width to allow a cart to pass along, thus saving a great amount of manual labor in wheeling manure to the various parts of the garden.

SOILS AND MANUBES FOB PEAS.

The most suitable soil for successful pea culture is a rich friable loam, and where it is found that the soil does not contain a sufficient quantity of calcareous matter, it should be added in the shape of lime, chalk, &c. For early peas, however, a lighter soil answers better, especially where very early crops are wanted, the object in that case being earliness

rather than productiveness ; but for main and late crops the soil reqrrires to be of a more tenacious character, and should be deep, so as to admit of the roots running downwards in times of severe drought, otherwise continuous watering wilL have to be resorted to, in order to prevent an attack of mildew. Whenever a crop of peas has been subjected to severe drought, especially if after the blooming has commenced, the pods are never so large and full as if they had been kept continually growing without check from the commencement. It is good practice, where it can be done, to sow peas on ground that had been occupied by celery the previous year, as in that case the soil will have been deeply moved and, if properly treated, will be in good condition for the peas as regards richness. Mr. Pragnell always trenches a piece of ground for his main orop of celery, giving it at the same time a heavy dressing of manure, lime, or whatever is most needed ; the trenches in which the celery is to he planted receive a good coating of manure prepared in the autum, consisting of horsedroppings, cow-manure, soot, salt, and lime. When the peas are sown the following season, care is taken to have them exactly where the celery trenches were, and one has only to see his peas growing, or to inspect the specimens of them he exhibits from time to time at some of the great London shows, to be convinced of the excellence of his mode of culture. In localities in which the soil is of a late character, the trench system is best, as in that case, a proper quantity of marl, clay, or heavy loam well pulverised can be added with facility. In all cases the ground should also be properly drained, as few crops succeed well in wet, badly drained soil. Many kinds of manure are used, such as that made by pigs, sheep, fowls, deer, &c. ; and many employ artificially-prepared manure, but for general purposes the best i 3 horse or cow-manure, a little soot being added to keep away worms. —The Garden.