THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15902, 13 April 1912, Page 7

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK

KITCHEN GARDEN

Seeds to Sow.—Cabbage, lettuce, spinach and turnips. What to Plant.—Cabbage, cauliflower, endive, lettuce and winter greens.

Lifting and storing vegetables must now claim attention. Mo hard-and-fast rule can be laid down, because soils and situations differ so much; but several root crops arc best lifted as soon as the present season’s growth is completed. Shorthorn or stump carrots should be taken up and stored in sand or : ashes. These should be just moist, not quit's dry nor over-wet. If too dry the roots shrivel and may become tough. If too wet the roots begin fresh growth. As this is not desirable, it is as well to use the sand or ashes just moist, and store in a cool place, one with a south aspect being: much more suitable than one pointing north. Stachy’s Tuberifera (Chinese artichoke) should be lifted and stored. This kind is in season from now until the end'of July. After that date the roots lose much of their flavour, get hard and very sweet. This vegetable makes a nice change at a time when vegetables are scarce,' but it is not very popular and not extensively grown.' When lifting, select the large roots for uso and put the medium tubers away, for seed. The very small sample should be given’to the fowls or pigs. Parsnips should be left in the ground. These do not get their correct flavour until the cold weather arrives, and then they should bo dug as required. Onions should be got under cover as soon as possible. The lx?st method of storing them is to string them and liang the strings up in a cool place. Where a large quantity has to iio stored this method is too costly, but greater care should be taken to thoroughly ripen the bulbs before they are stored. If largo quantities are thrown together in a damp or unripe condition they sweat and grow and lose flavour e.nd value; therefore it pays to give a little oxtra attention before storing them. Potatoes are being lifted and many stored in “clamps.” To keep potatoes in good condition in clamps two conditions are necessary—a dry position for the clamp and plenty, of ventilation for the tubers. Therefore select a position ou high ground where tlio water can readily pass away. Make the clamp narrow rathqr than wide, and put ventilating shafts, about three feet apart, along the centre of the clamp. These are formed with a wisp of straw placed upright from the ground to the top of the damn, with the potatoes packed around it. This affords an easy egress to any “ 'ras.” or unpleasant air that may ‘ collect among the potatoes. Tomatoes may-he destroyed any night from now by frosts, and we generally get a fairly "stiff one about, the middle of April. Therefore, where the tomatoes cannot bo covered at night, they should be lifted and liung up by their roots in a warm position away from frosts. In such a position the .greater number will ripen.

VINERY. The cane.? in the early houses may be finallv pruned. This work should, bo done with great care. No implement is as jjrood for this worlc as a strong kniis v.itb a keen edge. Secateurs, however .rood, will bruise tho wood. The ill effects of this aro not seen at once, but r,pnn 2, just after tlio tines eou.e h>i-Q fresh growth, it can be detected. Some gardeners are very successful with the plan of first cutting away tlio surplus growth with the secateurs and then coins over each cut with a sharp knife and paring the cut Quite smooth. \ perfectly smooth surface should be left at each cut. A little time given to this will prove a good investment. It may be well to state that the sooner early vines are pruned, the better It give's the edges a longer period to plump un; and. instead of the swel.ing rroimf on with the hurls that have to be cut away this force is concentrated on those eve’s that are to giro next season’s crop. After pruning, remove a the loose surface soil. Ibis lias had nil the goodness washed out of it -from the frequent waterings, and is, of little use for the vines. Take care that die surface roots are not bruised or broken, because these surface roots aie ol gieau value, and every care should bo taken to preserve them from injury. Having removed the loose soil, give a liberal dressing of some artificial manure. Bone manure, basic slag and crushed bones aro all good. Soot is another good manure for grape vines, and so a to are guano and sulphate of iron. Some fresh soil from a paddock, fairly stiff m texture, should be spread all over the smfaco. If three cr four inches can bn given, it will afford the surface roots a good medium on which to feed. Vines in late houses should be partly pruned. Cut each lateral back, leaving about two or three leaves on each. J.i i.-> will removo all the very soft- P 1 0" that would soon ho attacked with mildew." Now that the damp autiinin w eather has set in, give both early s’* l - . “ vines as much ventilation as possiwe. FLOWER GARDEN. It has lioen said that the grass £ r 'jl ) pest thrives best*in a dry, hot s®?®, * ‘ It would be interesting to learn it dm-' opinion still holds good. Tlio 1 summer has been the coldest ; ™ wettest experienced for twenty 3* and the: grub is more in evidence 1 , ever. Quite a number of lawns aro - Chvistalnirch have been .comparator r free from tlio pest until now and. _____ simply alive with thorn. If a hot,' • season is most favourable the gi' u . c-houkl have been very scarce w>

autumn. But they are more numerous thail over. What can bo clone to get rid of this trouble? Some are digging and re-sowing their grass plots, Imt this is not getting ri:l of the trouble. It disturbs them for a time, but they are in the soil. Is it not time our agricultural chemists discovered a cure — one that would not destroy the grass as well as tile grub? There is a preparation that will kill worms and not harm the grass. Why not cue that would do the same to the grubs? Why spend time and expense noting its habits? Every farmer and gardener knows enough about its habits; what they want is pome knowledge of how to destroy it and, not harm the crops. In gardens, thousands of pounds arc spent annually in preparing and laying down grass lawns, to be destroyed in a season or two by this peat; and if we look at the enormous loss of feed all over the dominion, and make a low estimate of its aggregate, what an enormous loss it is to the country. Farmers and gardeners should agitate for some real and drastic action by our Agricultural Department in tho direction cf finding some protection against this annual lo« 3. v

■ Clearing and replanting flower bads must now be attended to. Most summer bedding plants are past their best, and the .sooner they are removed and the spring flowering plants set out the better. The present, weather’ conditions are very suitable for planting wallflowers, bulbs, and other spring flowering subjects. Tf got in now they yet a good bold of the soil before tbe cold, wet weather sets in. This means stronger and more profuse flowers in spring and greater wealth of foliage during the winter. The season for planting roses will soon arrive, and those who intend to plant should, make their selection at once. There is but ono satisfactory method a of making a selection —that is by . seeing the plants growing, either'in, a pfivhte garden ‘or in a nursery. To make a selection from a catalogue is a difficult, task, unless one is acquainted with tho varieties. Nurserymen do not often describe, even the colour correctly, and omit to mention any of the faults cf a rose. It may give but one crop of blossoms, it may lose its leaves early in January, or be very subject to mildew and other faults. Nothing is written about this* but if ono examines a collection of rose 3 in March or Ap»ril all the' faults arc easily seen. It is safe to say that any rose that flowers well in the autumn and blossoms well in the spring mav with truth he called a “ perpetual ” flowering variety. These arc tho most satisfactory to grow. Finish planting bulbs. This work should be completed before the end of this month, and the ground is now in- good condition lor this work.