IN THE GARDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1922, Page 11

IN THE GARDEN.

VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS SEASONAL NOTES. (By Agricola.) A large share of the success of gardening springs from doing everything at the right time; the rest conies of doing things in a proper manner. In assessing the value of gardens, the many hourfi of happiness and healthful recreation they bring are too often left out of the account. These, however, are of far more value to many amateurs than all else. Fresh grown vegetables, clean, tender, and crisp; fruit luscious and sweet, and flowers both fragrant and beautiful, are boons of the highest order, but the thought, the labor, and the care bestowed upon them exceed and transcend all. WORK FOR THE WEEK. Operations recommended to be carried, out at stated times cannot always be undertaken with propriety because the existing circumstances may be unfavorable. In support of this we have only to take what has happened at last week end. The days were regular fill-ditches. Tfie ground had not been so soaked for months, but this saturation will furnish a supply of moisture to meet a rapid evaporation from the soil later on. Seed sowing in the open cannot be undertaken until more settled conditions prevail. Advantage should then be taken of every favorable opportunity to get crops sown or planted. The planting of trees,, shrubs and roses .should be completed this month. Plant rhubarb on deeply dug and well manured ground at a distance of three feet between each crown. Sow peas about every two or three weeks to keep up a supply. Make another planting of potatoes for the main crop and earth up those set out earlier when the plants are five or six inches above ground. Plant out another batch of cauliflower and cabbage plants as a succession to those set out in June or July, and finish planting autumn sown onions. Sow asparagus, broad beans, beet root, cabbagtjj cauliflower, carrots, celery, turlettuce, onion, leek, spinach, kohl rabi, mustard and cress, rhubarb and radish. Prepare ground intended for the reception of grass seed which was not attended to in the autumn or which has been lying fallow during the winter. When more settled weather conditions prevail sow the seed. Tn sheltered localities, tomato and cucumber may be sown so as to provide strong plants for setting out in October or November.

TENDING CROPS. Careful attention must be paid to crops which are above ground in the matter of thinning and hoeing. With the increasing hoeing temperature growth will soon be in full activity and this should be encouraged by frequent stirrings of the surface soil between all plants, whether vegetable or flower. The work generally takes the form of flat hoeing and the benefit to the young plants is soon shown as the soil is lightened up, its capillary power being increased. It is better able to draw water from below and to retain moisture from above, and the consequence is rapid growth. It may appeal- paradoxical to state that hoeing is more beneficial in dry weather than in wet, but such is undoubtedly the case. A loose, fine top always encourages moisture and acts as a mulch, while a closed surface lets out the heat and obstructs the downward passage of showers. Hoeing produces the conditions necessary for grow’th, moisture, warmth, freedom from weeds, and a fine tilth ’for the development of root fibres. The foregoing remarks not only apply to growing crops, but are applicable to all’ ground where seed sowing or planting is anticipated. Tn almost every garden excessive quantities of certain vegetables are grown which are beyond the utilising capacities of the household. As a consequence the great portion of such crops is wasted, while the space they occupy may, by more economical and judicious be profitably reserved for growing the more expensive winter supplies. It is, for instance, a great mistake to reduce potatoes severely in order to introduce large quantities of minor crops. -Good gardening does not follow on such lines as these. When sowing the seeds or planting form an estimate of about what quantity of each kind of vegetable will be required, and sow or plant accordingly.

