THE GARDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 193, 22 August 1885, Page 4

THE GARDEN.

[Bit Hohtds.]

Calandar of Operations, August 22.

lloktus in willlnß to answer any queries. Correspondents mv.it Klvn their full nnmoe and addrcsws. though not for pubHcalion.l TO CORUKSPONDKNT3. „,,, p A i.M (00 . A'kv-1 Uifl). The so'o of ihi-i H' •iw ftbuiit nn I'-ah ii«-. r> Oiwd vic-li nv'-iat. B-;i!istheb'i.-I.Th.':rc!uv.il;lj.iartrftnn>lnntini{ cannnis''y 'v'l.i-.tn'orawi'llf'rr.'tin New zTlnd uu for inn Nortli of Auckluxl they ..re well worth a trial. Tho date p ilm mint he planted in clumps, as ono tree bears tho male afad nnulhur me female (I .wen li Ukts from lirtcm to twenty yo:irj to nrii>K the treo to ,1,-; friiii-'K'JiiinK a-'e. Several bmich^n of I iwcm arc fjiinnrl in om: car. produuing as „,.„„■ as 200 J:it"H. In Krfyps as many *s 4«wt. of dales lmvo b^ori h.irvcs'cd in one seawn from a sini?lo date palm.

Manukx and Soil fob Potatoes (,'lu.«-).----i'oti'ocs will thrive on nlmort any good soil. T'lemannrre bent suited for their growth aro thrive of v nuiC- action Good Kii-nm or sup. rlllOßPlmte 1H EOOd artificial .r.anure. Wood ighCM aro u'.-o toy good, but thcs^lack \\Mien nthero%Vi™ty"o£ los'^lp /""E^^ other manaro is warned. Artillclul manures arc mot valuable wh.'i. npi.lUtl to the potato on eround that has been hpavil}-3rj»cd pro viouslv t.yMttbloiiKinnrefor bum other crop. Cru»he I bnnca make a KOad permanent nanuTO. but liii'dly nctivn unoiiKh for potato -. It is be u-.r used when la} ing down permanent grass. Kitchen Garden. AsPAHAana. — Immediately after tfio snrin" forking of the uparagna bed give a hoavf drcsaiit;? of silt. Salt may bo Fprond on tho beds at any time during tho ceason, in heavy or H«ht dose?, but after tho ufum.l spring forking is the best time fo apply tho salt. Say that the P'ilt is put on tho beds about the ond of' August or September, it will not only furnish food tor tho plants during tho growing season, but it will save considerable froublo in boeinjr tho weed?. It is death to wecdp, but lite to the asparagus, which thrives under this treatment. At tho s<imo time, salt has considerable hygrometrio powers, and icreatly assists in retaining the moisture in the ground, thus having a marked influence on tho growth of pants. It may be spread pretty thickly without, injury to tho plants, but a bushel to two square roods U enough for all practical purposes. This may be applied with advantage every season in the S!lU"°' Ro-grafting Old Trcos.

Sometime?, after growing trees for a few years in a given position, the grower finds out ho has, n-.t got tlio variety which ho supposed ho was supplied with when the tree was planted. " Or perhaps ho is beginning to find out that tho variety planted does not suit either the soil or locality. Do not lift the tree, but in tho spring ha\'o it out back pretty sovoroly, find ro-graft some other variety upon it. By re-grafting you will be able to obtain a new head of whichever variety ii wanted in a very sh< rt period. When it is decided to re-graft, try and procuro fcions of trees which are known to succeed in the soil and locality, as a great deal depends upon this?. Also have the scions* cut about a month before they are wanted, and nearly covered up in sand, so that when tho period for grafting comes on, tlio stock will bo in a slightly advanced state, as tho branches of tho old tree will bo much lurgor and thicker than the scions. The best plan is to make a long slant ing cut on tho Fciou. Tho etock should bo" cut cloin across, leaving a slight slnnt, then make, a straight cut on tho baik corresponding in length to that on tho scion. With tho haft of the knife, now open out tlio bark so that the scion can ea-ily be inserted without bruising. Immediately tho ecion ia in position, ti(7 securely with some soft material, then covor up tho tie and wound on tho stock with grafting clay, which should consist of an equal mixture of clay and fresh cow manure Any tree hsaded down and regrafted ousbfc, in a fow years, to givo a good", healthy troo again. The grower may, if ho please, at the sanio time, graft a few varieties upon tho same tree, which is int ere-ting in small gardens, whore only a limited number of varieties are kept. Grov/liiß Onions. To grow the abovo crop to perfection, a Httlo labour is nectary. Where a quantity of onions aro required every season, a bre:ik of ground should bo specially ;ot apart for their cultivation, a? this is one of tho few crops that will succeed year aftor year on tho same piece of ground, especially if trenched and manured every season. In March the ground should bo trenched to a depth of IS inches the first year. Bastardtrenching is tho best, unless the ground has been previously tronehed. In such case, bring somo of tbo subsoil to the surface, and go anothor spitdoeper. While trenching, givo plenty of ptablo manure, placing this under tho top spit of soil ; tho more manure tho hotter, as the onion is a very gross feeder, and requires plenty of food to ensure a heavy crop. It does not require tho manure to bo very rotten, just as it enmes from the stnbles will do, as it will have plenty of time to rot during the winter. Whenever tho whole plot of ground iJ. trenched, and a favourable opportunity occurs, plant the ground with oabbago or eaulillower, or any other crop that will como off tho ground bofore August ; even oats for greon' food will do if taken off early enough. About Uie end of July, tho crops should be taken off tho ground, clearing off all the debri?. A heavy dressing of coarso salt should then be givon, taking caro to dietributo tho salt evenly over the surface, then fork over tho break to a depth of threo or four inches. Tho salt will have tho effect of .retaining moisture in the soil for a long period, besides invigorating the plants when thov begin to grow. Tho salt and forking should bo applied two or three weeks before tho onion seed aro sown, so as to givo it, plenty of time to get dissolved before sowing. Sowing. Sometimo during August is tho best time for sowing. Chooso a period when tho soil h in » good working state, then tread all surface firmly with tho feet, and rako it all smoothly with tho rako. Mark out the whole break in tho lines, about ono foot apart, than draw tho linos with the hoe about half an inch deep, sow tho seod, covorintr it firmly with the back of the rake. When all is sown, rako all over the surface of the ground. Onions sown in rows aro far more easily kept clear of weedf. Diseases of Oranges and Lemons Professor Kirk, who was appointed by the Government to inquire into tho disca-os of tho citron family, has sent in his report to the Minister of I anrls, and it. has boon published. I propose to givo a few of tho subjects mentioned : —

