THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17933, 2 November 1918, Page 7

THE GARDEN.

WOEK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. SEEDS TO SOW. Beans, beet,' broccoli, cabbage, carrot, capsicum, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, melon, peas, savoy, spinach, vegetable marrow, turnip. WHAT TO PLANT. Cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum, lettuce, potato. ~ To ensuro success with vegetable crops, gardeners must work at man pressure for the next few weeks, ine soil is cold for the first week in rvovember, and the surface should be frequently cultivated to keep it open ana sweet. There are serious gaps in some crops, mostly, it is said, owing to baa seed. These gaps must be made good either by transplanting or sowing mor* seed. Some varieties of onions have come very thin, especially from imported seed, while most of the seed produced in New Zealand has germinated well. . , ~ e How shall we deal with the crops or onions that are too thin? This question has been asked by several during the past week. Doubtless the best method is by transplanting the surplus plants from where the seed has come well to the beds that have failed. Onions do well when treated this way. Some of the finest bulbs ever grown were from plants that had been transplanted. The work is not difficult nor tedious, and if it is done when the soil is damp it is not necessary to water the plants after they are set in their new~ quarters. ■■ t ~ Asparagus seedlings should be tninned as soon as they are big enough to handle. When these plants are crowded in the early stages they cannot make strong, satisfactory crowns; thererore thin them early and severely. If weeds are growing on established beds, pur the hoe between the plants carefully. Broccoli should be sown for succession. These seeds have germinated well this spring, so be sparing with the seed to give the young plants plenty of room from the start. .',■■ ,; i A The main crop of carrots should oe thinned quits early to ensure a uniform growth. Make a small sowing of short horn or early Nantes every four weeks, to provide a constant supply or tender roots, for soup. . , ~ . Cauliflowers from now on should be sown whero they are to stand, infse need a lot of water if transplanted during hot weather, and if they don t get enough they will not pay for raising. If they are sown on land that has been heavily manured and cultivated deep the roots go down a long way for both food and moisture, and suffer much less from a hot, drv spell. Celery.—Although the plants are not largo enough to set out, the trenches should be prepared as soon as possible, especially if fresh manure is to be used. It is a well-known fact that these plants prefer manure that is quite decomposed. The roots are shy (or slow) to run into fresh manure, and make but little progress until the manure is quite rotted. This is why the trendies should be prepared early. Savoy sown now will produce a supply of good heads just when thev arts wanted. Most of this variety of cabbage are raised too early, with the result that they come in too early, and many are overgrown and "burst before they are wanted. . Turnips Sown for Succession.—lhist a little fertiliser along the drills before sowing the seed. This will stimulate growth and make the plants strong and able to resist the attacks of the turnip fly.' "•":, Spinach, to be sown for succession according to requirements.—Thin the plants as soon as they make the third leaf, and thin severely. HARDY FRUITS. Apricots have set well in most gardens, and promise to give heavy crops. Where the fruits have not been ', thinned " attend to this work at once. Remember the greater the number of fruits on the tree the smaller the sample, and vice versa. To develop the "stone" and "seed" is a much greater strain on the trie than it is to form the covering "pulp" or flesh. The fewer fruits on a tree the greater the proportion of pulp or flesh on the . Apples and pears should be thinne'l as early as possible to secure a sample of fruit. Cherries should be sprayed to destroy any larvro of the " pear 'slug.' This pest may not be visible,; but 'f we wait until it makes its appearance on the young leaves, the fruits of the early varieties will be too near the ripemngr stage to spray with either arsenate oi lead or hellebore raowder FLOWER GARDEN. Bedding out is in full swing. The comparatively cool weather is favourable for this work, although the cold nights make it rather risky to plant any of the more tender subjects in their summer quarters. Alternanthora, coleus, salvia and other tender plants should be kept in sheltered quarters a little longer. Violas and pansies that were planted in the autumn are making, a big display. Their masses of bright blossoms make the garden very gay. I'ick off the old blossoms regularly to prevent seed forming* J Once a few rods of seed are set the production of fresh flowers begins Jo diminish. Polyanthus have been, good tnis spring. The extra moisture in the soil seemed to suit them. Plants that have blossomed in a warm situation should bo lifted and put in a cool place for the summer. If they are iett in their present quarters spray them with a solution of atomic sulphur to protect them against red spider. In the rush of spring work do" not neglect the raising of plants foT winter and spring bedding. . The earlier

these axe raised the better th* results. They must have a long season in which to make big, strong plants, and it is better to have a few wellgrown plants of each kind than a lot of starvelings. I To 'obtain good plants three things must be observed: 1. An early start, to give the plants a long season in which to develop and mature.

2. Each plant must have plenty of room from the time the seed sprouts until the plant is in its • flowering quarters.

3. Water should be given during a long spell of hot, dry weather. If the seeds are sown early and tli9 plants pricked off as soon as they are big enough to handle, they will have made good strong, hardy growth before the very hot weather arrives, and they will suffer less from a period of drought than if they were young, soft and succulent.