THE GARDEN

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12427, 16 February 1901, Page 9

THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK. Kitchen Garden.—This is a good time to make a seed-bed for spring cabbage. Frequently the seed is sown much too. early, with , the result that the plants are drawn long before they can be got into their final quarter. In selecting the variety to grow quality should be the first consideration, then size. There can be no doubt but that the small, ■varieties are, much better for, the kitchen garden than the larger and coarser varieties. One of the best early varieties is Earliest of All. This is a small variety, about the same size as Cocoanut, hut is greener in colour, and of a better flavour. If large varieties are wanted, Wheeler’s Imperial and Enfield Market are two of the best. Tomatoes growing in the open have been considerably injured by the severe hailstorms experienced last week, so much so that many fruits are quite spoilt, the hailstones having bruised them to such a degree that the damaged parts of the fruits are showing signs of decay. - lb would be wise to remove all damaged! fruit *!t once, as it will never be iof much use, and if it is taken away it will give the re-, maiming fruits a better chance to mature. The practice of cutting away nearly all the foliage under the mistaken idea that earlier and better fruit is • secured, is believed in by a large number of people, but we assure our readers that the stupid practice has a very injurious effect upon both the weight and quality of th© fruit. If very large leaves are shading some of the fruits remove just enough to admit the sun to the bunch and no more. If some fertilizer is sprinkled about the roots it will assist the fruit to develop and ripen. Use it sparingly, a little and often is the best system. Late peas should be staked if good results are to be obtained. The ground is so cold and damp during the autumn that if the pea haulm is left to lay down thp crop will nob only be much smaller hut also later. Flower Garden.—Propagating all varieties of bedding plants must be commenced, as, after the lato heavy rains, there will be a very rapid growth of soft wood that is not good for propagating purposes. Short, half-ripe wood is the best, and should be secured if possible. Oho,ice zonale geranium cuttings should be taken when (he plants are quite dry, and after the cuttings are trimmed, they should be left to dry before they are inserted in the soil. If they are on the soft side (use more sand when putting them in. mil varieties of soft plants, such as mesembryanthemums, iresines, petunias,. alterantheras, etc., will root quicker and better now than next month. In taking cuttings of these plants soft, rather than hard, should bo selected. Pub them in a. cold frame, and keep them close for a week or iwo.

Greenhouse.—Chrysanthemums will need a lot of attention now they have filled their pots with roots. Watering is one, of the heaviest items ; even in damp weather this must not he. neglected, because the large leaves conduct the moisture away from the pots, and unless watered the roots soon get. very dry.- Manure watering, or the giving of stimulants, is one of the most important items of chrysanthemum culture, yet this is one that receives very little attention, with the natural consequence, move harm than good is the result. Manure water should not be given to plants when the soil is dry, but after the roots have had a watering with clear water. Solutions made by soaking cow manure and some soot in a tub of water is on© of rhe most effective, and is attended with a minimum of risk. When any artificial manure is used as a top-dressing take pars it dpes not come in direct contact with the. roots, if it does it. will bum them. Plants that are grown to produce large exhibition blooms must have the lateral growths removed when they are about half an inch' long. Qn no account leave them until they are ‘ several inches Jong, as this is taxing the ■ energy of the plant to no purpose. Many of the crown buds will need attention during this month, especially in tfie case of late varieties. It is a. safe plan to “ take ” the late varieties first, and let the early flowering varieties ran on to the second crown—for if the bud is taken too early the flowers resulting do not develop such good form or colour as blooms from second crown buds. Tills is a matter experience alone can determine, as each variety has peculiarities of its own, which are influenced by local conditions of climate, etc. After the buds are taken, great care must be exercised in watering', until the buds apa in commence fo swell. Syringe Hie plants overhead aster a hot day with a'aprav pump; it will keep the plants: free from insect pests, Soot water i,s $ g’POd wash. It gives the foliage a dark gfos-sy appearance^-and' makes jbdistasteful- to in- , soots* ' " '