THE GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9220, 24 November 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 1. KITCHEN GARDEN'. Work in this department is now of a much more pleasing and interesting character. The cultivator has more leisure to watch the result of his past labours. From the time of sowing until the seedlings are well forward and beyond the reach of slugs is always an anxious period, for to attain success constant care and attention is necessary. Happily, with the exception of melons, the various crops have reached that stage when they are in ordinary circumstances able to take care of themselves. Favoured with an exceptionally fine winter, the ground was in splendid order for the reception of the seed. The spring weather too has been all that could be desired, consequently under ordinary care few re-sow-ings have had to be made, and all the crops are in a most flourishing state. The thin-ning-out is now almost completed. This operation is often much neglected, and the results are not nearly so satisfactory. Timely thinning is a matter that should bo attended to. li is always desirable to sow the seeds rather thickly, and if they all come up, they soon spoil each other by overcrowding. This must be prevented by timely thinning. Turnips require special attention in this respect, early thinning being absolutely necessary to the production of good bulbs. Leave turnips about 5 inches apart in the rows, beet and parsnips should be left from (i to 8 inches apart, and carrots thinned to from 4 to 0 inches. Runner beans should also lie well thinned preparatory to staking, in order that they may remain for a long time in a productive state. Dwarf or kidney beans should be thinned to about ii inches apart to produce bushy branching plants, and to keep up a prolonged supply. Peas : Mistakes are often made by leaving these too thick. To produce heavy and continuous crops the plants must not be crowded too closely together. The varieties that are naturally of branching habit require sufficient room to develop strong growth. Early varieties may be left rather thickly together, being weaker growers. Radishes do badly unless thinned when the plants are quite young, leaving them from two to three inches apart. Lettuces, when allowed to grow crowded together in the j seedbed, are more difficult to transplant, i The early potato crop is all that can be ! desired ; the yield almost everywhere is abundant. The plants have received no check from frosts ; in fact, the weather has i been most favourable to their development ! all along, and latterly copious showers and low atmosphere have been most beneficial to the production of sound tubers. Potato crops generally are more promising in i appearance than for many years back. '

Melons : The low atmosphere and sunless weather, with cold winds and sudden changes, have been sadly against, these plants, and unless the atmosphere during the night becomes more warm and genial, ! this crop will prove a failure the same as last i year. Early sowings present a very sorry apI pearance. Better put in a few additional | seeds, even at this late season, with the j hope of obtaining a late crop. A fresh sowing may be made without disturbing any plants that remain from previous sowings. Marrows and pumpkins are of hardier constitution. These, although not making much headway, are in a healthy state, ready to push ahead as soon as the | weather becomes warmer. THE VINERY. The principal work in this department will be in thinning the grapes ; and this must be persistently carried on, otherwise they soon get too far advanced in growth, and the work becomes very difficult. Some of the early thinned bunches should now be gone over a second time, and if the bunches i are likely to bind, some of the smallest i inside berries should be taken out, as this operation cannot be done later 011 without destroying many of the berries. The operation of thinning is regulated according to the requirements of the growers. If grown for home consumption, quantity of berries is not so much the aim of the growers as fine large and well-matured fruits. Where this is required the bunches should be well thinned, allowing' sufficient space for the full development of each berry, being careful not to leave more bunches than the vine can safely mature; and as many varieties attain a very large size, it is necessary that the person thinning should have a good knowledge of the different varieties. If grown for market, size of berry is not so much studied as quantity and weight. In thinning the main object is to have the berries evenly distributed and the bunches well shaped. The frequent and heavy showers of rain has considerably lessened the labours of watering all outside borders, but the sudden changes and unusually cold weather at this season has made ventilating most difficult to manage ; but sudden changes in temperature must be carefully guarded against. All inside borders should receive a liberal supply of water—manure water, if possible. After watering lightly stir the surface of the soil, and mulch with short, well-rotted manure. The border should be watered frequently as the grapes advance in growth. Keep sulphur strewn through the house ; this is the best of all preventives for mildew, and if judiciously applied, mildew will rarely make its appearance. A good plan is to place a few sheers of corrugated iron on the floor of the house, and cover with sulphur. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Caroyphyllus" (Newton) : Carnations and picotees are only distinguished by the markings of their flowers. The petals of a carnation flower, other than a self, are either flaked or .barred, while those of a picotee have a jrround colour, and are edged with a second colour. Carnations are divided into three distinct classes, viz., bizarres, flakes, and selfs. Propagation of carnations and picotees and general cultivation are the same. Kepos.