THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. The weather throughout the week has been most favourable for gardening, especially for hoeing—a much-needed requirement, as the various beds, borders, and walks had become vory weody. In dealing with gardens where the soil is naturally of a retentive nature, and the surface has become beaten down with the ■ frequent rains recently experienced, in addition to hoeing it will require to be lightly forked. This will not only improve the appearance but will materially aid the plants by retaining more moisture in the soil, and the many other benefits a loose surface derives from the ameliorating effects of the atmosphere. Flowers are now most abundant; roses, carnations, pansios, watsonias, sweet peas, fuchsias, several varieties of lilies, antirrhinums, poppies, and numerous early annuals are the greatest profusion of blossoms. Roses are greatly benefited and the blooming period prolonged by strict attention to picking off all spent flowers and by thinning out A few of the superfluous flower buds. Lilies are now conspicuous in our gardens. They aio the most beautiful and ornamental of f.ll bulbous plants. Their large, showy, and richly-coloured flowers (which are in many varieties highly perfumed) are produced on eioi't stems, giving them a stately appearance and rendering them quite indispensable subjects for the embellishment of the flower garden. Many of the strong-growijig, hardy sorts are admirably adapted for grouping and naturalising in •shrubberies, and when once established the bulbs may remain for year 3 in the same spot without being taken up cr disturbed. When planted here and there along near the edges of partially shaded walks and drives they present a pleasing effect when in full bloom. As a general rule lilies are best suited for planting in the mixed borders, arranging the varieties according to height, placing the tallest at tho back and the dwarf growers towards the edge. The commoner and most plentiful varieties of lilies that have been established here for many years are ample proof of tho suitability of our climate for lily-growing. Tho beautiful pure white St. Joseph's lily (L. candidum) is now in full flower, and may be seen growing almost everywhere, in any soil or situation, being of the easiest culture. Lilium longiflorum is another species that has become oven more common in our gardens than the preceding. It is a dwarf-growiiifc, variety, producing long, funnel-shaped, whito flowers, and is now in full bloom. Tho _ different varieties of Liluim elegans are also in flower. They are of compact, dwarf habit, and vory showy. The golden-rayed lily of Japan (L. airratutn) is amongst the most handsome and prized of all. It is somewhat harder to manage than most of the other sorts. By planting a selection of lilies that flower at different seasons a display may be kept up for a considerable period, beginning with candidum, which is the earliest to flower, and following on with the other sorts and completing the season with tho varieties of Liluim speciosum, which are the latest to bloom. For goneral cultivation lilies prefer a fairly light, moist, loamy soil, and tho flowers last the longest where tho plants are growing in a partiallyshaded, sheltered situation. In addition to the value of lilies for garden decoration, they are useful subjects for pot culture for verandah, greenhouse, or conservatory de-

coration. When grown in pots the bulbs must be deeply inserted, being placed almost \ oh top of the crocks, as the plants derive ; moat of their nourishment from the roots that : are produced around the stem immediately above the bulb. As the plants advance in growth add Eome well-rotted manure and ' water freely. KITCHEN GARDEN. Favoured by much warmer and milder weather the various members of the melon family have a better chance to grow. Keep the soil around them well stirred, and thin the seedlings out, leaving' three or four of the strongest to each hill. The main requirement!? in this department at present are to attend to successional sowings of peas, beans, and the various subjects for salads, end to keep the hoe constantly at work to loosen the surface soil and to kill seedling weeds. The staking of runner beans and tall-growing peas must also be attended to, as well as the tying up of tomatoes to their supports and the cutting out of superfluous growths on the plants. The temperature throughout is now much more uniform, consequently growth is more vigorous and healthy. THE ORCHAHD. The season is again at hand when fruitgrowers will have to face the difficulties of tho various insects and diseases that attack the fruit and foliage of so many of our orchard trees. For some years past so little has been done in the way of spraying, at any rate in a general way, that most of these destructive agents have well nigh had full scope until now they have become so numerous as to play sad havoo with the fruit crops, and although this applies more particularly to pip fruits, if is by no means confined exclusively to thes» fruits. In addition to the destruction done by the codlin moth, the loech, brown beetle, pear mite, peach curl, and other Insects and diseases, all arc injurious to the tries they attack, and do much to destroy fruit prosDects. Most of these can be kept in check by the persistent and judiciots use of the syringe, while some can be quit* eradicated. Many have, no doubt, been detained from spraying on account of the injury done to the trees by injudicious spraring with arsenical solutions, and this in a gre:t measure has been caused by "Paris greet" being placed upon the market varying in strength, without full instructions being given as to its use. But since it is found that the addition of a little lime to the water oontaiting the Paris green has (he effect of. annulling the burning properties of the arsenical s>luticn, it can be applied with safety, ,But syinging, for whatever purpose applied, must. Ike all other work in horticulture, bo thoroughly done or satisfactory results cannot ie obtained. There are still a few energefc orchardists who have proved the value of praying and who lose no opportunity of t'ying to keep these pests in check. A few day ago a gentleman informed mo that he saved last season quite two-thirds of his fruit of aiples and pears by syringing, though he madi no special effort. For savinor these fruits Inris preen is undoubtedly still the best specific that can be used. For the destruction of the leech helebore is a safe and effectual remidy. For the black aphis black leaf is without doubt the best and surest insecticide that ;an be used. This is a preparation of tobacco is harmless to plants, and easily applied. lor pear mite and leaf curl on peaches Bordeaux mixture is a certain remedy, but to be thoroughly effectual the first dressing should ie applied just before the buds burst into growth Syringing, of course, entails consiclerabli labour, but to maintain healthy growth and fruitfulness it is essential while infects and diseases are numerous. The extra fruit obtained and its superior duality will more than compensate for the labour bestowed. Kepos.