Foot hot is caused by tho rootlets penetrating into a cold, Retentive subsoil, excessive manuring,deep plant ing.earthingup, whether with wood ashes,stablo manure, or with earth. In some cases, by excessive nuturn-i pruning, lending to a lato growth and consequent development of unripened wood, the roots are stimulated to increased action, which is suddenly checked by a fall of temporature. Plants kept too long in pots, so that tho roots bocomo pot-bound, are particularly liable to be attacked.

Prkvkxtion axd CuuK.-The degreo in which remedial measures may fairly' bo expected to provo successful must depend, to some extent, upon tho stage of tlio disease. As a general rulr, so long a? disease has not encircled the stein, recovery may bo hoped for. The soil muit bo thoroughly trained, and if of a retentive, character, properly worked avar bof ro re-planting. The roots must bo laid bare, mid the unsound portion? cut away. All traces of decay must be removed, and the roots left exposed for a week or ?o, unless the weather be dry and unfavourable Afterwards they should bo lightly covered with leaf monk!, or some light alluvial coil. '' ho decayed bark of the stem must be carefully pared away in such a manner as not to wound the sound portion more than ran bo avoided. Frequent applications of tarwater to tho roots and stems will bo found berioflcial in all extreme ca?es. The disease is most frequent amongst troos growing in cold subsoils. It ia rare on open volcanic soils or where trees havo been surfaceplanted. It-, attacks tho loraon and citron moro frequently than (ho orange, and its cllVcts on tho funni'i-nro more sovero tlinn on tho ],itrr. The lime is open to its attack?, but 1 havo soon no instance of the shaddock boing attacked. Tn somo cases a gummy oecrotiriri i< exuded by tinaflecled parts of tho etom constituting tho clU>arH' termed "lagrima," but I am unnblo to draw .1 distinction botween the two. The exudation of gum is ronlined to tha early ftages, and ceases with t.ho decay of the*bark, so far at least as it has como under my observation Bom; Fus<a:s-Another form ol root rVoay is canted by tho mycolium or vegetable system of a fungus (lyeopo'don sp) wln«h ntfaek= the mot fibres. This alloi:t-i..n i. inert, epocilily fulal than ordi n-.ry lent rot; ui,d often spreads with great rapidity from troy to tree. Trees p'anti d on torn land me especially liable" to be attacked tiy thu funguo. In moat casoa il

will ba found that fraj-meJrssss' ground stems of fern^^ : the ground, an d ; through tho soil inexaf ,18' Th*, 2 mushroom .'pawn, !lr , :, { th °fWn 6 *£* .anddest,oy! e Vfir ;S'OSS way. Ihaveacen sheep s Z^*Z commoi. meadow vms '• cock ß , soil should be sparingly to'W*>HdiJ tho dressing tu r {, ol i f n y "Nte^ Apply n dressing o f " Sf t" ■ water ; sparingly to the affected^* £ : the disease is not too fj. H I but in any case the decayed n , Jvat W carefully removed PowderrS ? ""a bi be mixed with tli o surfaced ml*»bs with new vegetable mouSTtolelli I procured and applied freely (J til °""« cloudy weather the roots Sf1,6^.!, with advantage. Wood or ctf eiW bo mixed with tho surface soi?' 60?'""I prove of groat value. Weak F Ond w«»l would doubtless p rove honl&l*I* ' require great care in tbrir 'T*o* All decayed roots and bm'l m^ burned without I MS of time "^i ( To lie Continued.)