THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK END-

ING DECEMBER 24. FLO WISH GARDEN.

Nature has of late been bountiful in her copious showers, thus affording an abundance of bloom. (This time last season our flower gardens and pleasure grounds wort- parohed and dry through want of moisture, unless artificially supplied.) Frequent rains have enabled the plauter to continue transplanting operations almost without intermission. Annuals hav6 had a rare opportunity for making good growth before the dry weather sets in. »if late years annuals have to a large extent superseded many of the old-fashioned bedding plants for summer decoration of the flower garden. The thinning 'Out of those should carefully attended to; when left too thick, they become drawn and weakly in their growth, are much sooner over, and do not produce such fine blooms. Balsams are rich feeders; they should be mulched and watered frequently during dry weather. Koses have continued longer in bloom and been much finer than X can; remember. Any long shoots should be topped, as they draw the nourishment from the remainder of the plant. Pick off all decayed blooms. Pelargoniums still continue in full bloom. Amaryllis, liliums, and gladioli are now in full bloom. All these are benefited by an occasional watering with manure water. Carnations. picotees, pansies, and a host of other " florists' flowers" all add to the display. In the mixed border Deutzia orouata flora.plono, two varieties, one with double white and the other white with pink timed blossoms, are conspicuous; also ligustrum japonicus, Philadelphus grandiflorus, with its fragrant white flowers ; two or three varieties of ceauothus with showy spikes of blue blossoms; abutilous, excallonia rosea, and several others are in bloom. In order to have all neat and trim for Christmas, the whole of the flower garden should be gone over, hoed and raked, edgings clipped, walks weeded, lawns mowed and rolled. KITCHKN GARDKN. This department is now replete with vegetables of every description, the weather liaviug been most favourable to their growth. The main requirement is to keep the hoe constantly going to loosen the soil and destroy weeds, and give the garden a clean appearance for the holiday season. In earthing up the various crops at this season the mould must not be drawn too close, a shoulder or ridge should be left on each side of the row, so that the crop may receive the full benefit of any rains that tall. A. little mouid may be filled in around leeks, It Ls bust to allow celery to attain a fair siza before moulding up. Keep in mind various subjects for salads. Sow and plant when necessary to keep up a good supply, as the warm season demands. Continue to tie up tomatoes, and regulate their growth by cutting away some of the lateral shoots to give more air and expose the fruit to the sun. Give plants an occasional watering with manure water. Ground lately occupied by early potatoes should be forked over and left rough, to be in readiness to receive cabbage, cauliflower, and other plants of the Brassica family, for winter use. Marrows and pump kins are now running freely ; pinch back the points of the shoots and regulate growth.

THE GRKKNHOOSK. Air should be given freely, and watering should be carefully attended to. Allow no plants to wilt for want of moisture. Care should ba taken to shade sufficiently. Shift gloxineaa into the pots into which they are intended to fljwer, and place in a shady part of the house. These lovely flowering plants repay for all the trouble bestowed upon their culture. Tuberous-rooted begonias that are allowing flower should be frequently watered with manure water. Re-pot all fast-growing plants as they require it. Carefully tie out and regulate all fast-growing climbers. Allemaiidas, dipladem'.as, atephauotis, and other climbers will now be coming into flower. These beautiful olasaes of plants make a splendid display of flowers all through the summer months. They require plenty of manure water. Syringe freely in the evening to keep down insects, and damp the paths frequently during the day.

THK LKECII ON FRUIT TREES, The leech is now becoming very troublesome, They should be at once attacked before the leaves become injured, for if they are allowed to feed away untouched the damage they do is irreparable. They soon take all substance out of the leaf, and the.trees consequently come to a standstill; but as soon as rains in autumn set in they throw out weak, unnatural growth, and often set fruit, thus destroying all prospects for the following season, Give a good dressing of hellebore at once. A good way to prepare hellebore is by getting some jam tins or other vessels that will hold water. Put one amall tablespoonfull of powder in each tin of water. Let it stand for about twelve hours, use one tin of the liquid to every pail of water. The tins should be well washed out, as the powder settles at the bottom. In using, be careful to sprinkle all the foliage. '

ANSWERS I > CORRESPONDENTS.

"Amateur." —Mildew on vines : Give all the aflected parts a thorough dusting with Hulphur. It is always advisable to use sulphur freely through the house, before the mildew makes its appearance. A good preventive for mildew is made by boiling 3ib of sulphur and 31 of lime in 6 gallons of water, until it is reduced to 2 gallons, and when clear, pat into bottles ready for use. Use one gill mixed in 5 gallons of water, and syringe the vines occasionally in the evening. If this is done, mildew will rarely, if ever, make its appearance. This also destroys mildew. Kepos,