Our Garden Calendar.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1910, Page 1

Our Garden Calendar.

(By George Brownlee.) DECEMBER, 1910. "The pastures, seem impatient, to demand The promised sweetness, Man superior walks Amid the glad creation, musing praise, Ami looking lively gratitude. At last The clouds consign their treasures t 0 the fields." The weary drought has broken up, and the promise of rain, hast im some measure been fulfilled, and with the passing of the year we may expect more congenial weather. December is our second month of summer,- with „ mean temperature of 63 degrees, and an average rainfall of 2.28 inches, -Kitchen GardenNovember has 'been-an easy month in the garden. The dry weather . made vegetation slow. ' The weeds would scarcely respond. to .the scorching breezes. . This is happily changed, and a spurt to make up for lost time will be made. Earth up the growing crop when necessary. Thin 'out where plants are too crowded, and fill'up blanks either | with seeds or young plants. There should be no empty places in the' kitchen garden. Broad beans should be sown for the late crop. French beans, butter beans and scarlet runners should be sown at intervals 'during the month. It is 'advisable to make tw 0 sowings of beet root in December. Silver beet and Swiss beef should be largely sown, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cubage, cauliflower and savoys-Sow a large breath of these at intervals ; they arc all useful 'for winter vegetables. .Carrots-Hoq and thin out the growing crop, and make further sowin.es of early an-d intermediate kinds. Celery—Towards the middle of the month, if plants are ready, set them out in well prepared trenches, and water frtnuently. Sow cress and mustard for salad every few days. Sow endive for, autumn salads, and continue sowing lettuce. LeeksMake a small sowing for setting out late in autumn. Onions—Keep the growing crop clean, and well thinned, and make further sowings for drawing, young, and also make a sowing for pickling onions. Peso for succession—Sow any of the early or medium varieties.' Sow spinach at intervals during the month. The round seeded spinach is the most seasonable to grow; its tender and delicious leaves, rich, friable soil is required. Radish-Sow .often and grow them quickly.' Tomato plants should be set out. and those al- . ready planted should be stoted and secured. Plant out marrows, pump-. ' kin<! and encumbers,..and give them plenty of water. Sow turnips, earlv . white, Golden Wohe, and Lake's

wden swede. Kesp 'tha hoe coing; .the weeds will row grow rtnickly. As t'h-o riots become vacant- dier un

and prepare for a future crop, -Fruit, Garden.— The apple trees are -in splendid folicjje, jjijrfithe fruit is scarce. Muoh white, blight, is seen under the tender branches. To keep this down a summer spraying is required. Heavy oil and winter, washes should- foe , avoided. M'Dougall's wash is go 0 d and Kylafe's is much praised. Silver blight is also in evidence ? the affected parts should be .gut off and 'burned. The slugs have not yet made their appearance, 'Heleb'ore powder is the best remedy for this pest, and 'vigorous grafts should have their long shoots shortened. .Fruit trees that are growing on bare land should have a . sprinkling of orchard manure' spread around their stems.' Vine borders should also have , n dressing .of suitable fertiliser lightly l ' forkedi in. Small fruits promise ut good; crop, and the ■bushes have not suffered .from the ■border pest.. > —Flower Garden.The drought has kept hack the profusion of bloom which! is generally seen at this season. Sowings of annuals have not ken a success. It is advisable to continue the sowing of all hardy and half-hardy sorts. Sow intermediate, East Lothian and Brompton stocks; these will prolong the glory of the garden during the early winter. Stake all the taller plants that require support. Rose 3 with an insecticide, and many growers now advise summer ' pruning. Dahlias are making stray shoots; these require some good fertiliser if prize blooms are wanted, In pans sow a 'few seeds cinerarias, calceolarias- and 00l- j eus; they will make useful pot J plants for winter, -The Lawn 1 ,- ■TflVfiot 'and parched lawns, which have been soaked by the generous rain, will very soon rehire the scythe and mower, Tap rooted weeds' will .b'e easily picked out; and the bare pieces should be patched with- seed, soil and fertiliser. Ey and bye the rollen will come in for its share of the work, and the ver< ges should! lie; all neatly.cut.-