Horticultural Clippings.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 218, 3 September 1887, Page 7

Horticultural Clippings.

Long-Rooted Crops. — Beets carrots, parsnips and «;dsify require soil that is not only rich, but deep and fine, as they are compelled to send down their root?, and the fewer the obs'acles the better the bulbs grown. Get tho '•eed in early, as they must not be overtaken by weecLs and grass, and they do best when they have the advantage of the spring rains. The Bassino, a white fleshed beet, is an early kind, and so is the Egyptian which, however, is not as desirable as the Eclipse, which is blood red. Burnt Earth as a Fertiliser. —For many of the small crops - such as potatoes, onions, &c. — it has been found that burnt earth it* a great stimulant. JTor tobacco it is usual %j burn a quantity of brush upon the propared bed before sowing the seed, with the object of destroying weeds ; but the plants are much benefited. The Chinese garden era know the value of burnt earth, and it is quite a common thing with farmers in England to heap turf and brushwood, to char the heap with lire, and use the ash as manure. A New Vegetable. —We see it stated in on English paper that an Indo-Chinese steamer which recently arrived in Marseilles brought specimens of a bean which has long been used by the Chinese and Japanese as an article of food. Not only is it cooked and eaten like other vegetables, but it is made into excellent cheese. It more closely resembles animal food than any other vegetable known, containing much greasy matter and albumen. A trial will be made to acclimatise it in the south of France. In the north it would not grow, owing to the uncertain and changing climate, and to the temperature being too low. Besides these advantages as an article of human food, the husk serves as a very good fodder for hordes and cows. The cheese made from this bean ha.? 9, very delicate taste, ranch like Parmesan. Sulphur for Scale on Orange Trees.— The Australasian says:— •' We have before us specimens of oranges and lemon.", together with foliage and wood of both kinds, grown some 50 miles south of Melbourne, which for vigour can hardly be surpassed on the Goulbum. The accompanying foliage is the picture of health ; orange leaves up to seven inches and lemon leaves to eight inches in length, all shining and verdant The grower is the correspondent who, some two yearg ago, communicated to ue his success in keeping his treos free from scale by applying sulphur to the aoil around them — one pound per tree being about the quantity allowed. At the time he resorted to the Bulphnring his trees ' were in wretched condition from black scale,' but of thst they were perfectly cleared by the simple treatment described. Lemons four inches in length, and naval oranges only an eighth lees than that in diameter, speak foi themselves and for the management of the grower." Zonal Pelargoniums.— To the question, " Is not the zonal pelargonium in danger of becoming too large ?" an answer is supplied, says an Australian contemporary, by referring to a collection of new varieties sent from Moesrs 3. B. Pearson and Son, Chihvell Nurseries, Nottingham, to the last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society. The zonal -pelargonium, it is said, should have flowers that are Btout, finely formed, smooth and circular. Colour is a matter of taste, and there are Howers of all shades to suit all fancies. 01 the new varieties in course of distribution from Chilwell this season, the Gardener's Chronicle selects the following :— Rev. R. D. Harries, 80ft salmoncalrlet, very fine ; Mr Daird Saunders, pale slac-pink. very large, stout, and symmetricial; and W. Bealby, rosy scarlet, large, and striking. Of older flowers the following were particularly noticeable : — Aspasia, white, very fine ; C. H. Swinstead, vermilion ; Clytie, scarlet flushed with magenta ; Constance, rosy-pink ; Edith Little, blush-pink, very pleasing ; Edith Pearson, salmon-roso, veiy fine ; Edith Strachan, clear salmon ; International, very delicate blush-white, extra fine ; Lady Francis Russell, clear ro3y-pink ; Lord Chesterfield, magenta ; Mrs John-on, rose j Mrs Miller, dark crimson, very rich ; Noi'ah, blush-white ; Omphale, pale salmon ; Othello, clark scarlet, very fine Ruby, rosy-ecarlet j and Sissy, salmon, the upper petals shaded with orange and pink, very fine in colour. All the foregoing were

raised at Chilwell, and the/ possess that robustness of habit, branching pharacter, and freedom of bloom peculiar to thd bji'am. Early Peas. — To secure early peas the dwarf kinds should be used, as they require no sticks. The dwarfs usually ripen all at once and do not allow of repeated croppings M #9 £Cr<jo vHneties. The seed may pw planted at intervals, however, in order to afford a succession. While this is being done tall of the later and taller-growing vftvlAHga iy>? v ht\ nut in. One of the beet varieties for'the table is the Champion of England, but it is not the most profitable to glow for market, as IK does not bear as prolificacy as some other kinds. Tho oldestablished Marrowfats, though of strong flavour, teem to give good results in all classes of soils. In place of tticks wire or strong twine may bo used Peas are very hardy, and can stand quite a degree of cold without injury. Tho ground for them should bo rich and the crop kept clean.