THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9010, 15 October 1892, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

FLOWER GARDEN. It is at this season of the year that the value of flowering shrubs can be fully appreciated. They render the garden and grounds most enjoyable and attractive. The new growth in the different stages of development, with its various tints of colour and the freshness of appearance and profuseness of bloom, add a greater charm to the garden than at any other season. Azaleas and rhododendrons still continue in full bloom. Weigelias ire splendid flowering shrubs, every shoot being laden with the utmost profusion of bloom. The yellow jasmine emits a delicious odour from its flowers. Guelderoses, or snowballs as they are commonly called, are most distinct from all other shrubs, with their pure white blossoms produced in large heads, and are elegantly adapted for the mixed border and shrubbery. The Japanese variety is one of the finest of new shrubs. Lilacs are well-known and most desirable spring flowering plants, that succeed best in the colder districts. The different varieties of flowering currants are graceful with their pendant bunches of flower. Abutilon3 are now flowering in the utmost profusion, and are invaluable as a dwarf flowering shrub throughout the year, as they continue to bloom for many months in succession. Raphiolepis ovatais a dwarf flowerins shrub that is worthy of notice at the present time with its upright spikes of white, sweet scented blossoms that are produced at the tips of the shoots. Choisya ternata is another dwarf-grow-ing shrub of more recent introduction that should have a place in every collection. The flowers, which are freely produced, are pure white, and scented like the hawthorn. The two varieties of double-flowering plums are also very pretty, with their double rosette-like flowers, that are produced all up the branches. In addition to the above, which are amongst the most noticeable, there are a lot of herbaceous and other small perennials, together with bulbs and hardy annuals. Amongst bulbs, Ixias are the most conspicuous at this season. Narcissus are now about over. The leaves must not be cut off, but allowed to dry off naturally. When the leaves are prematurely removed the bulbs are weakened, and will not flower as well the following season. The growth of grass is now very rank ; lawns must be gone over with the mower, as they require more attention in this respect during this and next month than at any other season. If neglected now the grass cannot be mown with the machine, and is liable to become patchy during the summer. After mowing roll the surface.

KITCHEN GARDEX. The weather still continues all that can be desired for sowing, planting, and the general well-being of all plants in this department. As growth is now most active, seedling crops will require a good deal of attention in thinning to proper distances, and weeding the rows and loosening the soil between the rows by occasional hoeing. Potatoes have had a splendid season, early sown crops being now ready for digging, and later planting looking most healthy. THE ORCHARD. Up to the present the spring has been very favourable for fruib trees generally. We have not had so much of the cold, harsh winds that usually prevail when the trees are in blossom. Pears are in full flower, and give promise of a most abundant yield, even if only a small proportion of the flowers set. Several varieties of apples are already out. Peaches have blossomed well, and appear to have set fairly good crops of fruits, and the young foliage is looking very healthy, although as far as the crop is concerned it is premature to judge, as the damage is often done after the fruit has set, and should cold, cutting winds set in they may yet suffer as in previous years. My experience is that to grow peaches successfully the trees must have thorough shelter and good cultivation. I have frequently seen trees in sheltered situations laden with fruit when others that were growing in the same locality and soil, but exposed to the cold winds, have been almost stripped of their leaven. The time is now almost at hand when the orchardists will require to take measures to check the ravages of the many insect pests that have become so numerous in our fruib gardens. In addition to the codlin moth there are many other enemies that may be kept in check" by the timely and judicious use of the mosb approved emulsions recommended for the purpose. Scale?, fungoid,, disease*, leaf

rollers, mites, etc., are all injurious to the fruit trees, and require remedial measures to keep the trees in a clean, healthy state. The codiin moth is perhaps the most dreaded of the pests that we are at present acquainted with. Apples, pears, and quinces are all subject to the attacks of this grub. Syringing the trees at the proper time and at stated intervals has been proved beyond question the best means of saving the largest percentage of sound fruit. There are many who stubbornly . hold aloof from these modern appliances, and suffer considerable loss in consequence. They say they have tried syringing without avail. Like many more they have gone about their work in a halfhearted manner, and probably not applied it at the right time. I have known one or two instances where the fruit was allowed to grow as large as walnuts before being syringed, because the orchardist failed to see the grub at work, and thought it would be only waste of material to apply sooner. By this time the eye of the fruit is pointing downwards, and the grub is well protected. Those who have persevered with the syringing have found the results more than answer expectations. There are now so many appliances for spraying suitable for large or small orchards that the work is made comparatively easy, and a large area may be gone over in a very short time. As staled above, apple trees are already in bloom, and should receive the first dressing shortly after the blossom has fallen. This necessitates going over the orchard at different times, as some of the varieties flower much later than others. Make it a rule to syringe shortly after the flowers have dropped, and at regular intervals for some time afterwards. The application of bands is an excellent method of trapping the grubs that escape the poison, and is to be commended. Many recommend this as the only effectual means of destroying this pest, but this can only be done at the loss of the crop. Kepos.