THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17251, 19 August 1916, Page 5

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR TOE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. . Seeds to Son'.—Broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, leek, lettuce, parsley, peas, spinach, tomatoes and turnips. What to Plant.—Asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, potatoes, rhubarb, seakale and eschalots. > A 9 the soil is too wet and cold for sowing small seeds the work should ho reserved until the surface is dry enough to walk on, without sticking to the boots.

Now that the subsoil is thoroughly soaked, gardeners should do all they can to conserve the moisture. There is no better or more effective method of doing thi3 than by cultivating surface by frequent hoeings. No matter whether the quarter is planted Of not, hoe it to make the surface fine and loose, as this will prevent rapid evaporation on hot, drying days. It is strange, but true, that very few gardeners are taught the real uso of the hoe. If asked the question, t: What is the hoe for?’-’ the answer is, “ To destroy weeds.” But the answer should be, to cultivate and aerate the surface soil and to ..prevent weeds from growing. . . . ■ Hoeing forms a considerable portion of the routine work in gardens, and all crops ate much benefited by frequent hoeings, as when the surface son is frequently disturbed the seeds of weeds cannot germinate. There are two forms of hoes-—the draw hoe and the Dutch hoe. The draw lioe is used for drawing drills for seeds, for moulding up potatoes and other crops, and the Dutch lice for cultivating the surface. For this purpose the latter has a distinct advantage over the draw hoe, because tbe man using it works backwards and does not tread on the ground after it has been, made loose, as be would have to if lie used the draw hoe. The Dutch hoe is useful for thinning seedling crops, ns a skilful man can thin onions, turnips and similar crops with this tool. Of course, there aro many different patterns of hoes, but the two forms are the draw and the Dutch. Herbs, always useful plants, should "have attention soon. Seeds of the 'annual varieties should bo sown when the surface soil is dry enough for this work. Select a nieo sunny position ami .give each -variety ample room. Old plants of the perennial varieties should be taken up. divided and replanted 1 . . If cuttings of sago, etc., were struck last autumn' they should bo set instead of divisions of old plants. The yoUng stock will havo much larger leaves than .the old, and /with sage the sizo of the leaf is all important. Tho quarter For the onion crop should be got ready as soon, as possible. _ A little extra labour spoilt in preparing the soil will prove 0. good investment. It is impossible to obtain a good setuplo of well-matured bulbs from soil that has had little done to it by way of preparation. This is the key to success. Put tbo cultivator through tho surface several times, and pass the roller over it to break down tho lumps aa fine as possible. . , Soot is one of the best of manures for this vegetable, as it not only feeds tho plants, but it sweetens tbe soil, destroys the larva of insects, and imparts a deep rich'green to the foliage.

which makes it less susceptible to the fungoid pests that attack weak plants. HARDY FRUITS. Trees that are to l>o grafted should be cut back to within a fow inches ofthe point where the .scion is to grafted on. Do not now cut right back to tho point-where the scion is to be fixed, n.; this final cut is best made when the graft is put on. Select the scionß at .once, and .put- them in a cool shady place, until tho sap begins to move m the trees. , . Fruits, like every member of the great vegetable kingdom, are influenced by climatic and other conditions. Some varieties do well, and give good results in one locality, but- aro hardly worth growing in another. The roots are all right, but it is the top that is influenced bv tho local conditions. Tho trees that grow well, but fail to giro fruits should bo beaded back at once, and later on grafted with, another variety. Tho best way to select a variety is to make inquiries in your district as to what varieties do well, and choose one of these. Unfortunately, there are few varieties of apples that can be described as good croppers in every district, while others that crop fairly "well generally fail to 11 colour or lack flavour and‘keeping qualities in other districts. One should therefore examine local results before selecting any varieties in big numbers. Planting should bo finished as soon as possible. Make tbe soil firm about the roots, and out both roots and branches back fairly hard. It is well to remind readers that the more they cut off these young trees when planting the greater amount of growth they will make during the ensuing season and vice versa. greenhouse.

Many, plants require propagating at this season to keep up a stock of good l healthy plants. ' Bouvardias, Euphorbeas, fuschsias and many others should be started as early as possible, so that tho cuttings are.rooted before the end of October to give them a long season of warm weather to make and mature their growth. When the cuttings are started early in the spring and kept growing they make huge, bealthv plants and give fiucr blossoms than the old plants. Chrysanthemums should be put into cold frames as soon as they are well rooted. If kept in a glasshouse tor

several weeks after they aro potted off tlie plants make too much top growth and become leggy, and weak at the base for want of light and airr A oonstant circnlation of air is absolutely necessary around these hardy plants. Bo careful in watering the plants just after they have been potted. Damp them overhead, but give very little at the roots until the soil is fairly dry. Thousands of plants just repotted arcmade sick from over watering. Palms and other foliage plants should have attention soon. Although palms can bo kept in small pots for a long time they need more attention m watering and' feeding. When it is not desirable to give a palm a larger pot the plant should he burned out and aa much soil as possible moved without injuring its roots. Replace the plant in tho pot and give it fresh rich soil. Work tho soil between tho roots and make it as firm as possible. All foliage plants can with advantage have this treatment.