The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 318, 21 November 1888, Page 6

The Garden.

\ Kftclien Garden. - ' Tiik heavy "rains '"^experienced during the , latter portion of last week will have caused most crops that have become established to pub on astronger'gxoVth/and'so'rneof them will now be' pushing- 5 on rapidly to -mature their crops: As> early potatoes come off the ground, have the trenches opened out for the early crop of celery. ' Trenches should be made at least one foot six inches deep, and about six inches of well-rotted manure ought to be put in the bottom. A trench made and manured now will be, in splendid order for the. plants in another week or so. Peas : Make another' successional sowing and earth up and stake those crops which are advancing in growth. Cabbages and cauliflowers i f Plant out another few -rows. Before planting out dip their roots in , a thick paste made of cow dung and water : this will keep the plants going till they get established. - Onions : Thin out as the plants attain sufficient size. jilill continue dibbling out the thinnings if a larger breadth ot crop is requii'e \. Sow a small patch broadcast and thickly, so as to get -small onions for pickling. Frequently hoe the surface soil between the rows of the main crop, so as to keep weeds under. Leeks : Plant out main wop. Thfi-'leek likes 'a deep rich well-manured soil, and where very fine large roots are required , they fhould be planted ,out in trenches the' same as celery. . Finish planting or sowing the diOcrenr, varieties of cucumbers/ melons marrows, pumpkins, etc. Establish with water after planting and protect from slugs. French and the running variety of beans make one of the best late-summer crops if sown successionally in deep rich soil. To get these good, they 'should be sown in small patches ajDOut once a .fortnight. The early-sowi>,er,op should now require to be earthed up. Late potatoes, as they advance in growth, should be forked between the rows and earthed" up. • Rhubarb : Fork the "soiL between the rows and mulch the whole surface : this system will greatly improve the crop and give the plants a chance of growing larger. Fresh stable or cow manure is the best material to mulch with, but where these cannot be procured, fresh-cut grass -or any other garden debris makes a capital substitute. Frequently hoe between the rows of growing vegetables so as to expose more surface soil to the action of the air. Continue making successful sowings of mustard cress and radishes for salading Thin out all advancing crops as soon as they have attained a * few inches in "height, giving plenty of room for each plant to fully develop, as- the quality of your vegetables will in a great measure depend oh the space allowed each plane. Slugs and snails- are ' still very troublesome-; lime during- the' evening to keep them under. AIL ground that has still to be laboured for, summer cropping should be trenched at least two spits deep. It is of very little' ; use -to plant or sow any crops at this season of the year in shallow-wrought soil ;v-in; v - in such the roots will only penetrate to the depth they are wrought. A few days' hoi sun, and the heat will soon penetrate to the extremity of the roots and 'the' plants be scorched or stunted so that they vi ill not produce crops. Where the soil is wrought to the depth of two spits (or ey^n three where possible) the roots "of crops can penetrate that much deeper ; besides which, deep - laboured loose soil letains moisture .much, longer than hard soil. What stops growth is not the excessive heat ; it is the dry'beat. If we were to' obtain moisture* during the summer in the same proportion as we obtain heat, crops would flourish most luxuriantly during the" hottest part of the season, more especially if the soi be charged with plenty of plant food.

Flower GardeD. Up to the present we have had & splendid &ea?on for planting and sowing the different small bedding plants UiaL so materially assist in lengthening the display of flowers during the summer -and >autumn months. All sowing and planting should- be brought to a close within the next week or so, unless it be in the ca^e of plants that are to be • well established in pots or boxes, and which can be planted out with good balls of earth to their roots. Even these when planted should be well watei-ed as they are put into the open border. Thin out late-sown annuals as soon as they attain a few inches in height, only leading- one or two at each patcVu as much finer plants and flowers will be obtained, where they have plenty of room to grow. Still sow iout in the open such tender annuals as p'ortulaca, cockscomb, bal«am, etc. These will make a splendid show during the dry weather. Bedding plants that are well established and making good growth should be pinched and pegged down^ 50 as to make them cover the ground quicker. Where materials can be procured mulching will now greatly assist in retarding that quick evaporation which takes place here. Pay attention to the staking and tying of all tall-growing plants so that they may not get' broken with high winds. Train and regulate climbers. Chrysanthemums should now be planted, or where they are old stools they should be lifted and sub-divided, only using a few of the small stools with roots attached. Plant if possible in a fresh spot, as the soil in the old position is apfc to gfet exhausted. Water after planting. The fresh shoots, if properly pinched back during the summer, will give better' flowers than old stools". Roses : Water frequently with iliquid manure, and pick off all seeds as soon - as'the- flowers are spent. , , Plant, out dahlias, giving plenty 1 ' of well : rottfecV manure to each' 'plant ; • water ■ after planting. Liffc all early spring flowers !a& they ripen their foliage, and stir the soil frequently so as to keep it loose and open. Lawns : The grass on the lawns is now growing strongly, and should be kept mown frequently and rolled after heavy rain. Walks : Rake weekly in order to keep weeds under. Where small tender plants are still suffering from the attacks of slugs, dust frequently with lime in the evenings.

Greenhouse. Give liberal supplies of water to all quickgrowing plant". Continue re-potting such as require more room. Harden off all tender annuals that may be intended for planting out in the open border, as the sooner they are outside now the better. Coleus cuttings can yet be struck for planting out, next month. -All plants coming into flower should be kept near the glass, and. receive plenty of air during the day.

1 Royal Horticultural Show. , The above Society are going 1 to hold their annual spring show in the "Drill-shed on Friday and Saturday next week. 'It is considered that the show will ■be "too late for the best of roses, but in other classes ib should be better. Many good things are well forward , this season. Vegetables,* it is expected, will be far better than at former shows. Pot plants should be well represented, also all, the different varieties of cut flowers. The present Committee are doing their best to bring* about a successful exhibition, but to make these shows a success the public must patronise* them in larger numbers than is usually the case. *