THE GARDEN,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10425, 24 April 1897, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN,

The cold snap experienced towards the end of last week, together with the strong southerly gale, played sad havoc amongst the flowers. Dahlias are very susceptible to cold, and felt the change. Chrysanthemum flowers, too, were badly tarnished, and the beautiful clumps of cosmea in most instances were levelled to tho ground. Everyone has been deploring the injury done to their flowere. The garden for the time has quite a wintry appearance. Fortunately the temperature soon changed, and the fine bright warm days that followed stayed the wholesale destruction of tender plants that was threatened. All varieties of chrysanthemums now present a gorgeous display of bloom, particularly those that are grown in the bush form interspersed here and thero throughout the beds and mixed borders for garden decoration. The past autumn has been a busy one for the gardener. The enormous growth occasioned by the excessively moist, warm weather, necessitated constant attention to staking, and regulating the growth and shape of the plants by removing dome of I the shoots. The difficulty, too, of keeping weeds down has been considerable. Lawns have also needed frequent attention in the way of mowing and rolling and cutting out noxious weeds which have been most persistent in making their appearance. Layers of carnations and picotees that were put down, as recommended last January, may now be taken off the old plants and be potted into small pots, or bedded out in some nice warm situation, where they will become established, and provide suitable stock for transplanting into their permanent places in the flower beds early in the spring. KITCHEN GARDEN. Recently planted and -sown crops have had a favourable time for growing, and all present a most healthy and flourishing appearance. Attend to the thinning out of turnips, carrots, radishes, etc., as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle. Give each plant ample space to properly develop. Turnips must be well thinned to produce good results keeps the soil well stirred between the rows, and earth up cabbages and cauliflowers, drawing the mould well up around them, keeps weeds from growing, and the roots drier during the winter season. The planting of potato onions and shallots may now be done, as well as the sowing of a small bed or a few rows with onion seeds, in order to provide plants for transplanting in spring for very early crops. I have invariably noticed that from about the 15th of the present month to the middle of May, is the proper season to sow for this purpose. When sown earlier, the plants are liable to run to seed. Continue to plant cabbage and cauliflower plants according to requirements. Tho cabbage fly has disappeared for the season, and there are abundance of fine healthy plants to be had. Sow prickly spinach for winter use, and plant out a fresh batch of endive and lettuce plants to keep up a constant succession. Continue to make sowings of turnips. Beds may also be prepared for asparagus ; for this purpose, the plot selected will require to be trenched and well manured, and left in readiness for planting towards the end of the winter. ■ Established beds of asparagus may be weeded but'not manured. The mistake is too often made in applying manure at this season, as it keeps the soil wet during tho winter, and causes the roots to rot. Always apply manure at the end, instead of the beginning of tho winter.

THE GREENHOUSE. The cold nights experienced daring the last fortnight have made themselves felt amongst many of the more tender greenhouse subject*, The fine display of flower that has been kept up with tuberous begonias, and other bulbous and tuberous plants that produce such a profusion of bloom throughout the summer and autumn, is now nearly over. The greatest difficulty is always experienced in keeping up a good floral display throughout the winter, and filling the gap caused by the decay of these beautiful flowering plants. This'can only bo done by growing a good variety of hardy flowering. plants, such as shrubby begoinias, salvias, zonal pelargoniums, abutilons, cyclamens, primulas, and a host of other varieties that bloom freely , during , the. winter. To preserve the . bulbs , of ', begonias and other bulbous plants, the greatest care must be taken in watering during the autumn. . As soon as the plants show signs .•• decay water mutt . be aparingly applied

until the foliage dies away, when water must) be withheld and the bulbs stored away. Any that hare been planted in the open borders should be lifted as soon as the leaves fall, and stored away in a dry place. Primulas that have been kept over from last season should now be pushed on for early flowering. These old plants, if potted in good soil and placed in a close shaded frame, will soon make good plants, and give an abundance of flowers throughout the winter. When potting, beep the plants fairly low down in the soil, remove all the old or damaged foliage, and use plenty of drainage in the bottom of the pots. Good drainage is most essential in growing winter plants. Early sown primulas, cinerarias, and calceolarias are now making good headway, and must be potted on from time, as they advance. Cinerarias are not sufficiently prized for indoor decoration. This is, no doubt., due to the popularity of these plants as outdoor bedding plants. The splendid effect made with these when planted in beds and borders, render them invaluable as early flowering border plants, but they are none the less valuable for decorating tho greenhouse when well-crown in pots, and few plants make a more gorgeous display. To grow them successfully they must be kept growing from the time they are raised until they flower, potting them on from time to time as the roots reach the pots. A good rich loam is the best soil for these and calceolarias. All plants will now require very careful watering, watering only when the plants are showing signs of dryness, and the more tender varieties can only be kept successfully through the cold weather by being kept pretty dry. The shading, too, should be reduced. Where blinds are used for this purpose, the shade should only be used for a few hours during the hottest parts of the day. Pelargoniums and other plants that have been plunged out of doors should now be repotted and taken inside. The whole of the plants should be gone over, and the pots thoroughly cleaned, and the plants re-arranged. This can be done in wet weather, when outside work cannot be done. Cuttings of the various plants, both bedding and indoor varieties, should be put in. Where artificial heat is not obtainable for this purpose, a good plan is to have a large box or frame taken inside the house and filled with sawdust or other material, and the pots plunged, and covered with glass. In this, with care, the cuttings will strike successfully. Kkpos.