The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 415, 30 October 1889, Page 6

The Garden.

By Hortis in "Auckland Star.")

Kltohen Garden, The season for planting and sowing the main crops of vegetables will soon come to an end now ; where nob already sown or planted it should be done at once, as in a few weeks' time we may expect to get warm dry weather. Cucumbers, melons, marrows, pumpkins, tomatoes still continue to plant out as recommended in a former issue. Potato : The late crop on heavy vret soils should be planted at once. Early Crop : Earth up the soil about the plants when they attain a height of about nine inches. The soil between the rows should be slightly stirred for a few days before the earthing- up takes place. Peas: Still make the usual fortnightly sowing ; earth up earlier crops as they attain sufficient; height. Tall-grQwing varieties will require to be staked, or if nothalf the crop will be lost. Make fornightly sowings of j mustard, cress, and radishes for salading. Lettuces : Tie up advanced plants for blanching. Prick out another small bed, sow a fresh patch of seed so as to keep up a succession. Cabbages and cauliflowers : Plant out another few rows, earth up the advancing crops. The debris of old crops I clear off the ground, as the heads are cut off, as they provide a hiding and breeding place for slugs. Rhubarb : This should now be started into growth. Water frequently with liquid manure ; soap suds suit the plant well. The more attention it gets in the way of watering the roots the longer will the cropping period of the plant last. Advancing crops should be systematically thinned, so that each plant may have sufficient room to fully develop. Overcrowding is one of the greatest faults of some cultivators. Onions : The autumn-sown onions should be thinned out. Those removed may with advantage be used for extending the crop. The young plants should be dibbled in rows about fifteen inches apart, and about seven inches apart in the row. These dibbled plants will make equally as good bulbs as the untransplanted ones. As the season advances the soil between the rows of growing vegetables should be frequently stirred with either the fork or the hoe, as this will not only keep weeds under, but will materially assist the growth and quality of the crop by allowing a better atmospheric action to the roots. Where late summer crops are to be planted or sown, the soil should be trenched two spits deeps, so as to allow the roots to penetrate to fa greater depth, whero they will be able to obtain moisture for a much longer period than on shallow wrought soil. Slugs and snails are now very troublesome, and to keep them under frequent dustings of lime must be given to all seedling crops. Dust the lime over the plants in the evening after dark, as they are then out feeding and the lime will kill them. When lime is applied during the day the slugs will eimply remain in their hiding-place till the effect of the lime is past, when they will come out and do great damage, as their enforced seclusion makes them very hungry. At the same time all debris of crops, etc., should be cleared away to the rob heap and treated to a dose of lime and salt, so as to kill all insect life therein.

Flower Garden. During the lasb few weeks a strong active growth has taken place in many of early spring flowering plants, and most of them show promise of a good display. Attention should be given to the staking and tieing up of strong, tall-growing plants, as many of them are liable to get broken with high winds. Continue sowing the different varieties of hardy and half hardy annuals out in the open border. Hardy annuals sown early in the spring or winter will now be growing strongly. These should be thinned out, only leaving two or three plants in each spot. A few plants will grive better and more flowers than a number all growing and struggling together. Tender annuals sown under glass should be hardened off with the object of getting them out as soon as possible. Budding plants should be planted out at once so that they may get well established before the hot dry weather sets in. Where an abundant supply of water can be obtained during the summer months planting may be deferred. Those who may be compelled to plant now would do better to use water, so as to properly settle the soil about the roots of the plants. Roses are now making buds freely. Where possible, mulch with either cow or horse manure, and water should be applied to them whenever there are a few dry days. Liliums are now making good growth. Those where fine flowers are required should also receive liberal treatment by liquid manure, etc. Gladiolas : The bulbs which were planted in the early part of the winter should be staked, as they begin to show their spikes of flowers. Early spring flowering bulbs and tubers going to rest, their position should be marked ; if lifted for the summer they should be packed away in dry sand, as they will keep better than if fully exposed to the action of the air. Climbers : Tie and regulate as they advance in growth, and thin out superfluous shoots. Weeds are now growing fast, therefore it is necessary to occasionally hoe the surface soil so as to keep them underl Where any seedlings are coming through the soil, dust with lime, so as to keep slugs off till they are strong and hardy enough to resist their ravages. Lawns : The gross is now growing rapidly. It should be frequently mown so as to keep it short, and get it as thick in the sole as possible before dry, hot weather. The more frequently it is mown the thicker it will get, and the better it will resist hot weather. The roller should also be used frequently while the soil is moipt, so as to compi'ess any irregularities before it gets dry and hard, as the roller then will have very little effect.

Greenhouse. ! Growth is now very active in most of the general stock plants- Give plenty of water. Continue re-potting all small growing plants, whenever they require more pot room. Coleus cuttings, etc., which have made root, should be potted off into small size pots, using a good, rich, light compost. Calceolarias coming into flower, and in flower, give liquid manure frequently. If insects are becoming troublesome take steps to have them eradicated, as they will increase as the season advances. Azaleas in pots, past flowering, should be put in their summer quarters in some cool shady place outside. Give plenty of air during the day, water in the afternoon, and syringe while closing up the house in the evening, taking care not to put the water over plants in flower.