The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 469, 7 May 1890, Page 4

The Garden.

(By HORTIS.) Chrysanthemum Show. Auckland, April 28. The exhibition of chrysanthemums held last Saturday in the Choral Hall far exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. In the different sections there were really some magnificent flowers. Anyone who may only have been acquainted with the cultivation of chrysanthemums in Britain fifteen or twenty years ago, must have been astonished to see to what perfection we have brought this really magnificent autumn flower. The show was divided into two classes—amateurs and all-comers but I thought that in some instances the amateurs had the best of it. In the amateur class, J. VV. Tibbs staged a splendid stand of twelve in the Japanese section, and those I thought were the best exhibit in the hall. D. Hay and Son, in the all-comers’, also staged some splendid blooms. This firm altogether placed 500 blooms on the tables for competition. In fact, the number, variety, and excellence of the flowers staged by all the competitors will be long thought of and discussed by growers. As usual, there was great diversity of opinion about the merits of the different bouquets. This always happens, and long may it be, as this difference always will bring out all the different styles of make-up. At the same time I will reprint the observations made in my hearing by a mother to friend at the late Baby Show held in the same hall. Taking up her baby, the mother remarked that this was the prettiest and nicest baby in the hall, no matter though there were a number of bigger, fatter and uglier babies_ present, and that if the judges knew anything about babies, hers ought to be awarded first prize. With bouquet - making, I have always thought there was a great deal of the same feeling, and long may that exist. The Committee of the late Show may be congratulated on the successful issue, and for the almost perfect arrangements connected therewith. The public patronised it almost as well as the late Jubilee Show, and this liberal patronage will give the Society a greater inducement to go and do better next season.

The Onion. Next to the potato, I think the onion is the most useful vegetable that is grown, and in our climate it can be grown to perfection, if ouly a little trouble is taken. Where good crops are expected, good, rich soil is required; also, where fine, large bulbs are required, a small quantity of seed should be sown in the autumn—early in May is the best time. It is nob necessary to sow the seed where the crop is to grow next season ; it can be sown on any small patch of good soil where it will germinate and grow during the winter. In about the end of August or during September next, the little plants will be in first-class condition to dibble out into rows, where the bulbs are to mature ; in fact, I believe that this dibbling out in the early spring into new soils greatly assists in promoting a crop with large bulbs. The soil which the onion delights to grow in, is a very rich loam, inclining to be retentive. The soil cannot be made too rich with manure ; but it does not do to place the manure in tho ground just as the crop is to be planted or sown. I have always found the best way to grow this crop is every autumn to thoroughly dig and manure the onion ground, giving a very heavy dose. After the ground is dug, plant a crop of cabbages ; they will grow during the winter, and will be ready to come off the ground in time for the onion crop bo be planted or sown in the spring. Another consideration in growing onions is that the onion will succeed and grow well in the mase break of ground year after year without changing the crop, as long as it is well manured. There is another matter to which I would draw attention, and that is that the whole of the crop of onions should nob be autumn sown. A few rows should always be sown in the spring. I have always found that spring sown onions, though nob quite so large as the autumn ones, are harder and firmer in the flesh, and will keep longer than the autumn sown ones. The two varieties which I like to sow and use are the Brown Spanish and Largo Spanish Globe. The first of these is strong enough in flavour for using for any purpose, while the latter is a fine mild flavoured onion, which answers well for stewing. Both of the above are also capital croppers. Potato onions for early spring use can now be planted out. They like similar soil to the onion crop which is raised from seed.