BEETROOT. There are few more wholesome vegetables to be found in the list of culinary products than the beetroot. It is referred to as a culinary product in the broadest sense of the word, for the reason that it is associated in many persons* minds with salads, and considered as fitting only for use in connection with them; but it is equally acceptable when cooked, sliced, and served up cold with the addition of the customary condiments for the midday repast. It is probable that the taste for it is in many instances an acquired one, and the more the palate becomes acquainted with it so much the more is this vegetable esteemed. Perhaps there is not any other vegetable that varies in degree of merit caused through cultural influences more than the beet. The highest points of merit should consist of tenderness, high color, and attractive and peculiar flavor, combined with moderate size. In view of this a uniform onH unimpeded and therefore uninterrupted growth is most essential. Any decided check which the plants receive after th*y have commenced to move freely causes the after produce to become coarse and stringy. In order to assis! to maintain a uniform and progressive growth it is advisable to sow the seed in ground that has been previously deeply dug so that the tap roots may feed with a zest, even if extreme dryness should exist on the surface. A light well pulverised warm soil suits beet best, but with a little trouble good crops can be raised on any ordinary garden ground. Too rich or recently manured ground is not good, because when too strongly grown the root becomes':''coar6e. To prepare the ground for this crop it should be dug up at least two s.pits deep during winter and raked over thoroughlv before sowing the seed in spring. Scatter the seeds in i shallow drills about fifteen inches apart. covering with an inch of soil. HERBS. Every well regulated garden should have its border of herbs for culinary or medicinal purposes. They are easilv grown: in fact, some few of them will speedilv extend themselves to undesirI able limits unless kept in eheck. The j majority are partial to a light loamy j soil of such conditions as to encourage a strong growth during summer. A few

further cultural details in connection with the most commonly used herbfi may be of service.

Chervil has a pleasantly aromatic flavor, and is used for seasoning and salads. The seed should be sown now,, afterwards thinning the seedlings to six inches apart. Thyme may be raised from seeds, cuttings or by divisions. Cuttings should be selected from, the strong young shoots near the centre of the plant. Divisions make the best beds in the shortest time, and are secured by taking up an old plant and dividing it into as many •small rooted pieces as possible. This herb, with some others, has a tendency to become bare in the centre. This may be remedied by dividing the clump every two years, throwing away the decayed central portions. Sage is grown in almost every garden, and is best propagated by cuttings, using the strong robust shoots cut from five to seven inches in length. Strip off all but the top leaves and insert almost down to these in friable soil., allowing six inches between each plant Mint is an indespensable adjunct at the season of new potatoes, groan peas and lamb. A moist, heavy soil is best, and unless kept in check it will quickly spread beyond its proper bounds. Parsley is one of the healthiest herbs grown, and is indispensable for using in soups, salads, and sauce. Sow the seed thinly in drills, half an inch deep in rich soil, and thin out the seedlings to eight inches apart. There is a host of other herbs that are more or less cultivated to meet the particular requirements.

FLOWER GARDEN. Amateur gardeners who exercise great care with the propagation, winterirfg and spring treatment of the most popular bedding plants, often fail to reap the full harvest of their labors,, for the reason that the plants are eventually set out into soil which lacks the condition necessary to promote vigorous growth. Beds of such soil, whether occupied with spring flowering plants, or remaining empty until early summer, should be dug and manured. No hard and fast rule can be observed for the manuring of ground for any kind of crop, for so much depends on its condition, whether poor or rich. Still the fact is often overlooked that bedding plants are quite as exhaustive as vegetables, and this idea is the source of much disappointment. When beds have been dug up 'early and exposed to the influence of the weather a fine tilth is secured by planting time. In any case, whether autumn manuring is done or net, it is beneficial to give a dressing, light or heavy, as required, of well rotted manure, or, in the absence of this, a quantity of bonedust, at the rate of a handful to the souare yard, uniting this manure with the surface soil by means of a rake. Plants that are set out on soil thus prepared find food ready to hand and commence growing at once. When planted in soil where the roots have to travel a distance before they find food the energies nf the plants are devoted to the formation of roots instead of handsome foliage'and gay flowers, and even when the food is found the 'exhausted energies of the plant require recuperation before they are fit to start. It is that kind of cultivation generally which accounts for the complaints made by amateurs that their plants loiter so long after being set out. The season goes on, but the plants do not progress, and starvation is seldom suspected.

ANNUALS. Flowers that bloom in perfection a few months after sowing, or perhaps .even a few weeks, are ever likely to be popular in local gardens. Among them ,are included some of the prettiest, most and interesting, and when ; choicely selected and well grown they fanay be encouraged to thrive by the humblest horticulturist more easily than iany other flowers. In some of the larger class of gardens it has been the fashion to employ a great number of perennial flowers and to dispense with annuals to some extent, but if the true merits of the choicest annuals were realised, and if they were well cultivated and arranged they would afford the highest pleasure to all who take an interest in .them. The quantitv of blooms furnished by many of the finest annuals is not equalled by that of any other plant.