GARDEN NOTES

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14001, 25 March 1911, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES

WAIHORA PARK

THE GATHERING AND KEEPING OF LATE APPLES.

(Bt Horttos.) GENERAL REMARKS

Weather conditions have been all against garden work, and many of tho crops in the vegetablo garden are almost a total failure. This refers more particularly to savoy, cauliflower, and broccoli, all of which are suffering from the effects of the drought and the plague of insects which abound everywhere. These vegetables will bo very dear this coming winter and spring all over tho Dominion. Celery, onions, potatoes, carrots, and parsnips, however, are very abundant, and will have to provide for tho wants of the general public for months to come.

In the flower garden, tho dry weather has made flowers scarce unless heavy watering has been done. Chrysanthemums are now well budded, and in a few weeks will bo in full flower. A regular supply of weak liquid manure at tho roots of the chrysanthemums every few days until the flowers are developed will give astonishing results both in the sizo and colour of the blooms.

Carnation layers will soon be ready to set out. These have done well this season, showing that this plant is partial to heat. If the carnations have not dono well, it is owing to the poverty of the soil One advantage of the dry weather is that transplanting may bo undertaken at an earlier date than usual owing to the ripening of the growth of trees and plants. Should the autumn be moist and warm, fresh growth may take place, which will delay the transplanting of all soft-growing trees and shrubs.

Waihora Park, which is some twenty miles from Christchurch on the Little River line, is one of the most interesting small gardens in the Dominion. A few mornings ago I paid a visit to this domain, and saw there much that was interesting; from a horticultural standpoint. Mr Rousham, who has been the curator almost from its inception, has got together a collection of plants worthy of a much more important centre. Here is to be seen plants from every clime, some of great variety; in fact, a few which are novelties in the great horticultural centres of the world. Flowering and foliage trees aro in great variety, and herbaceous plants are so much in evidence that I was not at all surprised to learn that the collection included no fewer than 500 varieties. One of the best rockeries I have seen for a long time is well furnished with rock plants of all kinds, including some of the best New Zealand alpine plants. The soil is of a light, sandy naturo suited to th<» growth of some plants, but others havp to be helped with the free use of water, otherwise they would fail Shelter is abundant, and is necessary as the site is open to the southerlies from the sea, and the easterlies which swept through Gebbie's Valley. The climate , is milder than that of Christchurch, this being proved by the fact that quite a number of plants were growing well and flourishing freely, which will not stand the severe .frosts which cifc down ail semi-tender slriihs in the city, after visiting "IVyihora Park one can quito understand all the enthusiastic remarks that have been made about it.

In o few weeks gathering late apples will be lU'Pf-ssary. How rhoy should be irp'»nd after A i-' orten .1 matter oi opinion. One idea is to pit them in dry sand or store them in

boxes packed with dry sand. This treatment is not possible everywhere! as dry sand is not obtainable in some districts. One of the best paragraphs on the matter is from "The Garden," and is -written by Mr H. Markham, who says:—ln gathering and storing apples for late Keeping much depends on the condition of the fruits -when they are taken from the trees. Early varieties may be gathered at intervals according to the quantity required, but late-keeping sorts should be left hanging on the trees till very, late in the season, so that they may get fully matured, otherwise they will not keep sound and plump. The general rule is to gather when the fruit-stalk parts easily from the spur on the fruit being lifted slightly upwards ; but this does not apply in all eases with very late-keep-ing varieties, so that extra, care and judgment on the part of the cultivator is required if the fruits are wanted to keep. Some adhere to the rule, especially with apples, of gathering them when the seeds have turned to a brown colour, which certainly indicates the approach of maturity, and such fruits may be safely gathered and stored when perfectly dry. After the fruits are gathered, the storing is by no means uniform, each cultivator usually having his own method. Where protserly built structures are provided, "the difficulty of keeping the fruits during the winter and early spring months fresh is practically nil compared with those much loss fortunate and who have to make the best of tho available accommodation. What is required is a well-ven-tilated structure of uniform temperature, the atmosphere being sweet and dry_, but not so dry as to can.~e the fruit to shrivel. I would strongly advise amateurs to avoid tho use of hay or anything that has a tendency to become musty, as nothing imparts' bad flavour to apples more than a damp, ill— ventilated, musty atmosphere in which the fruits are stored. I"have kept apples firm and crisp till late in the season by storing them in two -or three thicknesses in boxes placed in a loft out of the way of frost, and also laid on tho flooring, .md in severe weather protected with a little dry wheat straw, and in nots or tubs placed in a dark room.

The fruits should bo gathered when perfectly dry, and any found braised or damaged "must be kept apart from the sound ones and made use of before they go bad. The e;ood onos should then bo very carefully placed whore they are intended to be kept, and at intervalslooked ovor, and any fruit which shows sipns of decay should be instantly removed to prevent others from going the same way.