THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16326, 23 August 1913, Page 7

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Seeds to Sow.—Broad beans, beet, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, radish, spinach, tomatoes and turnips. What to Plant. —Artichokes, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, garlic, lettuce, potatoes, rhubarb and sealtaie. Weather conditions during the past week have been more liko winter, but tho heavy rains will ho welcomo. to farmer’s and gardeners who havo light soil to cultivate, because rain was sadly needed. It will retard the sowing of small'seeds, but this is of little importance, as they do hotter sown after a heavy rain than before. Where small seeds liad been put in some will liave perished, and another lot must be sown. Stir the surface soil between the rows by putting the cultivator through it. When tho ground is in a suitable condition, parsnip seed should bo sown. They like deeply-dug ground. If sown on the quarter occupied by last season’s crop of celery, they give tho best results. The ground was broken up deeply when talcing out the trenches, and the manuro used for tho celery’ will havo become thoroughly decomposed—just that in which these roots revol. Avoid fresh manure, as it is better not to give any manure unless it \s quite rotted, since fresh manuro tends to make the roots coarse, forked and wasteful. Soot is good for this crop, and should be put over the surface before drawing tho drills. The rows should bo eighteen inches apart to obtain largo roots. Draw shallow drills and leave them open for several hours befove the seed is pub in, as tho sun and air will dry and warm the soil, making it moro suitable, for the seeds. Take care not to bury the seed too deep, as more parsnip «,eed is destroyed from this cause than from all tho others combined. Half an inch is tho maximum amount that is safe, and on no account should there bo more. Do not put tho seeds all along tho drills as when sowing onions, but put three or four seeds together at intervals of six or eight inches. By this means an even crop is secured. In gardens where tho soil is heavy and sticky a littlo prepared soil should bo used to cover tho seed.

Many young cabbngo plants that aro offered for sale at the shops in town aro very soft, and consequently for a time need a. littlo protection against cutting winds. A few spray branches of manuka stuck in tho ground on tho windward sido provide a suitable protection, but a. better method is to prepare a nursery bod in a sheltered part of the garden, and put the plants there, about four inches apart, for a few weeks. Plants that wero set out in tho autumn should bo moulded up. Spinach should he sown freely, as it will como in at a time when green vegetables aro scarce, and if there should lie more, than is required it can be dug in green, as it makes tho ground rich. Keep tho hoo busy between all growing crops, a-s tho moro frequent tho surface is stirred tho faster the crops will grow. VINERY. Vines in the early house will soon bo in flower. This is a very anxious t-imo for tho gardener, especially when thero aro frosts. Fortunately for us hi New Zealand, thero are few sunless days so prevalent in England at tho timo when tlio forced vines are flowering, and consequently there is less trouble in getting the blossoms to set. During the flowering period the atmosphere should bo kept fairly dry both night aiul day to ensure a fairly dry atmosphere at night. Leave a little'ventilation on the top ventilator, not much, but just a crack, on tlio lee sido. This may involve u littlo extra lire heat to keep tho temperature up to its proper degree, but it. is worth this little additional expenditure.

It should not bo necessarv to point out that syringing and damping the walls and floor should bo discontinued while tlio vines aro in flower, as too much moisture is fatal to a good “ set,” Give tho vines a sharp shako every day about midday, as the pollen is very dry at that hour and a, sharp shake helps to distribute it and fertilise the flowers..

Lato vines should not ho kept too closo. Let them start into growth with as littlo excitement as possible, as it is tetter to start them slowly at first to keop tho bunches as closo to the rod as possible, and increase tlio temperature later on /at the end of September and during October. Eyes that aro to bo struck should at once bo put on a gentlo bottom heat. A mild hotbed is tlio most suitable for tins purpose. FLOWER GARDEN. Lawns will requiro a lot of attention during trio next six weeks \ top-dressing should bo given, if' possible. Ao matter how littlo is done, some good soil should bo spread over tho surface- Some peoplo aro inclined to think that artificial manuro is all that a lawn needs to feed it, but this is a great mistake. Soil is übsoute!y necessary. Fertilizer applied later on, wheii the grass lias grown through tho fresh soil, is all right and a great help, but it is not as effective when used alone. Roll tho lawn with oa.re. Soil, ago and the strength of tlio solo” of grass must bo considered when deciding what roller should bo used. Often a roller much too heavy is used during August, just as tho plants aro starting into growth. The result of using a very heavy roller on wot, heavy soil at this season is to check growth and compact tho soil to such an extent that ' tlio surface becomes as hard as cement when the hot weather arrives, a condition not favourable to a good growth of grass. A good growth should bo encouagod, and having secured this uso a heavy roller to make tbo surfaco even.

September is tho great seed-sowing month, and every possiblo preparation should bo made for this annual work. Having decided where tho various seeds are to bo sown, thorougly cultivate tho soil. It cannot be worked too much. Turn it over with a garden fork and hoe it several times, as this admits air which sweetens the earth and brings it into a suitable condition for seed-sow-ing. All the seeds sown next month aro small, hence tho need to break and pulverise tho soil as much as possible. If small seeds aro put in lumpy ground they can never do well, because there is too much air between the lumps, which causes tho sprout to wither immediately tlio seed germinates. This is the reason why so many . tender seedlings perish as soon as they begin to growIf there aro any suspicions of slugs, grubs or injurious worms in the soil give it a dressing of lime or soot whatever is tho easiest obtainable. Sprinklo it on tho patches that, aro to be qown, then work it into tlio soil by forking or hoeing. This will destroy tlio majority or those troublesome pests. When sowing seeds do not forget mignonette, ns this fragrant plant should be in ©very garden. It will thrive in any soil or situation, and is ono of tho greatest favourites with both young and old- Givo the plants plenty of room, as they cannot develop strong shoots and largo heads of blossom when they aro crowded. Each plant should havo a space of eighteen inches as a minimum and two feet would not bo too much.

Ten-week stocks should now bo planted, as the earlier they are set out the bettor. These plants give tho best results when put out during August,

as they seem to like tho cool spring weather. When'set out this month they develop bigger spikes • of flowers and the blossoms are much larger than those produced on plants set out during October and A T ovembcr.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. P. G., Fendalton.—Yes. Basic slag is ono of tho best manures for a lawn. It will not kill tlio grubs, but it will encourage the grass to grow. Apply 'it a little at a time, at the rate of four ounces to tlio square yard.