OUR GARDEN CALENDAR.

North Otago Times, 3 November 1906, Page 1

OUR GARDEN CALENDAR.

(By George Brownlce.)

—November.—

" See, the sweet brcath'd month is here. See, the lady of the year, . See, wheie'er her step has been, Flowers ale up and,grasses green."

November in New Zealand corresponds with May in England; and, is.our first month of summer,] The temperature' here is about GO' degrees and, about (! degrees higher than ■ thai of England, Our -average rainfall is about 2.34 inches. October has been a very dry month, ami .'a trying time in the garden. Seeds have germinated freely, but the growth is slow. Weeds have made little progress, but now the fat hen is showing up, and as dry weather suits, we may expect; an abundant crop. The main crop of vegetables should be put in early in the month. Former sowings should be looked over, and: where misses, have occurred or have been eaten" oli with worms, these patches should he hoed up and resown. Watering should be sparingly indulged in,; Asparagus may have a watering of liquid manure, and the first shoots may he taken oil when large enough to use. The sweetness of this vegetable depends upon the- quickness of its growth, so' the beds cannot be made, 100 rich, Broad beans sliould be. sown largely, The long pod variety is the most seasonable. Rich land in the coldest part of the garden will suit them best. Sow largely of Haricot and French beans, and, also runner beans; these should be sown every week during ' tlie month, and when the pods' are large enough to use, they should be picked off, and the plants will yield a' better supply of delicious pods. Beetroot-Sow a considerable quantity for llic main crop. Heavy manuiing, deep cultivation and judicious thinning is necessary to produce good roots. Silver beet.— Sow at once; this really useful vegetable demands more attention. It is a good substitute for aspara- ' gus, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, curled greens, 'and 1 savoys should all be sown during the month. Cabbage and cauli- ' flower plants should be set out. These are gross feeders, requiring 1 liberal manuring, deep digging and 1 frequent hoeing. This will keep : the plants growing, and in a great ! measure prevent the attack of blight. 1 Carrots.-Sow Early Horn, Scarlet ■ Intermediate, long • red and White ( Belgian, and thin out the advancing crop of carrots. Make a sowing of Cole's crystal celery, and prepare trenches for an early planting of celery. The trenches should 'be liberally supplied with well rotted manure. Sow mustard and cress for saiads. These should be sown frequently, and kept separate and used early. Cucumbers may now be planted; dig out -holes one foot wide and one foot deep, fill in with richly manured sandy soil, placing the plants in the centre, and cover at night with a (lower pot.. A further sowing of hardy cucumbers may be made. Vegetable marrows and pumpkins should be planted out the same as cucumbers, and 1 a sowing of both in the oprn ground may do well. Green curled endive should be sown for succession, Treat and use as lettuce. Leeks. Sow for a late crop, and plant those that are ready in strong land, giving them plenty of liquid manure. Lettuce.-Sow frequently. Rich, moist soil and plenty of water will produce fine heads. Melons are grown much the same, as cucumbers.

Onions.-Now is perhaps the nest time to sow onions [or. pickling. Blood red, silvcrskin, and -'-'.white Spanish arc the best for the ftiifpose. Sow them thickly and do not thin out, Parsnips.—Hoc and thin out to about six inches between the plants, and make a latgc sowing of hollow crown variety for a late crop. Pcas.-Sow the main crop Lady Glasgow, Yorkshire Hero, and Veitchc's Perfection are reliable kinds. Draw a little soil towards the stems of 'the growing crop of. peas. To keep up a good supply of peas should be the aim of every one who has ■ a garden, Potatoes.Hoe and 'earth' up the advancing ciop, arid'tlit season being very favorable' potatoes may be planlcu during November, Radish-Sow ■ a few seeds every other day, Spin. ach.-Sow frequently the round leavfearicty. Tomatoes.—Plant out choosmgk|Warm and sheltered spot, •'stakingi'tlic plants securely. Turnips "for the table require to be quietly' grown, Sow the white stone and golden ball varieties, giving thorn a gooil dressing of superpnospliiit l '.!. (lanlen Sweden and kohl rabi may be sown during the month. They require the same treatment as turnips, Keep the hoe going .among all growing crops, attend' to ■ thinning, and keep all vacant ground in preparation for further, crops. I -fruit Garden.- !

Raspberries should get a. good watering around, the.roots, and if liquid manure can he applied so much the better. Strawberries should be cleat.ed and mulched with stable manure. Trained fruit trees will be' benefitted •by disbudding, and good mulching placed around the roots! The pear 'slug may appear during the month. A spraying with Helebore solution is the best cure. The small birds-finches, linnets and blackbirds—have started to pick the setting fruit'.. A few shots of powder and small shot fired oh occasionally will disperse them. The starlings, ■friendly birds, are doing good work in the orchards by devouring greedi ly the worms, slugs, and snails. -Flower Garden.— .Dahlias may be planted' out in deep, rich soil, three feet apart'each way. A dusting of soot around the plants will keep off pests, Set out stocks, asters, phlox drummondii and other bedding plants. A little extra trouble in preparing the soil ' for these flowers will be amply repaid by finer blossoms. Keep'on sowing hardy annuals. They will give a large amount of bloom later on. Sow East Lothian, Intermediate and Brompton stocks, to he planted out by and by. Before flowering a little rich dressing will lie beneficial. A little manure water, weak at first, but stronger by degrees, will intensify the. coloring. Gladiolas should now be planted. Take out a trowel full of soil, and place some sand and wood ashes, on which set the bulb, and coyer with four or five inches of fine soil. Roses now require, syringing with good insecticide to keep off the green fly. Tic up climbers and regulate^'their growth, hoc.and rake all benders, and tidy up generally.,

-The Lawn,-

Remove all. weeds and coarse grasses as they appear. Top-dress with fine mould, and sow some seed and superphosphates. Roll well and keep closely cut, using the lawi mower frequently when the grass is dry. No lawn can be kept,in goo,; order, without a mower and; roller/