GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12963, 16 November 1907, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES.

(Bt Hobtcb.)

Weather conditions are most favourable, for all kinds of eirden work, «uid growth everywhere is abundant. With a continuance of quiet, warm days, alternated with showery weather, the prospects for tho season ehould be very bright. Fruit trees show a record crop this year, md in places thinning will be freely done, otherwise the fruit will be- small. This refers especially to apricots, which in places are laden with fruit, end will require from half to three-fourths of the fruit to bo removed. ' This work will have to bo done et once, otherwise the strength of the. trees -will be strained in the attempt to bring to miturity moro than they aro aWo to do.

Although tho weother is favourable to growth, the season still remains a very lato oue. This is proved by tlio fact that cherries grown in tho Governors Bay district arc not yet in tho market, whereas in ordinary seaeous they arc ripe end offered for sale on the* Oth ot the month. Years ngo, when the Horticultural Society held their shone in tho A. and P. Grounds on the People's Day, the late Mr T. H. Potte always exhibited' plates of ripo cherries. Another evidence of tW lutenose of the season ie that Lilies of tho Valley bloom were plentiful this season in many of tho Christchurch gardens during Carnival woek, whereas in nn ordinary season they are about spont by the Ist of November. Green peas and now potatoes are also later in maturing for market purposes this season, aud prices are accordingly high. FLOWER GARDEN. Since tho beginning of the month tens of thousands of bedding plants havo been set out in the private gardons of the city, end ac a result Christchurch should well maintain its character as "Tho Garden City" of the Dominion. gardening is being followed with keenness, even among those whose knowledge of tho art is most limited. This keenness, no doubt, will bo tempered by the failures of tho season, but considerable experience will be gained if tlio epirit of obbemtion is manifested by thoeo who are not adepts. It is pleaeing to noto that the gardening spirit is manifesting itself in some of the schools of tho euburbs, nnd that both practical and theoretical knowledge is to be imparted to the scholars. Thie knowlcdgej however, cannot be justly proved in tho school grounds, as only tho flower garden branch of horticulture can be demonstrated there. Wβ euggest that prizes ehould bo giren for home work in tho garden, where the work of either the girl or boy could be seen. This would give a stronger interest in the homo life of the child, and. would appeal to its eeneo of bettering its surroundings. Here, again, not only would flower gardening be practised, but the growing of vegetables,could bo made an important part of the child's education.