THE GARDEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 226, 29 October 1887, Page 1

THE GARDEN.

Thinning Root Crops. When sowing seed there is generally far more sown than is really necessary for tteh c crop. The extra quantity sown gives more certainty of a good crop. Another advan tago in sowing thickly is that it gives an abundance of plants to choose from. Where injury is likely to result fiom thick sowing is in allowing the plants all to grow too long without thinning. The most perfect way of thinning either vegetables or flowers is to begin early, removing all the weaker plants n'r&t, allowing the strongest to stand for a longer period. In thinning the second time, only leave the best plants at a sufficient distance apart so that they may have plenty of mom to fully dc\elop in. In growing vegetables recollect that mere size is not so much a consideration as quality. Large coarse vegetables are not looked upon with favour by the consumer, bub rather the reverse, and this, fact should be kept in view while apportioning the space for each plant. About the usual distance apart to lease carrots for table use is four inches ; parsnips, about six inches ; Beet, nine inches; turnips, from six inches tor eaily ciop to J 2 inches for winter crop. Onions may be left at distances varying from 2 to 6 inches according to the purpose for which they are lequircd.

Tomato. This delicious fruit should be grown by everyone possessing a small plot of ground. A few squaie yards of good rich boil is all thai is necessary for the production of sufficient fruit to supply the wants of a moderate seized family. For culture in the open air there is no ciop which willgive such Luge returns as the tomato with moderate attention. Seed should be bowu at once, in the place where the plant is to grow. If in rows, the sowing should be about four feet apiut. Only sow a few seeds at each spot, as the plants will all requhe to be thinned out to one leaving the strongest plants. As they grow .strong stakes should be driven into the ground and light battens tied on these, so as to form a trellis for training the plants on. Those who have a stock of young plants under cover should harden them off and get them ready for planting out about the beginning of next month. If to be planted, it is as well to have the trellis up before the plant-* are out. After planting, the plants uill want a little'attention to Keep the .slugs from attacking them till they get pioperly established. Whenever strong growth sets in attention must be given to pinching back and tying up the roots to the ticllis. The richer the ground the better the growth, and if proper attention is given to pinching the crop will be heavier. When cutting out shoots always try and leave those that show moat flowers. During the late summer and autumn months liberal supplies of liquid manure should be given to keep them in a healthy state of activity. For growing for general purposes I havo always found that what is called the laige red gives the best returns.

Lonond and Paris Climates. Restricting comparison to the respective climates or London and Paris it will be observed that in London the extreme cold in winter is .severer than in Paris to the extent of l*7deg. Fahr. This difference is literally of no consequence at all ; a few degrees more cold in winter cannot affect our fruit prospects -seriously : possibly we have the advantage in the matter. But when the bummer has commenced the temperature ot Paris rises higher than that of London, and the maxima of the two cities differ to the great extent of 6 "Bdeg. • Fahr. Now, a difference amounting to within a fraction of 6deg. Fahr. is something enormous in the consideration of the subject before us. Students of climatology know that a difference of only 2deg. either way in the heat of the summer in Great Britain will make a difference to the extent of a bountiful harvest and prosperity, or a meagre harvest and starvation. It cannot be wondered at that the cultivatois of fruit in the neighbourhood of Paris should outstrip the growers of fruit in the neighbourhood of London, for they have the advantage to the extent ot 6deg\, and no skill of man can find a com- ! pensatory equivalent for so much solar heat and light as would place the London cultivator on terms of equality with the Parisian. ("The Garden.") This question of summer temperature ought to be the leading one connected with the introduction of any plants into New Zealand, j How often do we hear of this colony entering into competition with other countries in the production of sub- tropical industries | where those countries possess from 6deg. to 15deg. higher mean temperature than we do?