THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 14285, 1 February 1907, Page 11

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. Kitchen Garden.—Celery will need more than usual attention, owing to the exceedingly '■ dry weather. The Decessity of keeping these plants growing without any check, from the time they .push their seed leaves through the soil until they are finally moulded up, has frequently been noted in this column, and although this is necessary in ordinary seasons, it is more so during the present hot, dry summer. If the plants are left on the dry side for many days they will cease to grow, and then form flower spikes, which will prove' fatal to large heads of celery and good quality. Should the plants not continue to push their leaves higher and higher, they want moisture, and should have it. Any plants not yet put cut should he got into their trenches at once. In preparing these for the late plants, only shallow trenches should be prepared. It is a mistake to prepare very deep trenches at any time for celery, but more so the late crop. If deep trenches are prepared, the roots of the plants will be down in hungry, crude subsoil, where the water will drain during the autumnal rains. This will tend not only to stop their growth, but rot them. Therefore, keep the plants quite .close to the surface, and the best of results will follow. Give constant attention to the winter vegetables; keep these growing and free from weeds. Seedling crops .iust through the surface should have every attention in the matter of shading, and if neoessaiy water, for should the tender plants he allowed to get stunted green aphis and other pests will soon attack them, and perhaps quite destroy the lot. Tomatoes.—These have made a great growth-this summer, and growers who have given their plants constant attention. according to directions in this, column, have secured a fine crop. From this date every effort should be given to develop and ripen the fruits. Persist in removing the young' shoots while they are quite small—this is a much better method than leaving them until they are large, and cutting them away with a kpife. After February 1 take the top from each growth just above a tniso of buds. It is useless to allow the plants to make any further growth, or form more trusses of buds after this date; the whole force of the plants should be concentrated towards developing and ripening the buds already formed. Witli constant ceig the i will just about ripen each truss unless very early frosts occur. Herbs. —If these-have not been cut, do it at once, tying them up in. small bundles foi winter use. . Flower Garden.—There is much work in this department just now that muse receive' attention. Watering and hoeing is an ever-recurring detail, and should receive prompt attention. Everyone cannot water, but all can hoe. The more frequently, ground is disturbed around plants the faster they grow ; therefore run the hoe through the beds and borders as often as possible. This is a good season to examine the plants in the herbaceous border and note any that arc of little use, so that they can he removed in the winter and others of greater value put in their place. There has been quite a largo number of new herbaceous plants introduced during the Last few seasons, and it is better to grow plants that are both useful and ornamental than to grow those that are ornamental only. Another examination should bo given to the roses, marking for removal in the winter any that are not doing well. Borne varieties of roses will do well in nearly every gardeji, but there are a large number of varieties that are of very little use in many gardens. These, should be replaced by others that will giy.e ..better,- results. Attention .should be given to the to varieties that make a vigorous growth, as when the flowers are cut a nice long stem can be taken with the blooms, which is' more decorative than flowers with but little stem. Another point to remember is colour. It is better to have quite a number- of plants that give flowers the shade of colour most useful than to have one or two of a great many. Having settled on the number, varieties, and shades of , colour, order early and get the plants put in their quarters by the end of May or the first half of. June. Roses make* a lot of root during the winter, and the earlier they are planned the-better will be the results during the first-season. It is a fact that roses replanted before the middle of June do ndt suffer from the shift, but the later ■they are transplanted the more they suffer. '