THE GARDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 214, 7 September 1895, Page 11

THE GARDEN.

By Hobtcts.

tHortus is willing to answer any queries. Cor lospondents must give their real r.amesrand addresses though not for publication,]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

vn«. (Beginner).-To grow a good crop, your soil should be a rich one from being heavily manured last autumn. As your soil was just broken up for the first time last autumn and no litter manure applied you will noed to apply artiflcal manures. To do this Dotoro breaking your already rough ground dust over it a good heavy sprinkling of blood manure, and fork over the soil so as to make it fine. Afterwards tread lightly all over the surface to get it moderately solid, then mark out your lines about fifteen inches apart. Draw drills and sow your seed about a fourth of an inch deep. When your seedling 3 are about three to four laches in height, thin out your plauta to about five to six inches apart. After thinmug is completed, dust another lot of blood manure between the rows and mix it in with the soil, by breaking it up with the noe. The onion which I consider the most useful to sow now is the Brown Spanish. It is a good cropper, and of first-class flavour, lo get small onions for pickling, you should sow Silverskm broadcast towards the end of next month.

During last week and the beginning of this week we were favoured with a good number of light showers of rain» which, with the dry, warm condition of the soil, bas caused all classes of early vegetation to start into-active growth. From th e above indications, we may be assured with an early spring, and perhaps an early summer. The above indications shouid'influence owners of neglecbed gardens to set bhom in order, espeoially the borders and beds around home—so many of which are observed in suburban districts in unkempb condition. Manure and dig np all each wherein plants, are not growing. This is necessary, as preparation for early plantings of bedding plants, etc., apart from the fact that the soil is cerated and sweetened, enhancing sanitary surroundings.

Gladioli must all be planted as expeditiously as possible, or the summer season will be passing away before they flower. They may be planted by making holea with the dibble for conns or, bulbs ; also in rows by drawing deep drill rows—not less than three or four inches below the surface of the ground. As these conns so often rot when first planted, owing to placing them highly dried into cold, damp, or web soile, it ia always advisable to place a liberal quantity of dry soil, or sand, etc., beneath and immediately around each. It ia no greab trouble to do this, especially as bhe simplo operation may save much disappointment in future.

Early annuals had bebter be thinned oub immediately. the young seedlinge formed from early-sown seeds are large enough. Such seedlings, resulting from sowing minute seeds too liberally, being invariably very thick, cannob possibly succeed unless well bhinned oub, so that each individual plant has room bo crow and develop its natural characteristics. Most of them can be planted in tufts, if desirable.

Sow calliopeia, collinsia, candytuft, alyssum, poppies, etc., in out-door borders. Such faabmaburing annuals require all the sunshine possible. In sowing the above or any other annuals in the open borders, great care must be takon to keep the slugs off them while they are in the younger stages of their growth. Though more transient than so-called .bedding plants they make charming displays around oven suburban homes, with poinewhac confined garden space. Protty annuals for edtrings to the tailor growing forme aro neniuphyllas, Virginian stocks, portulacca, and, indeed, mignonette. Coarser growing annuals, and sure to succeed, include Love Lies Bleeding, Prince of Wales Feather, calendulas, chrysanthemum coronarrum (mixed), oschschlotzias, nasturtium (dwarfs), Sweet Subton, etc., and the following are somewhat novel : Doubleflowered cornflower, Nemeeia sbrumosi Suttonsi, Double Clarki&g, godetia (vow varieties), Nigella Damascona, etc. Amongst climbing plants, the donbieflowered convolvulus major, the Japan variegated hop and ininal obota, doserve recognition, but eoodd of tho two la&b should be sown under glass, the oeedlings to be subsequently planted in tho open ground.

Seasonable Hints,

Sow grass seeds during showery weathc*. covering them ovor thinly with finely sifted soil, and well roll. If sown now ib will do woll this eumrner.

