THE GARDEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 474, 24 May 1890, Page 4

THE GARDEN.

(By Hortus.) Kitchen Garden, The; late proffinged wet, showery weather will have caused some of the kitchen garden work to be deferred, and it is better that such should be deferred till the soil is n a sufficiently dry state to labour. Soil laboured in a comparatively dry state has greater cropping advantages than if laboured while in a wet state. This season every advantage must therefore be taken of every few fine days so as to get every vacant piece of ground either dug one spit deep or trenched, at the same time giving plenty of manure. How is the be3t time of the year to give asparagus beds an overhaul. ‘ill the old stems of plants should be cut back and plenty of well-rotted manure wheeled over the surface and forked in, taking care not to injure any of the crowns ; then give the newly wrought surface a good dressing of coarse salt. Where seaweed can easily be obtained it should be used in preference to the manure, then the dressing of salt can bo dispensed with. On the sea kale bed have all the debris cleared away ; manure and fork it in. Rhubarb plants lift and store in a shady place till the spring, when they may be divided and planted out again. Where new beds for asparagus, rhubarb or seakale are required,now is the best time to make them so that they may be thoroughly pulverised and sweetened when wanted for planting. The soil for such should be trenched at least two feet deep and plenty of wellrotted manure placed in each trench, as all these plants are deep-rooted and heavy feeders. Earth up all growing crops \vhich require the hill system of cultivation. Plant out another batch of cabbages and cauliflowers. Make a small sowing of onions for spring use and also for dibbling out next spring. Onions sown now and dibbled out in the spring, will produce larger and finer bulbs than those sown in the spring. r lhin out advancing crops of turnips, carrots, and winter spinach ; stir the surface soil between the rows occasionally with the hoe. Celery : Earth up the later planted crops. Sow a few rows of broad beans. Plant out chalots, potatoes and onions in specially prepared rich beds. Tomatoes : Clear away all superfluous foliage so that the sun s rays may be able to get at the fruit to ripen it. Prick out a few more lettuce plants ; tie up the advance plants so that they may become blanched and tender. Continue making frequent sowings of mustard and cress. Kumeras should now be lifted and stored away in dry sand for winter use. Every spare piece of ground in the kitchen garden, not wanted for winter crop, should he sown down in oats, which will either come in handy for green feed or for green manure. When seeds are coming through the ground dust them with lime frequently after dark, while they are out feeding. Keep weeds under by using the hoe frequently.

Flower Gardor. Whenever the soil is in a suitable state to be worked, all alte.»ations should be pushed on as fast as possible so as to be able to get shrubs, etc., planted before the middle of winter. If not already done, all flower borders should receive a thorough overhaul. All debris of plants clear away, and dig all the borders, using plenty of well-rotted manure. Mark where all the bulbs and tubers are left in the ground during the winter. Finish planting out all spring flowering bulbs and tubers such as tulips, anemones, ranunculus, ixias, etc. Those of the above which are through the ground and growing strongly should have the soil frequently stirred about them. Heavy rains are sure to compress the soil and cause it to cake, and as it gets dry the stirring up will allow of a bettor atmospheric action to the roots. All bulbs and tubers will thrive better where there are wood-ashe3 in the soil, therefore all woodashes from the house should be saved and dusted around each plant. Cinerarias: These should now bo planted out in the borders either singly or in clumps ; their many-coloured flowers make a grand show, especially if planted in mass. Cyclamens are also better planted out than when kept in the house. They like deep, rich soil, and should never be disturbed unless when they are potted, and the pots plunged out Of sight; then they can be moved every

spring,. so as to give place to other plants. A few of the commoner varieties of the gladiolus should now be planted out, so as to give a few early spikes. Lawn tennis will, or should now be over for the season. All tho lawns should now receive a thorough top dressing) so ns to get them into first-class condition for next season. The soil used for this purpose should only be first-clasp, and it should be properly worked in about the roots of the grass. A little fresh grass seed should be raked in before it is rolled. All grass edgings should now receive the usual autumn paring, so as to give them a clean, nice, tidy appearance for the winter. Large evergreen shrubs should be ac once transplanted where such have to be moved, as all evergreens wi'l transplant bettor in the autumn than at any other period of the year. Grocnhouso.

The sun is not very powerful now ; all shading of the greenhouse can bo dispensed with for the winter. All watering should be done very sparingly, as most of the summer plants have gone to rest. Keep the winter flowering plants a 3 near the glass as possible. Cinerarias, primulas, etc., repot as soon as their present pots are fairly filled with roots. They should always bo kept in a growing state, never allowing them to receive a check, also the nearer they aro kept to the glass the better, as they then will not bo liable to get drawn. All winter flowering plants, which were plunged out in the open for the summer, should now be removed into the house. All plants in the house should receive a thorough overhaul, killing all insects, etc. A free circulation of air should be kept up on all bright days.

Mr T. Turner's. After leaving Mr Abbott’s place I called at Mr Turner’s place. It was only about 100 yards from Mr Abbott’s place, but on the opposite side of Papanui Road. Mr Turner devotes his whole attention to florist flowers alone, growing none of the ordinary nursery stock. Tho place is not very large, only a little over an acre in extent. The place is tastefully laid out, and a large number of plants were in Hower, which made it look very gay. There was one splendid bed of asters in full flower, and they were the best strain I have ever seen. The other annuals which I saw in flower were also from first-class strains. Mr Turner eaves and imports a considerable quantity of seeds of all descriptions, which ho disposes of in his seed warehouse in the central part of Christchurch. Besides, Mr Turner has also two large glass houses ; one of them is devoted to growing vines and pot plants. The canes of the vines were two years old, and looked very promising, being strong and healthy. There was also a fine stock of pot plants, which looked well. The other house was devoted to pot plants and propagating. At the time of my visit, ho had some very fine tuberousrooted begonias in flower. It soemed to me that in Christchurch they had a much better collection of begonias than we have in Auckland. The Christchurch Hospital.

The Hospital is situated on a fine situation, not far from the centre of tho city. The front of it faces the River Avon, which bounds it from the Public Gardens of Christchurch. The Hospital consists of a considerable range of one-storied buildings. At the front of those buildings there is a considerable long grass terrace. Betwixt this terrace and the Hospital there is a long flower border well stocked with flowering plants. At the bottom of the terrace there is a fine, largo, well-kept lawn. Fronting the river there is another charming flower border. Everything here seems to bo kept in the best of order, and it must be a very pleasant place for such patients that are just beginning to get convalescent. When they are able to ramble through this pretty garden the sight and smell of the flowers must greatly assist as a curative agency. Along the river bank, fronting the Hospital, there is a nice, pleasant walk, following tho windings of the river. This walk is partly covered with trees and shrubs, affording one of the pleasantest promenades which it is possible to obtain. There is also a considerable scope of ornamental pleasure ground planted with a fine collection of coniferas and other {ornamental trees. From the outward surroundings of this hospital I almost fancied that I would not mird being put on the sick list for a few weeks (if it was possible for me to be allowed to wander through those pleasant ground,with none of the worries or cares of the world to think about; but there is fortunately no such luck. (To hz Continued.)

SOUTHERN TOUR (Continued.)