THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Flower garden operations during the preterit month will mostly consist of routine work, such as hoeing and raking, to stir the surface soil, and keep down seedling weeds, picking off spent flowers, tying up dahlias and other plants that require support, thinning out and regulating the growth of those that have become overcrowded, pinching back some of. the budding plants to keep them dwarf and bushy, and within the allotted spaces ; lightly forking around , and mulching shrubs and other plants that need ib, in order to keep the surface soil cool and prevent it cracking during dry weather. Almost daily attention must be paid to chrysanthemums that are being cultivated for the production of show blooms. Suckers from the root must be removed as soon as they make their appearance, and also all side shoots, with the exception of the three branches that are reserved! to produce the flowers. As the plants advance in growth they should be kept fully tied to the supports. Leaf roller and other caterpillars are now making their appearance ; handpicking is the only effectual means of dealing with these pests. In addition to caterpillars and aphides the plants are frequently attacked by mildew and other fungoid diseases, which first make their appearance on the lower leaves, causing them to gradually turn black and shrivel. The following formula will ,be found effectual in checking fungoids, pro vided the plants are dressed in time :Take 21b of sulphur and 21b of roche (or unslacked lime), boil both together for twenty minutes or more, in ben quarto of water; use two wineglasses. full of the mixture to every two' gallons of clean cold water, and spray the plants with a suitable syringe that will apply the solution to the under as well as the upper sides of the leaves. The flower garden and grounds are now at their best; the splendid growing weather experienced during the last fortnight, and the genial rains this week, impart a fresh appearance to everything. Lawns are looking even better than in spring. Altogether, we have nob had such a favourable season for many years. And, as there is no sowing or planting specially needed, at presenb the operator can enjoy a few weeks' leisure to enjoy the result of his past labours. KITCHEN GARDEN. The season has toen most favourable for carrying on the - various kitchen garden operations. Vegetables are everywhere most abundant, and are likely to-con-tinue plentiful for some time to come, as all recently sown and planted have had the best possible Weather to start. With the exception of planting a row orso of celery plants, and the sowing of a few additional rows of peas and dwarf beans for very late crops, and the planting of lettuce and sowing an occasional small, patch of radishes, mustard, cress, etc., work will be confined to hooing to keep down weeds, and attending to the various requirements of the growing crops. Tomatoes need a good deal of attention in the way of catting off all superfluous shoots. The weather having been so favourable to growth, the plants have made too much wood and foliage. As previously recommended, three leading stems will be quite sufficient for each plant. THE VINERY. t ■„

Late started vines are so far looking healthy , and promising. . Although the weather has been very unsettled and there has been an absence of clear open sunshine the warm showers that have fallen at intervals throughout the season have kept the borders at a nice, genial moisture and been beneficial to their growth.' The borries are now rapidly laying on colour, many of the earlier varieties being well advanced, while many of the later sorts, also are commencing to change. Plenty of bright sunshine and warm nights is all that is needed to finish the early sorts and' to hasten on the colouring of the late kinds. Some of these late varieties are very difficult to ripen when carrying good crops unless pushed on as early as possible. Gros Colman, Mrs. Pince, Barbarossa, Pearson's Golden Queen, Mrs. Pearson, are . all fairly late grapes, and j will hang well into the autumn if well ripened. : It must bo borne in mind it iB only well ripened and finished bunches that will keep. Ventilate freely during the , day, and at . night in warm favourable weather. The house should be, opened early before the temperature rises' too high.- Should the weather continue dull and moist, as at present, water should,be, withheld inside the house, and the tempera

tut® .kept) as dry aa or mUdew ie almosb sure to mako itfr Ke6p plenty of sulphur bouse as a preventative. A ? e ,„ n( i should bo " carefully and any berries removed_ that . ««[.dam tbe or rieod taking oub relwv®. bunches.Continue to shorten • back-»u lateral- growth not required cover trellis. Vines that,are infested with need constant watching to keep these peats from :: the * bunches:' It is i when the grapes are colouring, and syringing has been aiscontinued, that these soon spread over CM vines and in.to . the bunches, and in a short time render »them quite jnfit for use. -a piece .of cotton wool placed around the stalk of , the - bunch : will protect them if kept clear of leaves or wood. ibis 01 course means time and labour, but any means ' of keeping : the ; bug from .the bunches is Worth the > trouble taken. Vines from which the fruit) has been cut should hare all lateral growth, shortened back to allow the sun and air to freely circulate, and to . assist in- maturing and ripening the ; wood. ,The,. vines should .be frequently looked over. and.dressed for bug or ; other ;■ inserts that . maybe upon , them. Endeavour to keep the foliage in a clean, healthy condition until they decay .-and' fail naturally from the vines. Th® house should be thrown i wide open, ',f and the vines exposed to the weather as much as possible, as the sooner the vines ripen the longer the season of rest before being again started into growth.* , ~ ANSWER TO correspondent. • "Lover of Fruits." —Your letter will be attended to in next week's issue. _ . • Kepos.