THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10908, 12 November 1898, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

At this season of the year growth is most luxuriant, The many trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants that clothe and adorn the landscape and beautify our garden and grounds now present a most refreshing and charming appearance, and are a treat to all who are fond of contemplating nature in her best attire, Hedgerows composed of hawthorn or May are a picture of beauty, and emit a most fragrance from their blossoms and new foliage. Single specimens of the double white and double pink flowered thorns are beautifn objects as now seen laden with the utmost profusion of bloom. Many trees and shrubs are now in blossom, and enliven the surrounding scenery with their varied foliage and pretty flowers, notably the Linodendron tulipiferum" or tulip tree a large growing and most elegant species 'resembling an erect and symmetrical plane tree ; very hardy, and remarkably quick growing. In this climate the trees soon attain to the flowering stage. Several specimens are to be seen within our city Men with a profusion of terminal blooms, colour oranee variegated with green and yellow, very fracrnme M Th" K lap6 like a tulil '' he " its name. The laburnum or golden chain tree is another beautiful species. In this mil'd and genial climate, where several tropical and a host of subtropical trees and plants glow luxuriantly, provided suitable localities are chosen in which to grow them, ample scope is afforded when planting extensively to have a most varied collection. Tree ferns are now at their best, , and are certainly the mo noble and gracefulofnature's ornaments! with their tall,stately trunksorstems crowned with large arching fronds. Tree ferns require abundance of water at their rooTs tenia C ngMson ' Shelter is also essential It is now many years since we have had such a moist dripping season consequently, notwithstanding the prevalence of strong south and westerly winds, the permanent trees with few exceptions are as Ti , " theMkst luxuriance of growth and health, the exception being the oriental plane, hitherto looked upon and re® commended one of the most desirable tees to plant, which seems to have suffered sadly from recent strong winds. Several large sneni mens in exposed positions present quite a scorched appearance, probably owinAo the winds being surcharged with salt from our western shores. The m-nwrt, • m so great that in large grounds much tLe°il

kitchen garden. rlfflS in this artmen t present quite a different appearance. Hitherto growth was not as good as the season demanded strong winds and variable temnenturo ),„ ■' [ OTl ° detrimental to so many' TL " g been vegetables ™'"" should now bedireefcd to filling the various gaps causpri Ktt av « transplanted Slugs or Other circumstances! Every avail IT' 008 ska],] MW 156 C Con' stent care and attention will be necessarv keep them intact from slugs ( J in the kitchen garden w^ow® X sowing for succession, staking thoTc', t^ fc f , requ ™ * and frequently hoeing

• ANSWERS to correspondents. "Narcissus" (Ponsonby): The fnlinm c narcissi or daffodils should not be 'cut off h, ' e green, but allowed to die natulii! each year. Removing the leiveo w ' 1 y proper time impairs tie vigour and rnnrf-» tion oil all bulbs, and must fnTm, C ° nstltu " son ' The their fioweriSLToEr^ the hardy, 'Z2 trfs, ceptible in dealing with the J varieties. Narcissi bulbs should be ST

Shallow roo *'A t are excellent subportulaeca. ' ' the beds now occupied jects fol ' I '. 1]) ° tiey in their turn die off ■ iWWWJjUgJ, Your letter with • wf enclosed safely to hand. After specimen lei t . on I feil t<) find any fiigns of "black spot mentioned in your letter but ?i If is very badlv infested with mildew the leaf Tuckerii), which is in itself quite (Oidium i > b unless strm S ft C m s res aS once taken to check its froth There must be something rad.c llv wrong in the vines to cause tins disease to develop so early in the season Your econd note, re barren spurs gives the key othe cause' of their unfriiitfulness as well as the cause of the mildew, for- although you Hn not mention the class of soil in which the vines ™ growing, I conclude that it is e X of a cold clayey nature or jlse there is an excess of moisture at the roots. The strong shoots you mention is too often prod c d by the roots rambling away intc cold uncongenial soils, producing strong sappy growth that is very deceptive to the lnexwrienced grape-grower. This deep rooting is often caused through want of attention durin" the driest parts of the season, the borders being allowed to become dry and parched, the result being that Vines, naturally very gross feeders, have to go deep and far in search of the necessary food and moisture. When the vines are in this condition mildew is almost sure to result, and cannot be eradicated until the cause is removed. Vines very seldom fail to produce and perfect mod crops if the surface of the borders are well furnished with fibrous roots, but this can only be obtained by heavy mulching, and keeping the surface supplied with the necessary moisture, so that the vines have not to ramble in search of it. Mildew, as already stated, is caused by the roots penetrating cold uncongenial soils; but as the cause cannot at the present time be removed without injuring the vines, measures must he taken to keep it in check until the proper time to remove it. If the mildew has not too great a hold upon the foliage, dry sulphur dusted over the foliage will keep it in check. A good plan is to place a few sheets of corrugated iron upon the floor of the house in a sunny position, and cover with sulphur. The fumes thro™ off the iron helps to kill the germs, without injuring the foliage. If the foliage is badly attacked, the following solution will be found most effectual. Take a pound of powdered sulphur, mis with sufficient water to form a paste; add to the paste a gallon of water, and boil in an iron saucepan for 20 minutes. When cool, strain off the clear portion, and place in bottles ready for use. Use a quarter of a pint of the mixture to three gallons of water. A few syringings with this mixture will quite check the mildew. Afterwards dry sulphur should be freely distributed through the house. Kefos.