Gardening Notes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2726, 15 October 1887, Page 2

Gardening Notes.

Owing to tho protracted wet weather operations in the garden will be nearly at a standstill, but, whenever opportunity occurs, no time should be lost in vigorously prosecuting. planting operations, Hoe up such crops as peas, etc, anil work the Dutch boo whenever possible for the destruction of weeds, which by.this time will have taken possession of the gurden. Celery seed of a good, late keeping, red kind may be sown now, either in a box or somo warm shaded corner in the garden. Plants from this sowing, in the ordinary course of things, will not bolt so soon as those sown earlier, aud many of them will not bolt at all. Peas should be staked before the tendrils strike out. If sparrows are troublesome the rows should be dressed with soot, as the young plants make their' appearance. ; ;Bow- Turnips, Broccoli, Radish, 'Spinaoh, Beet, ; As-. paragus, Cabbage, French aud Runner .Beans, Parsnips, Carrots, Peas, Onions, Potatoes; also herbs such-as Basil, sweet Marjoram, Summer Savory, Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Rosemary, etc. Fow also, in boxes, Tomato, Cucumber, Vegetable Marrows, Pumpkins, etc. With the genial weather will come the slugs, but where the ground is kept clean and well worked with Dutch hoe or any other effective tool, their ravages will not be nearly so bad. Where neglect has been allowed to creep in, slugs will 1 , be numerous. Sprinkle coal ashes over' beds where choico plants are growing. Asparagus plants must be put in at once, as the delay of one week will make it too late for shifting, aa they are now making growth, Fruit Garden. Judging from the amount of blossom noticeable ou pear trees around Masterton, wo are to expect an exceptional crop of pears. Wo have noticed that pear bloom is most fugitive; it falls for most unaccountable reasons, and. It is more often the case hero thau inoilier parls'of the.Colony. In Eugland they often adopt a system of protection to the bloom by cpypring something over the tree during, the blooming period. A. double thickness of fisti net is often used for the purpose. Tho late heavy rains and wind will jeopardise the crop j'still, there Ms ; nothiug, certain, aud all who • have the ineaus of sheltering • their pear trees when in blossom, should not neglect to do • so, Newly planted trees, also those planted luat year, will be much benefitted by a good mulching with stable manure, hying it round the trees about four inches thick. Secure thera from injury by tho prevailing winds by staking and tying. Flower Garden.

The time is at hand when all summer bodding plants ,ire to bo put out. : Amoug the most showy in this section is the Aster. The most desirable Asters aro the Paonv (lowered sorts, which attain a height of about fifteen inches, and produce large globularshaped blooms, with potals beautifully incurved, and embracing nearly all shades of color, The next variotyin point of merit is the Victoria which is much cultivated for exhibition, as is also the German Emperor, the flowers of both sorts being, when well grown, sufficiently largo to make a maguifiamt show. Distinct from these iboth in habit and appearance, are the quilled sections, Bottridge'g strain being perhaps the best; but though these are in favor with soiuo, they m too stiff and formal looking to come much into notice The dwarf Chrysanthemum flowered.and the dwarf Bouquet are both cpmpaot k : nds, that grow about a foot high, the first named produoing larqe rejlexed flowers, and tho latter abundance of small ones. Both are suitable for beds, or for growiug in pots for greonhousß decoration or, exhibition To obtain fine Dahlia flowers for exhibition purposes, dig holes six feet apart, largo enough to hold a barrow, ful of compoßt, which may consist of good bush oarth, or a turfy loam aud mellow manure—three parts of loam to one of manure, Drire a stake in tho contre of tho holo, and tho situation will be ready for tho plants which cau be planted at any time. The cold wiuds have kept back the gtowth of the; Chrysanthemums. For ordinary decorative purposes, offsets and outtinga. mfiyjot bo potted or planted. The summer blooming varieties aro valuable for the mixed beds and borders.'' The hardening, prioking off, and >potting;of bedding plants will bo, in full swing" no'y.. Every effort ■ should be, made to keep in front of tho work. Greenhouse, : :;.„■■ "Begonias of the Tuberoug section are now .commencing to start into growth, even in the, ordinary' temperature of a greenhouse or sunny window Directly they show sighs of doini? so, for whatever purpose-they, may be required, they should, be potted or placed ia'a little mould in boxes, if this has not. already been doae. They in a light, open, and sandy compost, such as a mixture of, nearly equal parts of loam, leaf mould and

sand. Drain the pots ib% and only / ■ just cover the crown otvtho tubers. Begonias are.most affective window plants for raised baskets, or stumps, >; and as pot plants for the Greenhouse,,