THE GARDEN. Kitchen Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 80, 13 December 1884, Page 5

THE GARDEN. Kitchen Garden.

Phnt out all the different crops of vegetable , ~u li as cabbages, cauliflowers, &c., I and earth up those that are advancing — pumpkins, melons, and marrows ; also [finish the planting as soon as possible. In another month the soil will be getting very dry, and it is best to get crops well established before this takes place. Water copiously after planting, and shade from the sun for a few days. Make successional sowings of peas, French and running beans, and earth up and stake those that are advancing in growth and require the above attention. Celery: Commence planting out main crop in specially-pre-pared trenches, watering liberally when planted. Celery likes a deep, rich, moist soil. Leeks also plant out main crop. To obtain fine leeks, they ought to be planted in trenches the same as celery, giving them plenty of room to develop, and earth up in the same manner. Potatoes: As the late crops advance in growth earth up ; as the early crops are taken out of the ground make trenches for celery and leeks, or manure and dig, plant some other crops so as to keep the ground occupied during the summer. Continue thinning out the advancing crops of vegetables, giving each plenty of space, as the quality of your vegetables will very much depend on the space allowed. Slugs and snails will be very troublesome ; lime during the evening, so as to keep them under. Keep walks clean and free from weeds.

Flower Garden. Alt sowing and planting in the flower garden ought to be at an end now for this season, unless plants that are established in pot; and these, when planted out, should be watered and shaded so as to proteot them from the hot rays of the sun till they get well established. Thin out all late sown annuals, giving plenty of room for each plant to grow, hoeing and stirring the surface soil. Bedding plants will now require, constant attention by pegging down and pinching back shoots so as to give the plants a bushy compact habit. In light dry soils a little mulching would greatly assist the growth of those plants, as well as frequent waterings with liquid manure ; above all, incite the plants to make a healthy growth at present. Pay attention to the staking and tying of all plants that want support. Climbers : Train and regulate. Roses : Give frequent waterings with liquid manure, picking off all blossoms as they begin to fade. £«ever allow seed pods to form, as they simply rob the plant of strength. Dahlias : Still plant out thin, and stake and water those planted earlier. Recollect this flower iequire.s any quantity of manure either in a liquid state or otherwise. Lift all early &pring-flowering bulbs as they ripen their foliage. Lawn : Keep the grass short ; roll frequently. Walks : Rake weekly so as to keep weeds under. Where the slugs are troublesome, give frequent dustings of lime in the evening after dark.

Greenhouse. Give liberal supplies of water to all quickgrowing plants. Continue re-potting all quick-giovving plants such as coleus, etc., whenever the state of the plant demands more pot room. As a good number of the pot plants will now require frequent applications of manure water, it is better to keep a box or barrel for the purpose. Into this put a few shovelfuls of animal manure ; fill up with water ; stir up ; let it settle for a few hours ; then strain it off for use as wanted. The above both supplies moisture and food. This mixture will also be found useful in the kitchen and flower gardens. Give plenty of air during the day, shading during the hottest part of the da /.