SUMMER WEATHER NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 560, 12 January 1929, Page 24

SUMMER WEATHER NOTES

MULCHING Although a plentiful supply of water may be available, most vegetable crops, as well as many plants in the flower garden, such as roses, dahlias, carnations, chrysanthemums, flowering shrubs, etc., will be immediately benefited if they receive a good mulching in summer. This operation consists of covering the surface of the beds, drills or the ground surrounding each plant with various materials, preferably well-decayed cow, sheep or horse manure, in order to prevent a too rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, and at the same time to mer sun, and to keep the roots cool, intercept, the direct rays of the sumThe mulch may be an inch or more deep, and is best applied while the crops are young. Well-decayed manure is used as a mulch, and every subsequent shower of rain or watering carries down the fertilising constituents in the roots of the plants, thus increasing their vigour and productiveness. WATERING No successful flower or vegetable garden can be carried on during the hot summer months without an abundance of water. When laying out a garden, therefore, a good water supply must be provided. In the cities towns and suburbs, a good pipe

system with a plentiful supply is generally available, and this saves an enormous amount of labour, as the watering -can be efficiently and expeditiously done. When watering, sufficient should be given so that all the roots will be benefited. Daily sprinklings of water in hot weather do much harm, as they encourage the roots to the surface to he injured by the hot sun and drying winds unless well protected by a mulch. Besides the greater benefit to the crops, there is considerably less labour involved in giving a good soaking once or twice every week according to the state of the weather, than by continually sprinkling the surface of the ground. In the height of the summer, water the plants overhead only in the early morning or toward evening, although the roots may be supplied with moisture any time of the day. When watering is necessary in the cooler seasons of the year, it should be done during the morning, so as to guard against any superfluous moisture lying around the plants during the cold nights.