The Garden. (By Hortis in "Auckland Star.")

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 400, 7 September 1889, Page 3

Th e Garden. (By Hortis in "Auckland Star.")

Kitchen Garden. Every endeavour should be made to get early spring work pushed on, as the growing season is beginning to show itself >vith vigour. Rhubarb, if not already planted out, should be put out at once. Pig holes in rows about three feet apart, and placo about a barrowload of manuro in each hole, place a little soil on top of the manure, then plant the rhubarb plants on top of tl.o manure ; the roots will soon roach it. Jt is no use expecting good crops of rhubarb unless plentj' of manure is placed in the soil (or the roots to feed u pon. Old rhubarb plants loft last wintor in the ground for forcing should now have the forcing boxes placed over the crowns and covered o\er with hot, fermenting stablo manure. Continue sowing peas for succession. Eaith up the early winter sown crops. Cabbages and cauliflowers : Put out a few every fortnight or three weeks, so as to keep up a succession. Earth up tho crops that are advancing, clear away the defo-is of sponb crops as they aro cut. Potatoes : Plant a tew rows for intermediate crop. Eatly crops well through the ground earth up as they may require it. Make another small sowing of carrots, turnips, parsnips, etc. Look well after them as the seedling 5 ? come through the soil, as the slugs are very fond of these crops. Onions : If tho main spring crop is notsown, it should bo done atonce, so as to ensure a good crop of fine, large bulb?. The variety which I have always found to give the best results when sown as spring crops has been tho Brown Spanish. Before sowing the seed, choose rich soil that was well manured last autumn ; break the surface of this np only to a depth of two or three inches — not deeper — as the plants will make better bulbs if tho bottom is left unbroken. Bring tho surface into a fine tilth by treading with the feet and levelling with the rake. Sow your seed in rows at least fifteen inches apart, as about this distance will give plenty of room to hoe between the rows. Also sow the seed shallow, a little more than an eighth part of an inch below the surface, as this will leave only a small portion of the bulb under the surface, which is one of the great considerations in cultivating, so as to obtain a fine well-flavoured crop. Autumn-sown onions will hardly yet be ready for dibbling out. There will be plenty of time for them towards the end of September. Lettuce : Prick out another batch, tie up advance plants for blanching : sow a small patch of seed for future planting. Don't forget to sow the usual fortnightly sowings of cress, mustard, and radishes. Sow in a warm situation. Where early cucumbers, melons, marrows, tomatoes, etc., are required, a few seeds of each variety should be sown in pots and placed in a cool frame. Many of .the amateurs who may read this may not possess what is called a cool frame, hut they can easily obtain as good by using an old box and placing on top a window sash with the glass in it This is almost as good as the best frame that could be made, and costs very little. A pinch of celery seed should also be sown, and in the box as well. When the soil is in a fairly dry condition all vacant pieces should be manured and dug, leaving it in the rough state till it is wanted for cropping. It will get well jyrated by the weather, as well as sweetened and pulverised. The upper surface being turned down fully impregnated with air, will have time to generate and disseminate those ga e es throughout the soil which are essential for the well-being of all crops. Keep weeds under. All seedling crops coming through the soil should be frequently dusted with lime, so a« to keop the ravages of the slug under. Dust the lime over the plants after dark in the fine evenings. Lime loses its virtue tor killing slugs a short period after it has been wet.

Flower Garden. The advancing season is beginning to be felb by a large number of the early spring flowering plants. Many of them are beginning to grow, and some are even beginning to show flower buds. Hoses : Continue pruning the few left for late flowering. Those plants that were pruned early \w 11 now be breaking out into fresh pfioots. Where possible, mulch such with cow or other rich manure. Hardy an nulls : Continue sowing on every favourable opportunity. Only sow a small pinch of teed ot each variety where the plants are to grow. Continue planting out in the mixed border the stock of hardy bedding plant? struck from cuttings last autumn. The sooner these are planted out the better now. (Uadiolus: Continue planting out for successional flowering, and put the pulbs at least four inches under the surface ; the.>e bulbo like a deep rich soil. Spring flowering bulbs and tubei-s will now be showing well. To keep up the supply of good lloweis, it will be essential to give them irequent waterings with liquid manure and to keep the surface soil well stirred about them. Camellias : Pluck oft the spent flowers at least o.nce a week, and give liquid manure. Azaleas coming into flower, mulch with cow manure or water with liquid. All planting of shrubs or trees, etc., should now be brought to a close. Many of them show signs of the sap rising by the swelling of the buds, and in some instances the leaves are beginning to make their appearance. Annuals coming 1 through the ground dust frequently with lime in the evening, so as to keep the slugs off them. Weeds : Keep these well under during the early spring months and they will give very little trouble during the summer months. Lawns : The grass is now beginning to grow pretty quickl}'. It should be cut frequently, so as to thicken the sole. The roller should also be frequently applied, so as to compress the soil that has been swollen by the heavy wot weather of the winter.

Greenhouse. Give plenty of air in fine weather. Calceolarias, cinerarias, and primula ; give plenty of liquid manure, and keep near the glass. Re-pot into flowering pots such as are advancing in gi*owth, and give each plant sufficient room to fully develop its leaves without getting drawn. Make preparations for pot Ling off the general stock of plants. Get the compost ready, so that when the soil is too moist outside, the potting operations can be proceeded with. Take off a batch of coleus cuttings, strike in light sandy soil. Tender annuals for planting out in the open border can now be sown under glass, in pots or seed pans. All hardy flowering plants, established under glass can now be hardened off, so as to get them planted out in the open early.

Chrysanthemum Society. The above Society have issued a list of chrysanthemum plants from which each member is entitled to make a selection. They have divided the selection under two catalogues " General Catalogue " and *' Novelty Catalogue." From tho general catalogue each member will be entitled to select - five plants, or one plant from the novelty catalogue and two plants from the general, that five or three as the taste or inclination of each member may direct. It is absolutely necessary that each member should make his selection at once, arid return-such to the honorary secretary before the third of September, as the plants will have to be propagated and ready for distribution by the end of October, when each

member will nob only receive the plants, but printed instructions for their cultivation will also be issued with them. Theie is a varied selection of in all 126 varieties to choose from, and the colours of each variety are also printed, so that, a member may choose the exact colour which he may wish to get.

Newmarket Camellia Show. Next Saturday a great treat isinstoio for those that take an interest in early spring flowers, as an oxhibition oE camellias, anemones, ranunculus, primula, cyclamen, ami other spring ilowors will bo held in tho Newmarket Hall. The show fur the admission of the public will be open ao two o'clock, when only the small charge of sixponce will be made at tho door. Although a list of prizes has been issued, the Committee of Management will be glad to receive and stage any exhibits not mentioned in the schedule, as they really wish this show to have an educational effect in teaching what our climate will produce at this season. Some of our leading lights in the horticultural world have been making preparations for some time back, and something beyond the common is expected. Opinions differ and are strong as to who will take firtt places in sonWof the leading exhibits, but I hope to see some of those who at present may be called outsiders come in an! upset some of the leading lights. Anyway, tho public should muster in force to see what. in my estimation will be the best little horticultural exhibition thab has been held in the suburbs of Auckland. All cut flowers stiged aro to becomo the property of the Committee, and will be sold at tho close for the benefit of the Royal Horticultural Socioty, the salo to commence at nine o'clock, when the exhibition will close.