THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11520, 3 November 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Wet, cold, and exceedingly boisterous weather has been the general complaint for weeks The first half of the present week has been even worse than its predecessors. A southerly gale, continuing ior several days in succession, and accompanied by cold rain storms,. has had a most damaging effect upon the garden. Tho keen winds have been most searching in their effects, getting into every nook and corner, no matter how well it may be sheltered. Tho cultivator has some "cause for complaint, as it is most disheartening to garden under existing circumstances. No opportunity is afforded for working the soil with any degree of comfort or satisfaction. The surface no sooner gets a little dry than it is again deluged with a heavy dash of rain. The soil continues sold, and growth is naturally most backward. Winds during the present week have been more destructive than at any time throughout the winter. Fortunately the. permanent trees and other plants that were transplanted during :ho winter had a good opportunity to become well established, otherwise it would have fared badly with them. The necessity /of providing as good shelter as circumstances will permit must be admitted by all who interest themselves in gardening. It is quite impossible to cultivate flowers or even vegetables unless shelter is provided, particularly against the south and westerly winds, which usually prevail during the late spring season. Evergreen hedges afford the best protection against wind and cold. Those who exclaim against surrounding their gardens with hedges must surely alter their opinion after what we have lately experienced. It is too late now to plant this year, but provision should be made for doing so next planting season.. Staking all plants that need protection against wind is an important matter. Those that require it and are not attended to soon get, destroyed, as the blowing backward and forward of the head is too great a strain upon tho young fibrous roots which support the plant. Sowing of annual seeds and planting of annuals and other summer-flower-ing plants should now engage the attention of tho gardener. Now, too, is the time to plant out chrysanthemums, both for exhibition and general garden decoration. For both sowing and planting suitable weathei must be chosen. KITCHEN GARDEN. The same remarks as to weather apply in this department as to the flower garden. A considerable amount of resowing and replanting has to bo done to make good losses and fill up blanks where seeds have either failed to germinate on account of the wet, cold state of the land, or where they havo been demolished by slugs. French and other kidney beans, being tender, have had a hard time lately, and have generally failed. Cucumbers, rockmelons, watermelons, etc., that were recently sown and arc just above ground will need protection against the cold winds. As the season is getting late, complete tho planting out of tomatoes and also the sowing of rock, water, and picmelons. Those sown now will, however, stand a netter chance than previous sowings, as the weather should soon become warmer and the night and day temperature more uniform. Celery seedlings should be picked out into boxes, or into a bed prepared for the purpose, arranging them about three inches apart each way. This will enable them to bo taken up with a good ball of earth when they are wanted for planting out towards the end of next month. Kumeras or sweet pota;oes: Any time before the middle of the, month is the best time to plant. The ground for kumeras must not be too rich, otherwise they will grow' to tops and not tuber well. Attend to tho staking of runner beans and tall-grow-ing peas. THE ORCHARD. The advice given in last week's orchard notes upon the necessity of securely staking newly-planted trees and plants, as well as buds and grafts that are now in full growth, has been fully demonstrated by the tempestuous weather of the past week. Where these precautions have not been taken much injury and loss must have resulted. So searching in its effects was the fierce, keen winds that what appeared the most sheltered places did not escape. Unfortunately the injury done by such weather has not been confined to small trees, as nearly every, tree in the orchard has suffered more or le3S, while all the more tender kinds have naturally received a severe check. Peaches, where they are at all exposed, are a sorry spectacle. Trees in many instances that had set fair crops of fruit are now almost leafless. Japanese plums, though not up to the average, of other seasons, have not suffered so much as most other trees, and are still carrying fair crops. It is evident, from the experience of the Last few years, that thorough shelter from these prevailing winds is indispensable to ensure anything like success in the cultivation of many fruits. It is sincerely to be hoped that strawberries have escaped the effects of the gales. SToung trees and plants will require immediate attention. The swaying of the trees by the wind has caused largo holes to form around the stem. These should be at once filled up. The surface soil around the trees should be well loosened, and the trees again ptaced firmly in an upright position and the stakes driven firmly into the soil. In every case where the trees are cultivated, the soil will need to be well loosened, the heavy rains having naturally beaten the soil until the surface has become hard and srlid. After such a severe cheek, tho tree should havo every assistance to induce healthy growth. In seasons such as we have just experienced the advantage of training the trees wth low heads is plainly seen. Scarcely a spring passes without experiencing high winds Hiat are more or less damaging to fruit prospects, and every observing orchardist knows that tho more the trees are exposed tho more liable they are to suffer injury, and in addition to the advantages of shelter, lowtrained trees are more easily handled usd tended, and pruning, dressing, and picking of the fruit can be done with greater despatch than when the trees are tall and allowed to grow at will. Kepos.