THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12534, 22 June 1901, Page 9

THE GARDEN.

"V WORK FOR THE WEEK. V Kitchen Garden.—Manuring in this' department is a question that merits some notice, and the mere attention that is given to the matter the greater will the reasons appear for some change. The" general practice is to manure all the quahers, irrespective of what crops are to be planted. This is a mistake, because several crops are better if there is no fresh'. manure in the ground, while others, such as beans, peas, cauliflower, onions, turnips, and celery, cannot- well have too much. Others, again, such as parsnips, beet, carrots, and potatoes, give better results if planted where there is no fresh manure. One objection to fresh manure for these root crops is that it causes the roots to form many forks, which, are broken . off . and thrpwn away, while potatoes make much mere haulm, than tubers. The best plan, or system, is to mark off the garden into sections, then to manure those plots that are to ‘be sown with onions, cauliflower, beans, peas, etc., and roughly turn up the other quarters.

Flower Garden.—Often, at this season many plants aie planted id beds and borders that are very much exposed. These plants are generally obtained from a nursery,- where they have been protected from extreme cold or strong winds, and when the plants are put out in open, wind-swept positions they suffer until they have made some' fresh roots arid the winter weather has passed. A very simple but effective method of protecting fresh-planted subjects ■ is to get some short manuka scrub about 2ft long and make a- thin ring round the plants. These short stakes will break the cold winds and give a little shade from the sun in hot weather. . Dahlias.—We remind those of our readers who may have valuable varieties (especially of the cactus section) that they should be lifted, if this has not already been done, because if left in the ground, and heavy rain follows, the plants mav be lost. Too often tbe frost is charged , with killing dahlias, but in nine cases out of ten it is the rain and not the frost that is to blame. Some people cover the tubers with a little mound of ashes. This is very well where the ground .is high and dry, but where it is low or badly drained, the process is of little Or no good. There is but One thing to do to make sure of preserving dahlias, - and that is to lift them and store in a dry, cool shed. Pssonies. — If any plants are -to be divided it should be done at once, because they will soon be in active growth agairi. Greenhouse;—Azaleas that have been subjected to a Warm temperature- should bo opening their flowebs, and will be very useful for both ■ conservatory and house decoration. Take care the plants are not over-watered while they are standing in "vases in the home. If the plants are left standing in water for any length of time the soil becomes sour, and many of the roots will decay. The plants should he kept slightly on the dry side while ’ they are in the dwelling-house. Azalea Mollis can be forced with little expense or trouble, and makes such a beautiful feature in the conservatory that it is a wonder more plants are not taken up and potted. It is possible to lift the plants and force them, and after their flow-era arc past, harden them off and return to their old quarters with very little inconvenience to the plants. , There is one point with regard to forcing these hardj'' plants that should be mentioned, an-di that is, directly the flower -buds begin to open, the plants Should be transferred from the warm house to a cool . pits or house, where they may open their 1 flowers gradually.' "Treated in this way, the blooms last much longer than when - opened in a warm house. Cinerarias should ~ receive another shift before the pots are too | full with roots. These plants well repay a j little extra root-room by giving larger I flowers and more of them. ■ In giving the final shift use good, rather than rich, soil. j Heavy soil is better than light, if the f pots are well drained. Give the plants'! plenty of air, or some of the foliage will S damp on dull days.- ‘ Calceolarias. —It. is! about time these were put- into their flowering pots. Too often these plants are left j in small pots until they are a mass of roots. This check in the development '■of | the flowers is serious, and should be avoid- | ed, if possible, or the plants will not be j satisfactory, \