Arrears of work in this, a 9 in other departments, call for prompt attention. Swards and walks require well rolling after rains.

Finish turfing lawns without delay. Should a dry spring occur late-laid turf will suffer greatly. Turf laid some little time well roll ab intervals of four or five days, and after a rain run the mowing machine over it.

Cub the edgoa of grass around walks, borders, etc., in euch a manner as to leave clean-cut eides, bub do not leave euch renewed edges too deep. Pub soil against them around borders, and fine gravel around walks as deep-cut edges, however fresh and straighb, have nob a very preposeessing appearance.

Dahlias, fuebias, coleus &c, may be propagated from young shoota now forming upon wintered plants. Shift growing young planbs of the latter into larger pots, as necessary.

Bedding plants should be counted up to determine whether sufficient of each kind and variety are in band to fill all bode and borders. If not, propagate more cuttings, as necessary, as quickly as possible, as tho time is becoming limited to roob.and form plants by the end of tho third or fourth week of the next month.

Propagate all bedding plants, especially alternaotheras, mesembryanthemume, verbenas, etc., as rapidly as possible. The young shoots upon alt which have made a little spring growth made into cuttings, nob too long, dibbled somewhat shallow bub quite firmly into finely aifted, pandy soil, will root readily—especially if placed under temporary improvised glass frames, etc., or within glass structures.

Bedding out should be commenced by the middle or end of this month, and continued till all more ord'iuary bedding plants are placed out) into their summer quarters. Commencing wibh calceolarias, verbenas, zonal pelargoniums, pyrefehrum?, etc., albernanbheras, ageratums, and all moro tender foliage plants should be left till last. Though flower beds and borders may have been manured and dug up previously, ib will be well te neatly fork them up before planting: a day or two before is best, as ib permits of the air making them in better working order. Take care nob to plant any boo deep, and to thoroughly make bhe soil firm around the roots of all, but without unduly burying any. Do not water plants turned out of single pots with the balls containing the roots whole ; always when planting break up the ball of earbh with the fingers before planting.

Potatoes, very generally later than usual this season, are now coming freely through the ground. Hoe quite deeply between the rows, breaking up the ground well, and mould them as they grow. Where grounds are very stiff and unworkable, ib will well repay the trouble to fork up between the ,rows, letting it lie for a day or two previous to moulding.

Early peas muab now be finally moulded up. Proceed bo stick them according to the varieties and the heights they respectively grow. Upon highly-enriched soils, particularly during moist summers, most varieties somewhat exceed heights given in catalogues; ib is well, therefore, nob to risk having sticks too short, as their chief purpose Is to carry the heavy pods towards the tops of the baulma. To properly stick peas avoid insert-

ing them into the ground too close to the rows; place them in a slanting position with the rows, and with the tope wider apart than the bottoms. By so doing the baulm will grow up between the two rows of sticks, and be cradled within them. This they cannot do if the sticks are jammed together at the tops, reeulbing in haulms falling over down the outer sides, as they are prone to do when badly sticked, especially when high winda prevail. Meantime, mould up Bueceseional rows, after fireb neatly hoeing beside them. Do nob draw the soil heedleasly up against the peas, bub in a slight mound up towards and beside them on either eide. Make euccessional eowings, as soon as previous ones are well through the ground—protecting all from birds when they first appear above the soil.

Tomato seeds muob be sown now for growing into plants for outdoor culture. Laxtou's Open Air and Large Red are good varieties for the purpose. Sow the seeds in boxes or pots, placing them in a Übble warmth, if possible, or within a minor improvised frame in a greenhouse or window. Small boxes bhreo-parbe filled with soil, over which a pane of glass can be placed, will also induce early germination. Once the young seedlings are up, and begin to grow freely, they will soon obtain size and vigour in any ordinary glass structure, ebc. Pob off forward aeedlioge so coon as they are an incb or two ia .height, with two or three pairs of .leaves.