THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8916, 3 December 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK END-

ING DECEMBER 10. KITCHEN GARDEN.

The preßent season has been the most untoward fop raising both rock and watermelons that has been experienced for many years. The cold nights and strong southerly winds have cheeked the young seedlings to such an extent in thoir growth, that they are at a standstill. It clearly demonstrates that melons must not be «own too early. The late-sown hills will undoubtedly overtake the early sowings. Unless in very favourable localities, it is necessary to protect hills sown with melons, to guard against a season like the present. A good plan is to make an enclosure for each heap, about a foot square, and six inches high, with boards nailed together. Place a pane of glass over the top; remove the glass on favourable occasions, and as soon as the warm weather sets in take away the protection altogether. Cucumbers sown early should be protected in tho same manner. This method is a good preventative against slugs, as a little lime may be sown around inside of each box. Pumpkins and marrows are growing freely, being hardy, but not as well as in previous seasons. All other crops are looking unusually healthy, and making good growth, the only requirements being to keep the ground loose by frequent hoeings. Earth up and stake tallgrowing peas and runner beans. Celery, well drench with water during dry weather. A little maize may be sown for table use. FLOWER GA.BDKN. Dahlias for early flowering should now be planted. 'I here is scarcely any plant we cultivate, with the exception of the Chrysanthemum, that makes a more beautiful display of late flowers than the dahlia, or that has such an extended range of colour ; and the length of time they k««p in flower makes them very attractive They require a rich soil, and plenty of moisture. Chrysanthemums, if not already planted, should be planted at once. This is another equally beautiful class of plant for later autumn flowers, having a great variety of colour. These also require rich soil. The dry weather will shortly be upon us, and it is advisable to mulch all plants aftd flowers likely to suffer. This greatly assists the growth, and prolongs the flowering period. The leech has now commenced its ravages on the leaves of fruit and other trees. These should bo at once dsstroyed before the leaves become punctured. The best remedy I have found for the destruction of the pest iB Hellebore powder. Use one ounce to every eight gallons of water. The powder should be mixed in the water twelve hours before intended for use. Iu spraying the trees care should be taken that the whole of the foliage geta a portion of the liquid. SHELTER FOR FRUIT TREES. The weather we have had for the past few weeks gives a very good illustration of the value of thorough shelter for our orchards, for the continued south-west wind is very damaging to all kinds of fruits, more especially to the peach. A few weeks ago there seemed every appearance of a splendid crop of this delicious fruit, but now, where they are exposed to the full force of this wind, they have suffered severely. The fruit in many instances has fallen off, and the foliage has a very sickly appearance. Other fruits also suffer, though not perhaps to the same extent. There is no doubt if fruit is to be grown here successfully (unions it is a few very hardy kinds) that thorough shelter is indispensable. BOSKS. The rose has been immortalised by authors and poets from the earliest ages ; and as the emblem of youth, love, and beauty, as well as that of danger and fugacity, carries with it a charm. It is also the national emblem of England. The rose justly holds the premier position as the Queen of Flowers. In our genial climate nearly all the known species flourish with little attention, provided care has been bestowed upon the plant, as to proper mede of propagation to meet the different requirements of the various classes. Hitherto it has been the common custom of our nurserymen to treat all roses alike as to propagation, regardless of the peculiar requirements of the different classes. Hybrid Perpetual roses as a rule succeed best when budded upon the Manetti stock. There are a few varieties in this section that do remarkably well when grown upon their own roots, such as Baroness Rothschild, John Hopper, and a few others ; but the majority of the vatieties bloom more profusely, make much stronger plants, endure the heat of summer better, and adapt themselves to a wider range of climate and soil when worked upon the Manetti. Many planters object to budded roses on account of the propensity to throw up suckers from the stock. This annoyance will rarely be the case when roses are obtained from a reliable source. In making the cuttings for stocks to work upon, all buds with the exception of the upper must be cut out carefully, to prevent suckering. Care must also be taken in the planting. Budded roses should be planted sufficiently deep, so that the junction of the bud with the stock is about one inch below the surfaco of the soil. Hybrid Tea Roses: A comparatively new group has been produced by crossing tea roses with hybrid perpetuate —La France, the oldest production in this section, is mora highly-prized than any of the newer varieties, although in competition with Captain Christy and Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, both of which belong to the same division. The varieties in this class succeed best when budded. Tea roses are the sweetest of all roses, possessing a powerful yet subdued fragrance. They are as a rule inferior to hybrid perpetuals in brilliancy of colour and fulness of flower. Many of the flowers are large, with delicate shades of colour, such as white, straw, salmon, combined with various tints of rose. They are the most useful of all for bouquets and cut flowers. They are more tender than the other groups, and should receive more care in cultivation. Tea roses generally succeed best when propagated from cuttings ; they also thrive well when budded on the double criir -m-flowere-l multiflora or grafted on root cuttings. Noisette roses are of vigorous climbing growth, including Cloth of Gold, Celine, Forrestier, and vlarechal Niel, the finest and most fragrant of all yellow roses. The Noisette rose ia a product of America. The varieties in this section do best upon their own roots, audj budded on the double-crimson multiflora. Hybrid climbing roses are of recent origin, and are most useful for trellis and pillar decoration. The varieties belonging to this section succeed best budded. There are many other groups, of which I shall treat later on. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Felices," —The truly beautiful "Adiauturn" you so much admired at the Royal Horticultural Society'* show is a native of the Andes of Peru, and is of recent introduction. It is known under the name of Adiantum M oorei, and in some collections is named " A. Amabile," which signifies lovely, K EPOS.