The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 302, 26 September 1888, Page 3

The Garden.

Sowing Half-Hardy Annual Seeds. Now is the proper time to sow the seeds o all the half-hardy annuals. The seed should be sown under glass. The soil out in the open border is still very cold, and the seed would take a long time to germinate ; besides, their progress afterwards would be so slow that before they would get any size slugs and other pests would very likely destroy them and the cultivator would probably lose all. To avoid this it is much better to sow the seeds in pots, pans or boxes under glass, where they will germinate quickly afterwards. As they attain sufficient size they can be pricked out singly into other boxes, or such as can be planted out in clumps can be allowed to stand till about the beginning of November, when they can be planted out in the open border. By following the above system the most tender of annuals can easily be raised and afterwards grown to perfection in our climate. About the beginning of November the soil in the open border usually attains a nice genial heat, and throughout the month there are generally frequent showers that will cause the growing plants to get well established and make good growth before the dry weather "sets in. Annuals here in our climate are not, as a rule, quite so lasting a3 annuals grown in Britain. Here they grow faster and produce a much softer wood. The cause of this is a climatic one. During the day in Britain the temperature attains a very high range ; at night it comes down very low, causing a considerable hardening of wood, consequentlyslower and more lasting growth. The same remarks will apply to all aoft-wooded bedding plants that are used for making that grand display in the carpet bedding which is secured in Britain and elsewhere. In our climate it would be almost impossible to produce it, owing to our equable temperature. Bedding planes here are proved to grow stronger, longer-jointed and with softer wood than they usually do where they are subjected to great extremes of temperature every 24 hours. The low temperature at night causes the plants to grow shortjointed hard wood, which is much better adapted to produce that large mass of flowers which is indispensable where carpet bedding is tried.

Slugs. How often, when talking about the pro" pagating of plants either from seed or cut' tings, do we hear the remark, " I lost them by the slugs. " In fact, all who cultivate plants suffer more or less from them every season. At this period of the season they are particularly active, and it is almost impossible to see or get them without taking active measures to capture and kill them. Their depredations are always committed after dark, or in wet, cloudy weather. To keep them in continual check, frequent dustings of lime are very effectual, but this must be applied frequently in the evening, as the slugs will only keep under the soil till the effect of the lime has gone off, when they will once more come to the attack with increased vigour. Lime often loses its killing qualities after it has been subjected to the action of water ; so to be effective it must be applied two or three times a week. To catch and kill the slugs is the best method. Where there is only a small plot of ground in which to do this, the most effectual method is to set a number of traps. These need only consist of small squares of deal board about six or nine inches square ; these should be placed at intervals amongst the plants in the borders or beds. The slugs will find these very convenient places for hiding in during the day. Every morning these traps should be examined ; the slugs will then be found adhering to the board or on the soil under it. An empty bucket should be at hand, so that all the slugs can at once be put into it as each trap is lifted ; the trap can then be replaced. After all the slugs are collected for the morning they can be treated to a kettle of boiling water, or a good thick coating of shell-lime dusted over them ; ejther will effectually destroy them. Sometimes in the greenhouse, and in frames, slugs give a good deal of trouble, but syringing with a solution of three gallons of water and a wineslassful of ammonia will keep them in check. To catch them traps can also be used. The best trap under glass is carrots ; get two or three, cut them in two places, then put them amongst the plants. The slugs will prefer these as food to mo3t plants and will excavate homes for themselves, where they can from time to time be caught and killed. In large gardens every endeavour should be made to clear away all debris and litter as soon as possible, so as to provide as few hiding and breeding places as possible for them. Such litter should be placed in a heap and well dusted with salt and lime.