Kitchen Garden.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 268, 9 November 1895, Page 3 (Supplement)

Kitchen Garden.

The extraordinary wet weather whicbwe have had during the latter parb of this spring will have retarded general operations on the loose soil. It ia to be hoped that before this reachea the eye of my readers the weather will have taken a turn for the bettor, co that the soil will geb dry enough to be thoroughly laboured. The wet weather, though it haa retarded operations, haa caußed a moat extraordinary growbh on all early planted or eown crops, and if dry weather acts in now, abundant crops should bo bbc result. Thin oub all young eoedling vegebable crops which aie boo bhick. See that each plant gets plenty of room, so that it may fully develop. After the thinning is completed, break up the surface soil between the rows with either the fork or the hoe. Where there ie sufficient room between the rows bbc fork should be used, Recollect that the quantity and quality of the crops will in a great meaaure depend on the manner in which the soil ia laboured. Continue the succesaional sowing of peas. Earth up those which are about six inches above the soil and stake the tall growing varieties. French and running varieties of beans ; Continue sowing for succession. In dealing with beans ib is bebter to sow in small quantities aba time so aa to have always a fresh lob of young plants coming into bearing. Break up the surface soil between the rows of those already well through the soil and earth up those which may require it. Potatoes : Mosb of tho late planted crops should now be well through the soil. Where such is tbe case use the fork between the rows, aa the late heavy rains will have caused the soil to run together and the forking will loosen ib. Earth up the more advanced crops. Thiß promises to be an excellent season for the potato crop, if we could only geb some warm dry weather co aa to cauee the tubers to Bwell out. Onions: Continue thinning out spring sown crop. The thinnings will still do for dibbling out so as to increase bhe area of crop. There is sbili time to sow seed for pickling, and as small bulbs are required for this purpose, sow thickly and broad cast. , Cucumbers, melons, marrows, pumpkins, tomatoes : Finish planting oub those which were raised arbificially under glass. Also continue sowing seed of all the above out in the open where they are to grow. To do well and give hoavy crops they will require to have bho soil bhey are planted er sown in made very rich with manure. Cabbages and cauliflowers: Planb another row or so, labour the soil bebwoen bhe rows of those recently planted, and earth up such as are beginning to grow strongly. Rhubarb: If the weather sets in hob and dry use liquid manure frequently, co aa to cause the etalke to grow quickly, ao that they may be juicy ana crisp. S.rawberrieß : All bhe labour of cleaning and breaking up the aurface soil around bhe planbs should now be completed. Where mulching materials can be had they should also be used, aa the crop should now be beginning to get ripe. If we obtain a little dry weather now the strawberry crop ehould be a heavy one this season, especially where tlmy have been planted in a favourable position. On poor soile a little guano dusted over tbe soil aboub bhe plants would have a good effect now, especially if applied jusb before or aa ib is raining. Make the usual fortnightly sowing of Bmall saladinga, also prick out a few more lettuce plants. Break up the surface soil between all growing cropa before they begin to cover the soil, also apply mulching materials to all such aa will occupy tbe soil during the whole of the summer months. Keep all weeds under and never allow them to seed, as seeding weeda will only increase the labpur in this department a hundredfold. All unoccupied soil ehould be well manured and deeply dug so that ib may be ready for later cropping. i Flower Garden. Tbe late moisb weabher has caused a mosb exbraordinary growbh in bhe case of nearly all hardy annuals and perennials which havO been planted out early. Somo ot tbe plants have attained a size which bhey seldom do in drier springs- While they have grown large they also give promise of a good display of blossom later on. Continue the planting of all tbab are called half-hardy annuals and perennials. These will include phlox drummondi, petunias, zinnias, sunflowers, stocks, asters, coryopsis, et.c. Defer planting oub the celosia family an,d porbulaca till about the end of this month. Continue planting bedding foliage plants whenever the sail is in a favourable condition. In fact, the sooner those are all planted the better now, ae^they will get a chance of getting well established before our hob, dry weather sets in. Where planting has been done early there will be sure to be a large number of blanks. Care should now be taken to geb them all filled up as soon as possible so that the plante may all come away uniform in growth. In the mixed borders cinerarias and anemones which havo already flowered and are beginning to look seedy, ehould be cleared away. Ib is libtle use brying to keep anemone tiibers so as to flower them successfully the second season. Moat growere find that in the second season they geb attacked wibh a little white insect, which spoils all chance of gettiug a good show of flowers. It is bebter every season to raise a small batch of seedling, which will, as a rule, succeed much better than the old tubers. The same remarks will also aDply to the ranunculi. "Gladioli: Finish planting. Those which were planted in the autumn will now be showing flower stalks. Stake and tie co as co keep the wind from breaking them. Dahlias : Continue planting on all favourable occasions. Chrysanthemums : Recollect bhab both of these ehould have at least a half barrow load of manure placed ab tbe roots of each plant It ie little use expecting good or many flowers unless plenty of manure is placed at the roots of each plant. Liberal supplies of water must also be given throughout the dry weather, so aa always to keep them in a vigorous state of growth. Careful attention musb also be given to the soil in all the beds and borders which the heavy rains wjll have bea.en_o-.used to run together. In this etate ib is nob good for root acbion, therefore where possible a small fork should be used in breaking ib up again. Where the fork cannot be used the hoe must be used so as to ioosen ib.

Grass : The lawna have been troublesome thia aeaaon through the extraordinary growth of the graaa. Every endeavour ought to be made ao as to keep it under. The closer it ia kept now bhe moro ib will thicken up or stool, thus giving it a much , bettor chance of standing the hot, dry summer. A heavy rolling ought aleo to be given whenever the surface is dry enough to stand the roller. Grass edgings are also giving a good deal of trouble. Those ought to be clipped ab leaeb once a fortnighb ao as to keep them neat and tidy. Walks: Rake weekly. It will disturb and kill seedling weeds. Greenhouse. Growth is now very active. Give plenty of water to each plant whenever ib shows signs of being dry. See bhab the soil in each pob is made bhoroughly moist each time it ie watered. To all strong, growing plants give a little liquid manure. Continue the re-potting ot all plants as soon a* they show signs of requiring more pot room. Coleus and other cuttings : Pob off SB soon aa they have made any roots. Tender annuals such as cockscombs, portulaca, zinniae, sunflowers, etc., already pricked out, try and get them out into the open aa Boon aa possible so as to harden them off; as they are taken oub of the houae it will give more room for the ordinary stock plant. Syringe the house when closing up ia the afternoon. _________