GARDEN NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 25, 3 September 1920, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES.

THE YINERY. Now is the time to start off the vines, and if they have been cleaned and pruned as directed they will be in fine condition, for they break much stronger when well cleaned and rested by giving plenty of ventilation in the winter. The first thing to do is to give the vine border a good dressing of manure — cow manure preferred, as it retains the moisture much longer than stable manure. When this is done, give the border where the roots of the vines are growing a thorough watering to saturate the border. Tben close up the vinery. For some time little or no bottom or front ventillation will be required, except on very warm days, when the sun is bright and hot. The top ventilation must be relied upon to regulate the temperature. Open the top vents

when the sun is upon the glass and the thermometer is at 70deg and rising, which will be about 9 to 9.30 a.m., according to the heat of the day, and earlier as the sun gets more power and the days grow longer. The time of closing in the afternoon should depend upon the state of the weather. If the sun is overcast close early, but if bright and warm 3.30 to 4 p.m. will be a suitable time. If a change sets in, close at once. If the surf ace of the inside border is kept nice and moist, no syringing will be required. Opinions differ upon this subject of syringing the vines, but 1 may say I never use the syringe on the vines unless on extremely hot days, and very rarely then. If the inner border is kept moist, a sufficient amount of moisture will arise when the house is closed, and no syringing will be necessary, except a little occasionally to keep the canes moist until they break into grotvth, as this tends to keep the wood soft and makes a better break, and also stronger. THE VEGETABLE G ARDEN. Keep the hoe and rake going freely during dry weather. It takes very little hot weather to destroy all weeds that have been cut and disturbed. Prompt atten- j tion now with the hoe will save a lot of j labour and worry later on. Take adva.ntage of fine weather to get in all unsown crops, such as peas, beans, carrots, parsnips, onions, beet, tumips, spinach, lettuce, radish, mustard and cress. Plant out cabbage and cauliflower. Seakale does not seem to be cultivated nearly so much as it deserves. It is one of the easiest vegetables to eultivate, and also one of the best. The smallest piece or root will grow, but, of course; 't cannot produce crowns fit for cutting the first year. To secure a good growth and a top . fit for kitohen use the first season, strong crowns will mquire to be planted. A good rich sandy loarn will suit to perfection. When planting, insert the crowns in clumps i 4in apart, six or eight crowns in each clump, so that they may be easily coverefi up with tubs, very large pots, or cement casks cut in two and turned bottom up and placed over each clump. A little fresh stable manure should be placed around the tub to exclude the air. Growth soon commences, and in a short time beautiful white beads of kale are produced, fit for the best table in the land. The crisp and juicy stems, are very tempting, even in a raw state. Seakale, when well grown, is, I think, the most delicately-flavoured kale or cabbage in existenee; but to grow it exposed the same as any other of the kale, family, without covering, is next to useless. It may be and is grown from seed, and, of course, that is he only way to get a bed when crowns are not avaiiable. Crowns cannot be cut the first year, but they will be fine the second season. The seeds may be either sown on drills or in a bed specially prepared for them, such as a bed that lias been well manured and dug. Rake the surf ace down, and draw drills an inch or so deep across the bed, and 9in apart, sowing the seeds very tlrinly — about 2in apart. Cover the seeds about l^in or 2in deep. Make the soil firm, then all that will be required is to keep ) f the bed and exercise a little patienee the first year. In the second year the crowns will be fit for lifting and plant. ing in clumps. CELERIAQ. This turnip-rooted eiy ;s prized by many as a substitute for the common celery. It is a very fine vegetable when boiled and dished up as you would the common celery, but it cannot very well be used in a raw state. So far as seed sowing is concerned, celeriae may be treated in the same manner as celery, therefore should be sown on a mild hot-bed or in a warm greenbouse or frame. As soon as the plants are large enough to handle prick them out in rich moist soil, and when sufficiently strong plant out in rows on well-manured soil, but they roquire no moulding or earthing up.