THE WEATHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 246, 23 October 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE WEATHER.

For some days past we have had comparatively dry weather, with occasionally a few slight showers,which were not sufficiently heavy to' saturate the soil. The wind for the last few days has still been from a cold quarter, consequently there has been very little growth. The soil has been in stich a state that it could be laboured with ease, consequently most cultivators should be forward witl spring work. Every endeavour ought to be made to get the soil into good order for late spring cropping.

Filling up the flower beds in the garden for the summer is now being generally studied. Most of the bed-Uing-out plants are now in their places, and one observes that a lot of odd places and blanks need attention. Many such blanks may be filled up, by transplanting into them seedlingannuals and per ials such as mignonette, phlox iiimondi, zinnias, marigolds, petunias,sunflowers,stocks, gaillardias, asters, etc. They can be easily transplanted if the soil they are now growing in be well soaked with water previously, and the Little plants be carefully lifted and removed in balls of earth. The variegated maize—zea japonica—is a good plant for filling up blanks where a tall decorative foliage spreading over the bed is desired. So are the pret-tily-marked abutillons, the castor-oil plant, and the hardy aralias. Variegated beet and the fancy kale are both useful for this purpose, and they stand well and help to keep the beds and borders gay long after their summer occupants are gone. Perhaps the most useful of the late flowering

plants that one may prick out everywhere as seedlings now is the astei\ White asters will match -with any--thing.

The present is the best time to sow cockscomb varieties, portulacca, etc. If such are now sown under glass they will soon grow, and should make good plants for planting- out towards the end of next month. All hardy annuals and perennials not already plated out should be put out at once, as it is expedient to get them well established before hot weather sets in, which may now be soon expected.