GARDENING NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2972, 9 August 1888, Page 2

GARDENING NOTES.

A hotbed in early spring is one of those useful conveniences in a garden, tho value of which can hardly he over estimated, as it enables the cultivator to take timo by the forelock, and to raise a variety of plants and different crops that require a long season of growth to mature them properly, and which cannot bo grown in a satisfactory manner unless the plants receive somo assistance from artificial heat early in tho season. The most impor-tant-uses to which a hotbed can be put, is for raising such plants as melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, marrows, etc., for the vegetable garden, and begonias, balsams,petunias, asters for pot culture, cannas, etc., for the flower garden or greenhouse, Canna (Indian shot) seed, should be steeped nnvater heated to about 120 degrees for twenty minutes before they are sown; and sandy soil suits tliem best. Fruit tree planting should be finished as early as possible with tho exception of grapes, which, together with ornamental andevergreon shrubs, can be planted for some time yet.

VKOETABLE GAH.m

The same- tree or plant will not succeed in all - gardens- alike, but the following short list will be found among the best and most, prolific varieties for the general requirements oi a family, Potatoes: Hyatt's Pro'lific, Carter's Earliest of All, Beauty of Hebron, Schoolmaster; Magnum Bonum, where the soil suits, is both a heavy cropper and a good table potato, Peas, American Wonder and McLean's Little Gem, for early ■Bowing, and , Veitchs' Perfection, Yorkshire Hero and Stratagem, foliate sowings; sowings to be made in the order named. Onions,—Brown Globe, Brown Spanish, Giant Zitau, and James' Keeping.. Turnips.— White Stone, Bed-topped American Stone, and Golden Ball, Cuoumbers. —lmproved Telegraph, Tender and True, and Model, for frame culture, aild Long Pricldey, and Stockwood Ridge, for out-door culture. Tomatoes, —President Garfield and Large Red, Parrots,—Early Horn and James'. Scarlet. 'lntermediate.' Parsnips.— Crown and Student, Cabbages—Hartwell and Enfield Market. Broad Beans. Carter's Leviathan giid , Improved Windsor. French Beans—Negro Long Pod, Pale Pup, 9i)d Canadian Wonder, tbp latter' {or majjr erop. The best potat® for exhibition purposes we White Elephant and International, .Tliey aro both second early kinds, 'M will do ~well on light soil; for; show purppses they should be planted 18 inches i

1 ..:m, apart from set to set, and two feet. apart in the rows. If the : seed, is -. large, it is best to out the them in two;' if planted towards the end of Septomher, they should come in mcely for : our Autumn Show. Plant in a very. : sheltered position a few early potatoes, •* and sow long-pod; -Beans, ■ Onions, a-: (those sown in the Autumn > now i require transplanting), Lettuce,:.' Radish, Peas, (early kinds), Ijeeks, Parsley,-Celery, Early Horn Carrot, Turnip and Cress. Celery seed should bo sown inn box, and placed,in a hotbed, or kept in a warm place some. - time during this month; Very good crisp celery may be obtained from sowing in the open air; in SeptemberSV The open air plants do libt.attain the size, otherwise they are quite: as good, .J and they never bolt till lato in the v spring. Whea tho young plants are v half an inch high; thin them a little, removing the .weakest; and when large enough to handle, prick out inlo '■ a bed,:of rich Boil i'.inohes -Mt, ; shading with scrim or other matorral till established, and well supplied with , water, giving liquid; manure occasionLittle check's', it maybo drought • or poor soil, ofton lead to piping. y Sank manures are for celery. ; The "manure should be Hn n well decomposed condition. Liquid manure ■ is very beneficial during growth; and ■: I should not recommend, earthing up ■ beyond hoeing in tho'soil from the, < sides of tho trenches,' till a considerable growth had been mado. - One disadvantage of early earthing up, it is difficult to water afterwards. ' But I do believe in drawing somo soil about the plants with the hoe onco or twice during the season of growth. It acts as a mulch and blanches the bottom. 1 Horiks. ■