THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18573, 27 November 1920, Page 6

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOU_THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Seeds to Sow.—Beans, beet, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, cress, capsicum, cucumber, lettuce, peas, radish, savoy, spinach. What to Plant.—Cabbage, cauliflower, colory, cucumber, potatoes, tomatoes, gourds and vegetable marrows. Clear the remains of crops as soon as the vegetable ceases to be useful. It is a big mistake to leave tho remnants of any crop to (50 on growing, using plant food, and impoverishing the soil after its useful condition is over. This is a great waste of plant food, which in some instances might he turned to . a profit by digging in the remains while green and soft. Taking spinach, for example, once the spilco of seed begins to push up there will bo no more big leaves forming at the base. From this time on the seed stem develops, flower buds form, and what leaves there are on the plant will become tough and Btringy, and gradually turn brown and dry off. When it reaches these conditions the plants are useless to dig in as manure. Therefore they are pulled up, taken to the rubbish heap and burnt. What a loss of plant food! If they had been dug in as soon as they had become too old for use their stems and leaves would have rotted and enriched the ground for the next crop. In addition to this, note the economy of time. You only have to dig the ground. But if the remains have been left growing and robbing the soil you will have to lift them, wheel to .the rubbish corner, and burn them because they would be useless to stack to rot into compost. This is but one of many examples that might be mentioned to show the economy of digging in all useful remains and promptly removing others that cannot easily bo burnt on the ground. Another, point might be mentioned, that is the risk of affording breeding quarters for insect and fungoid pests, Buch as green and black aphis, red spider, .mildew, rust, etc. There is nothing to gain, but much to lose, by leaving remains of spent crops on tho ground. Celery' will claim a lot of attention during the next few weeks. Get the trenches prepared as soon a 3 possible and make the soil in the trenchea as fine and rich as you can. Manure, and if stable manure is used, make sure it is thoroughly rotted. Perhaps more partial failures have been brought about by using fresh, or new, manure than From all other errors. Celery plants do not like fresh manure.. Their roots will not run freely into it until all its newness is evaporated. If a supply of well decomposed manure is not available don’t use fresh stuff, but got artificial manure. Any good gar-den fertiliser will do, but don’t use too much at. one time. r A little and often will give the best results. Dig tho trenches deep, but keep the subsoil at the bottom, and mix some manure with the lower soil. Although we advise digging deep trenches they should be nearly filled with soil, so that the plants are set nearly level with the surface. The loose soil will settle down and the manure will decay. This will mean the plants settling down several inches in a few weeks. Keep the small plants moist, hut not over not. After setting them in their final positions water them in, then shade thorn .with a few spray branches of manuka or macrocarpa to conserve the moisture about the roots. FLOWER GARDEN. Grass lawns need careful! attention during the next few weeks. The condition of the soil will determine tho

amount of growth. A rich soil will give an abundant growth for some time yet, but poor or moderate soil very little without frequent watering. Water used with care will maintain a steady growth, and if used in the evening prevent the moth from laying its eggs on the leaves of tho grass plants. . If one watches these moths hovering about over the surface of the lawn it wi!ilj \bh inlotfioed how they examine the position to find a drv spot to deposit their eggs, therefore by keeping the surface damp there is lesß risk from this pest. Should the soil be light, dust some fertiliser over the surfaco now and then; this will tend to keen the grass growing. Soot is a good fertiliser, and if available use it. Newly, sown grass should not bo cut too short. Lift the plate a little so that enough grass is left on the plants to cover the soil. Trees nnd shrubs that were transplanted last winter should bo examined and any that show signs of dryness should have a pood soaking. One or two soakings during the next for/ weeks will help tho plants to got through the most trying part of the summer. Don't over water bedding plants. Hie frequent “damning" does more harm than good. Give a thorough soaking, then hoe''the surface nnd give no more water for some time. ’Hie roots will go deep into the soil and make a strong growth. When they nro damped often the roots keep near tho surface, and a hot sunshine soon dries up the little moisture. The plants flag nnd this must result in a weak and unsatisfactory growth. Attend to staking and tieing all plants that need support. Strong winds will soon damage these tall growing plants, nnd then much of their beauty is gone for tho season. Boses are opening well and give promise of a good season."' Keep them free from insect pests if possible.