THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15717, 9 September 1911, Page 5

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

KITOHEN GARDEN

Seeds to Sow.—Brussels sprouts, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cau liflower. cress, leeks, lettuce, mustard, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, savoy, spinach and turnips. What to Plant.—Artichokes, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, potatoes, rhubarb, sea-kale, eschalots and Stachy’s tuberifera. # , . • „ The weather is very dry for small seeds, and they are, consequently, making very little grotvth. This will suggest the use of water \ but unless the soil is on the light side it would be safer to givo shade, rather than water. A few spray branches of any tree would give as much shade as is good for the small plants. Keep the surface soil hoed, as this will conserve what moisturo there is in the soil, as the ground will absorb more boat, and retain a higher temperature than it would if the surface is hard. It would be wise to put short spray stakes on botli sides of rows of peas—small branches about eighteen to twenty inches long. These will give some shade from the "hot sun during the day, shelter from the frosts at night, and protection from cold, cutting winds. It is not a general practice to stake dwarf varieties, but it pays to do so. By this means the haulm is kept upright, admitting light and air among the stems, causing them to get thoroughly ripe, and givo much better crops than when about half the growth is lying on tho ground, and only about' half the growth gets its share of light and heat. When putting stakes against peas keep them upright, but do not bring the tops together, to form a sharp apex. The stakes should bo as wide apart at the top as at the bottom, because as the growth advances it grows wider and wider, and if the stakes are “ pinched ” in at the top they afford but little support. To keep globe artichokes In the best possible condition they should be'replanted every spring. They are a good vegetable when well grown, but if left to take care of themselves year after year they do not give good results. The ground should be trenched thirty inches deep, and heavily manured. Lift the old stools and take the young suckers, cut them from the old plant, retaining ns many roots as possible. Put three in a clump, a space of one foot being allowed between each plant. The clumps should be three or four feet apart, and if moro than one row is planted, allow five feet between the rows. Complaints are often made that the heads of this vegetable are tough. This condition is due to want of water. Good, fat heads cannot be obtained unless the plants get a constant supply of water all through the growing season. It is therefore advisable to select a position near a supply of water. Early varieties of potatoes are now pushing their growths through the surface soil. Carefully draw a little soil over them, to protect them against the frosts.

Examine rows of broad beans, and where the plants are too close to each other thin them out. There should be quite six inches between tho plants. If they are crowded they cannot produce good, tender, well-flavoured beans. This crop is a gross feeder, and as the more food it has the better results it gives, feed it as much as possiblb. Finish planting sen-kale roots in new beds as soon as possible, and cover up any crowns that have not yet received this attention. Unless they are soon covered, the heads will become quite purple, a condition that spoils their appearance. New plants can be propagated from small nieces of root, about six inches long. Haying made the cuttings, select a nice, free piece of ground and put in the cuttings, about three inches apart, with tho top end just under the surface. HARDY FRUITS.

Apricots, peaches and nectarines aro fast opening their blossoms. Where possible, give them a little protection. A thin pieco of scrim is about tho best for this purpose. Hessian and calico are too close in texture, and very little, if any, air can pass through either. Scrim, on tho other hand, will allow air to pass through it freely. It is not advisable to put tho scrim too near tho blossom. If it hangs several feet away

from the flowers it is for many reasons much better. Mako it taut to prevent strong winds blowing it on the flowers, as if it does this there will be some loss of fruits. Spraying should bo completed as soon as possible; the bright, dry weather exEerienced during the past five weeks as been perfect for this work. VINERY. Early vines that wore started in. Juno need careful attention during this month. The young fruits are now swelling, the vines are in robust health, making fresh leaves and new shoots so fast that constant watching is necessary to prevent a wasto of energy. All sub-laterals should ho rubbed off when about an inch long. At this stage they are easily broken with the thumb and finger, but if left on the vino for another week or two they will require to be cut with a knife.- This is objectionable, as the knife should never be used on a vine from the time it is pruned until the grapes are fit to cut. All should bo done by pinching the laterals two leaves beyond the bunch of buds, and after this all sub-laterals should be rubbed or pinched off when they avo about an inch long. By giving close attention to this, all the energy is concentrated into the development of the - fruit, and not partly wasted in making wood that lias to ho cut away. Carefully examine tho border, as while it> may bo moist at the surface, it may bo quite dry lower down where | the roots are. Should water be needed, give a good soaking early in the day. | Keep the night temperature as high as ! possible and ventilate freely while the ; nun is bright and the wind still. Cold or unheated vineries should be kept rather closo while tho vines . are sending out their young growths. When these aro about an inch long, give air regularly. Stop the laterals at the correct position, but do not bo in a hurry to tie the , growths into their exact place until after the berries have been thinned. They are now very brittle and easily broken; later on they will submit to being bent and tied without breaking or “ kicking out ” at their base. i FLOWER GARDEN. Lawn grass seeds sown during August are not making much progress, owing j to the absence of rain. The long- spoil of dry weather has enabled sparrows 1 to take a big “toll” of tho seeds. Bird food is rather scarce just at present, as there aro no fruits and very few insects on the move, and consequently tho birds consume grass seeds. Unfortunately they do not go all over

tho lawn, and thin the seeds equally, but feed in oiio place for a time; then have a dust bath. This disturbs moro seeds than tho birds eat, and tho result is that quite a large part of the surface will require to bo again sown. Probably the autumn is a better season for sowing lawns than the spring. In autumn the birds have plenty of berries, fruits, insects, etc'., to eat, and they aro not so severe ou the grass seeds. Iris ctylosa, one of our best winter and spring flowering plants, deserves all the attention it can have. It is a sun-loving plant, and should not bo smothered during tho summer by strong growing plants. It is this that prevents the plant from giving tho quantity of flowers it is capable of producing. This is the month to transplant the iris. Lilt the clump, out off most of its leaves, and carefully pull (not cut) the plants apart. It is not advisable to break them up into very small pieces; each should have two or three growths. Select a. position in tho full sunshine. Tho soil should be free and open, but no manure is required. Loaf mould and rotted turf aro special favourites of this plant. Make tho ground faiily firm, and just cover tho base of the plants. Press “them in firmly, give a little water, and they will soon be in active growth. Tho white variety, iris stylosa alba, is of rather stronger growth than its sister. lb requires rather more space, and is moro susceptible to frost. A slight protection during May, Juno and July, such as from a garden frame, will preserve it from injury, encourage tlio blossoms to make longer stems, and keep tile flowers free from blciSish. This variety must have an open position, in the lull sunshine. Another useful nlant that receives too little attention i 3 Scliizostylis Coccmea, tho crimson flag, or Kaffir lily. This plant flowers in the autumn when border flowers aro scarce. The blossom© remain good for a very long time, and are'very useful for cutting. - Tho plants should be taken up, divided, and replanted in fresh soil. Give the plants a warm, sunny position in the front of the herbaceous border. A dry, rather than a wet position, is best suited for the plants.