OUR GARDEN CALENDAR

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13661, 1 September 1916, Page 1

OUR GARDEN CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER, 1916,

(By George Brownlee.)

A rather uncommon slim]) or suiall tree, Iho Olive, of the order Oleracae, i ! n the garden of Mr W. 11. S. Roberts on the North. Road, is now in fruit, The drupes are now changing colour from greenish white to purple. Mr Roberts has sent a few sprays with fruit to town, and they are causing some inquiry regarding . the growth of the plant. A lady from the, south, who' prizes some olive leaves she haifsent .to her from Palestine,, was delighted to have a little spray with berries given her, to place among her botanical specimens. Mr Roberts's tree is probably Olea Europara longifolia, introduced to Britain in the fourteenth century. The fruit of this variety is said to bo larger than that of the wild kind, which grows abundantly in Palestine, it attains a height of thirty feet and lives to a great age, and is long in coming to bear; hence the proverb. "No man wjio plants an olive ever eats its fruit,". Sonic trees still growing are said to date from the time of Pliny. We cannot imagine the val\ie of the olive to the residents of the countries where it is extensively grown. The oil takes the place of butter and cream, and the fruits, both picked-and ripe, are served up in various ways. The olive has been celebrated in'all ages as the bounteous gift of Heaven, and recognised all the world over as the emblem of peace and plenty. The olive is propagated by suckers and cuttings, and is occasionally grafted on the privet and ash. It'will grow in almost any soil if 'not too wet; it. will ndt stand too much heat, and will not bear severe cold. It has been cultivated, in the' North Island; in the' South Island it is grown as a curiosity.

Departed August, by the calendar, is our first month of spring, but it really has been a more severe month than July, which is the last month of winter. Cold rains and sleety snows have left the soil thoroughly saturated, and all gardening operations have been at a standstill. A few days of hard drying winds .would again put .the outside work* ers in good heart.

September is our second month of spring, ami has an average mean temperature of 4(i degrees, and an average rainfall of 1.C4 inches. If the weather clerk could arrange for North Otago (taring' September a slightly higher temperature and a less than' the average rainfall., all would lie well; but let us be thankful and say "All is in srood hands." ' fe . Kitchen Garden, The month's'work should be very brisk in the vegetable -quarters.- All ground intended for crop should be prepared at once. Deep digging and manuring are essential for the production ,of good' vegetables. Many failures are.due.to the. seed beds not being properly prepared, and also to the sowing and covering of (lie seeds. To germinate properly they, require moisture, heat, light and air. The soil should .be mellow and worked fine, and be cither rolled or trodden gentlv after sowing. Broad beans aiul long-pods should be sown at intervals of seven days; heavy land suits them. A. first sowing of French and butter beans may be put in by the'eiul of the month. Sow blood-red beet, crimson globe beet and silver beet. These all require good land, to which a sprinkling of fertiliser has been given. Sow a few seeds each of the following varieties of the kale tribe: curly greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, red cabbage and savoys'. The depredations of the sparrow make it difficult to get a toair of these things during spring; sprinkle a little poisoned wheat round about the garden. Set out plants of cabbage and cauliflower; these require strong land and clean culture. Sow a good breadth of carrots. Early Horn and intermediate should be sown on land that had been well manured last year. Sow,mustard and cress, radish and lettuce; these should all be grown quickly, by the aid of a good fertiliser. Sow celery in a box of light soil, water lightly, and cover with scrim. Onions should now be largely sown. The standard varieties are Brown Spanish Brown Globe and James's Keeping! .Milder varieties are Rocca and Ailsa Craig; for picklers, Silver Skin and Bed Dutch. For onions uso plenty of garden fertiliser and make a firm' bed by rolling or tramping. Sow a little parsley in any out-of-the-way corner; ■a. fresh sprig of this garnishor is always welcome in the Jcitehen. Sow peas largely for a main crop and also for succession. The varieties to sow depends upon the situation. For exposed places choose the most dwarf kind; if sticks arc procurable, medium and taller varieties may be used. Parsnips for a main crop 'should be sown during the month. Hollow Crown and 'Student arc the best kinds. They require Tick land; avoid rough, green manure, but use plenty of garden fertiliser. Plant early potatoes, The liest varieties available are Early Puritan, Dalmeny .Beauty, Beauty of Hebronj and British Queen. A medium-sized potato planted whole Is better than cut seed, A dusting of lime and a portion of fertiliser spread in the drills will benefit the early growth. Sow the roundleaved variety of spinach and treat it with liberal cultivation. Tomatoes slum Id be sown on gentle heat. Sharpe's lied and darter's Sunrise did well in Xorth Otago last season. Cucumbers .should also be sown on gentle heat; a mixture of |ho hardy kinds for outdoor work ami Telegraph for the frames. Vegetable marrows, squash, and pumpkins may be sown in the open. If the plants are too crowded, thin out and transplant. Sow early varieties of turnips; they should be sown frequently and grown quickly. The little bulbs are good appetisers, and a dish of tender turnip tops is a delicacy. Keep the push hoes going among the growing crops and also on the open land. Remember the adage, "Seven years' seeding gives seven years' weeding." Fruit Garden.

Finish the transplanting of fruit trees awl bushes. Look to the recently planted (rocs; the, high winds have, jjivpn HiPin a slinking. Make tliom firm round the stems to prevent tlio cold air Setting at the roots, and give thorn :i mulshing of rotted manure. All trees that have been neglected should- be liriined as soon as possible. Spraying should be continued, and finished as coon as possible. Of the many spraying specifies tliat have from time to time been put on the market, the cnrbolised rod oil has given the best results. For present spraying use one part of oil to twelve parts of rain whter, adding a handful of washing soda. Grafting (should now have attention. The opera-

lion is simple, yet il requires some knowledge. Amateurs should read up the matter, and, if possible, see an expert performing, Clay is often used, and sometimes a resin mixture, but the l'rcneli grafting wax is more suitable, Flower Garden, The spring (lowers coming into bloom require slaking; others require dividing and tidying. Sow the seeds of hardy annuals—alyssum-bartonia, candytuft, clarkia, summer chrysanthemums] collinsia, convolvulus, calliopsis, gillia, cornflower, godetin, larkspur, mignonette, neiiiopliila, sweet peas,, Virginian stocks and everlastings. Some of Ihe move lender llower seeds should be put in. The.stocks, ten-week, intermediate, and Last Lothian, give a brilliant display of colouring. In asters, Comet,. Ostrich, Plume and Victorias continue in bloom for a long time. Phlox Drummondi is an all-round favourite.- Many' failures in flower seeds are the result of deep sowing. The smaller kinds require only to be sown on the surface, and a slight pressure w/th the back of j the spade will' embed them properly. Dahlias may be divided and planted out; they require rich and well-worked ground,, Finish the priming of roses, Remove all the decaying wood and keep the bushes in good form. Continue flic planting of llowcring shrubs pack them firmly round the stems to keep the cold air from the roots. If the borders are h'oed and raked smooth they will keep in order for some time. • flie lawn.

Grass is growing vigorously—no time should lie lost. Keep the mower and roller busy. during dry weather, and dress the bare patches' with seed, soil and fertiliser. New lawns should be thoroughly dug and levelled, raked/ smooth, and the seed well raked- in; finish smoothly with the Toller. The tender green of the spring grass is ever pleasing.