THE GARDEN.

Putaruru Press, Volume I, Issue 5, 15 November 1923, Page 4

THE GARDEN.

VEGETABLE CULTURE. [William C. Hyde, in the Journal of Agriculture.] As the new reason's vegetables ami fruit, come in the rhubarb and asparagus beds should be given a rest and allowed to complete their growth. It is often advisable to assist them now with a good dressing of suitable fertiliser.

Complete the sowing of hardy main crops, carrots, red and silver beet, etc., and keep all seedlings well thinned and hoed. The seeds of pumpkin, marrow, cucumber and melons may be sown as soon as the danger of late frost is over. They prefer a warm, moist, well-drained locality. Plant Oft to 10ft apart, about, six to eight seeds in a clump, first making a slight depression. If after planting a sheet of glass is laid over clumps of the more tender kinds it assists germination and keeps away birds, which are often verv troublesome. . In localities which are sufficiently warm the kumara (sweet- potato) may now be planted out. Space the plants a little wider than the ordinary po--1 Winter crops, such as broccoli, savoy, cabbage, locks and celery, may be sown now for planting' out caily in the new year. Alain tain a supply of salads anu spinach by repeated sowings at short intervals. TOMATOES.

In most districts tomato plants may ho planted outside now. To get an early crop the plants must be strong, well rooted and hardened oft; avoid plants that are stunted and crowded in the boxes. While the ground should be well prepared, it must have settled down firm. The plant does best on rather a solid bed. Under glass the first picking- of fruit will probably be made tms month. The ground should then be well mulched down and occasional applications of liquid manure made Keep the plants well sectired to the strings and all laterals pinched out. Foliage may be trimmed from rounc. the rioening- bunch. SMALL FRUITS.

In many small fruit sections the plants are stunted and poor; a great improvement would be shown if a dressing of the more soluble chemical fertilisers were given now. Usually this includes superphosphate, sulphate of ammonia and sulphate of potash. The mixture should be broadcast between the rows and scarified in. Cape gooseberries may be planted out now. Results will largely depend on the prepat-ation given to the land. A good spacing is 3ft. between the plants and Oft between the rows. THE FLOWER • GARDEN. It is now time to plant out the hallhardy annuals, dahlia and chrysanthemum plants. The violet beds will benefit and give a much better crop of blossom next year if a good dressing of chemical fertiliser is applied now The foliage of .many kinds ot bulbous plants is inclined to be in the wav and look untidy, but it should be carefully preserved. The plants are setting the flower buds for next season and should have every attention. The proper use of chemical fertilisers is the secret of success in modern gardens. The soluble kinds make the feeding of plants with liquid manure an easv matter hut the application must he. properly timed. For the different qualities and effects of t principal chemical fertilisers see the article in the Journal of Agriculture for June last. An amount of 10/. to the square yard represents Jcwt pci LAWNS AND LAWN MOWERS. Grass lawns require regular trimmin- now to keep them in order, the work is often unsatisfactory -wing to tho mower being in bad order, it is cither blunt or badly set. The principle on which the ordinary lawn mowei is made is that of a spindle of beaters revolving* quickly on a fixed ground plate or knife. There are set screws at each end of the spindle to enable one to adjust it to the fixed knife. The adjustment should be even and sufficiently close to cut paper cleanly when placed between. To sharpen tlie mower place it upside down on a bench and arrange the mechanism to enable tlie beaters to revolve the opposite way. By revolving the beaters in this way and wiping them occasionally with & mixture of emery powder and oil they will quickly improve. Finish with knife powder and oil to give a fine edge, 8 then wipe them clean and reset the machine. Machines are made with facilities for sharpening them m tins