THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11884, 6 May 1899, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. Kitchen Garden.—This month the new year of the garden may be said to commence, as beans and peas may he sown, and a few early potatoes planted if the garden is in a warm and well drained position. Mazagan is the earliest bean to mature, the Windsor next, after these come the different varieties of longpods. American Wonder is one of the best peas for very early work ; ■ it is very dwarf, can easily be protected, and is of good quality. The seed must not he sown very deep—about one inch is deep enough; if buried deeper it may rot. Potatoes, such as Sharpe’s Robin Adair, Puritan, or Early Rose, may be planted in warm dry positions, but unless there is good shelter it would bo waste of seed to plant in cold gardens. Any rough cold frame will answer to produce a few very early potatoes, if there is just enough means provided to shelter the shaws from frost—that is all that is necessary. If any are planted in frames select a variety that has small haulms, such as Sharpe’s Victor, or Robin Adair. Examine cauliflower and broccoli plants, and keep them growing. Give every attention to lettuce and small salad. Flower Garden. —Where not already accomplished a general clearance of the remains of annuals and summer bedding plants should now take place, and the beds or borders manured and dug. It is better to apply manure to flower beds in the antumn~it gets thoroughly incorporated with the soil before the spring. Where rose planting is contemplated preparations should be begun at once. Roses planted during May have a chance to get hold of the soil'quickly, and will give better results than if left until July before they are planted. Old beds that have become. impoverished can be restored to health and good condition —cut the branches hard back, then carefully dig the bushes up, thoroughly trench the bed—or portion of the border (if they are in a border) —giving the bed a few loads of the top spit from a good pasture ; put what manure is used at the bottom of the trench, as no manure should be allowed to come in direct contact with the roots ; let the roots he planted in the fresh soil if possible. Having prepared the ground, examine the roots of each bush before planting, and cut away any that have been injured, also any that are long and fibreless. Cut these back to about six inches from their base. ■ Plant firmly, treading the roots as firmly in tho soil as possible, and water the plants in. _ If any of the plants are on the big side give them a strong stake, and tie securely. Greenhouse.—Passifloras, fuchsias and other climbing plants should now be pruned rather close back to the main roots. By cutting these now more light will be admitted, and there will be fewer decayed leaves falling. If there are any insect pests on the creepers they should be destroyed now. A very excellent and efficient insecticide cat be made by using warm water, a little soft soap, and a small quantity of Little’s blight specific. Use'just enough soap to.make the water oily, and about one part of the specific to two nundred parts of soapy water. Use this mixture "warm, and it will give satisfactory results. Bulbs.— Where late supplies are desired-more should he potted up now; if they are wanted for cut'flowers boxes will be better than pots, -as in this case the bulbs will not need so much attention, and they take less space in/the forcing-house and bloom just as well. During this month the glass on the roof should havo a thorough washing, to remove all the shading, in order to let more light find its way to the plants. Light is just as essential as air to plants, especially during the winter. When less ventilation is given more light means more warmth. Some of the cyclamen will he ready for a shift, and they ought to receive it at-once. Mix about four parts of good loam from a paddock,‘that has been laid up to rot the grass, with two parts leaf mould and just a Little well-rotted manure, with enough sharp sand to keep .the whole open. Use clean, well-drained pots, pot the plants' moderately firm, and water sparingly. Win-ter-flowering begonias should he placed in the stove (if the gardener has one), or, in the warmest part of the greenhouse; they need just a little warmth to keep them growing and blooming. Give manure-water about twice every week, and keep them free from green fly. Keep all decaying blossoms and leaves picked off, and remember, if these are left on the plants they will cause many of the branches to decay. Coleus.—f a number of these bright foliaged plants have not been propagated get them in at once; the fresh-struck plants will keep .better than' the old, through the winter months. Many .ferns will soon show signs of going to rest, and any of the deciduous varieties that are not named should have labels written and inserted at once. Adianbums will require much less water now, and all the ventilation possible. Chrysanthemums will be in evidence during the next six weeks, and these plants mate perhaps the most striking effect of any. The variety is unlimited, and

the forms so diverse, that almost any-sized plant or blooms can be produced. The dwarf, bush form is the most suitable for conservatory work, with just a few grown for largo blooms mixed with them. To keep shrysanthemums in bloom for a long season they require plenty of light and air and a constant- supply of water, this should be a,]? plied in the morning, so that all the surplus may get away before the house is closed in the evening.