THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8538, 11 April 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Chrysanthemum Society : The coming Exhibition, which has excited such interest and enthusiasm amongst the growers of this queen of autumn flowers, is arranged to take place in the Choral Hall on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of next week, as per advertisement, when an opportunity will be afforded the public of seeing to what perfection this flower may attain under careful and skilful cultivation. Unlike most other horticultural exhibitions, amateur, instead of professional, growers will be the principal exhibitors. A separate class is also provided to give ladies who tend and grow plants an opportunity to exhibit. The cultivation of the chrysanthemum lifcs become so popular as to engage the attention of many whose previous experience in horticulture has been of the most limited character. They make a specialty of this particular flower, and are able to devote to it all their spare time, and to attend to the smallest details in connection with its cultivation. By a little study in reading up and careful observation they are soon able to excel, and, when something like perfection is attained, they are amply rewarded for their labours. Unfortunately, the season has not been altogether favourable for the general well-being of this plartt. But, notwithstanding untoward circumstances brought about by the weather, there is every promise of one of the best and most interesting floral treats ever witnessed in our city. The committee are most indefatigable in their labours to make the forthcoming show an unprecedented success. The hall, as is usual on such occasions, will be decorated with beautiful evergreens and other appurtonances in keeping with the exhibits. A new feature will be introduced 1 by the committee in the way of providing afternoon tea as a special attraction for the ladies. Concerts will be held during the evenings, and musical selections will be given. It is to be hoped the weather will be propitious during the early part of next week, as heavy rains and boisterous winds have a damaging effect upon the blooms, more particularly the white and other light-coloured varieties, which soon become tarnished and damaged by constant wet. Intending exhibitors should take the precaution to protect by some means or other the blooms they intend to show. Routine work : There is now plenty of work in connection with the flower garden and shrubberies. Favoured by abundance of moisture, the growth of weeds is great. These must be kept down by hoeing and weeding. At this season weeds must either be raked off or buried, otherwise they will take root and grow again, the heat of the sun and atmosphere not being sufficient to destroy them. Opportunity should now be taken while the soil is warm to sow a few hardy annuals for winter and early spring flowering, such as Saponaria calabrica, mignonette, lupins, godetia, Gilia tricolor, Con volvolus minor, and a few other sorts that are best adapted for autumn sowing. Autumn leaves are now constantly falling. Where there are a number of large deciduous trees growing anywhere near the flower garden they give the place an untidy appearance, unless the leaves are kept raked off every three or four days, as recommended in last week's article, and wheeled to the rubbish heap. The present is the best time of the year for digging up and renovating old lawns, and also for laying down new lawns. KITCHEN GARDEN. Weeds in this department are becoming troublesome, and every endeavour should be made to get rid of them by hoeing up and raking off or by digging them down. All vacant ground, of which there is now a considerable area, should be dug over roughly, and any that is not required for immediate cropping should be sown down in oats. Ground occupied by pumpkins, marrows, and other varieties of the melon family will soon be ready to deal with. In spring it was recommended to sow rough and weedy ground that wanted a change in pumpkins, for the purpose of cleansing it. Now is about the best time to sow a few lines or a bed of onions in order to have young plants available for early spring planting. From experience, I have found that if sown too early they are likely to run to seed after being transplanted. Any time

during the next fortnight will do id sow. The seedlings after coining up will have time to make growth before the wet, cold weather sets in, and be strong enough to withstand the winter. For successional crops a little turnip seed should be sown every two or three weeks. -Attend to growing crops, such as carrots and turnips ; thin out if necessary and keep the ground between the rows frequently stirred. Cabbage and cauliflower plants that were transplanted a few weeks ago have had a most favourable time and have taken good root-hold, and are making rapid headway. The ground around them should be kept frequently stirred by hoeing: This greatly accelerates the growth of the plants, and keeps the soil in good order. As soon as the plants are large enough they should be earthed up. This operation is more important injjwinter than summer, as it keeps the roots in a drier state. ; Still continue to put out more cabbage and cauliflower plants sufficient to meet winter and early spring requirements. Attend also to the earthing up of celery, as this is one of the most-esteemed of vegetables for winter use. Every care should bo taken with it. Previous to filling the soil in gather the tops of each plant evenly together, and tie a piece of string or other material around them to keep them together until after theearthingup is done, when the strings should be cut or taken off. By doing this the centre of the heads are preserved, otherwise the loose soil is liable to fall between the outer leaves and the inner leaves, which often causes the crowns to decay. The planting of leeks may still bo continued. Draw a drill, and plant in the centre, and earth up the plants from time to time as may be necessary. A few weeks ago the preparation of ground for strawberry plants was recommended. The weather could not have been more favourable than it has been for the getting in of this crop. There are also an abundance of suitable runners, which are the best of all for planting. In the two previous years the scarcity of suitable plants has had much to do with the unsatisfactory results obtained in so many instances. Judging from present appearances straw-berry-growers should look forward to a plentiful crop next season. They should also take the opportunity of renewing all beds that are old and unsatisfactory. Kepos.