THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12076, 20 September 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

For more than a week garden operations have been mostly at a standstill, owing to excessive rains and the wet state of the soil, the weather being cold and more severe than during the depth of tho winter season. Allow tho surface soil to become fairly dry before attempting any more planting or working it, as more harm than good i 3 always done by treading upon the ground too soon after it has been so thoroughly soaked with moisture as recently. Tho planting that is now required can stand over for a few days. Flowering shrubs, notably rhododendrons, magnolias, and Photinia glabra, arc now in full bloom, and make a magnificent display, ll'ir.i'ndeiirlrons are the most gorgeous and highly-prized shrubs in cultivation. Naturally they prefer a somewhat moist situation, and deep, loamy soil, and peat and leaf mould are unquestionably best for their requirements. They will, however, thrive admirably in any good garden soil. But whero the soil is shallow, with a stiff clay subsoil, beds must bo specially prepared for these plants, otherwise success cannot be looked Cor. To prepare the beds take out the ordinary soil ,to a depth of from 2ffc to 2|ffc and refill with prepared compost. If peat is to bo had it should form a portion of tho new soil; this, with light, volcanic soil, turfy loam, and sand mixed together in about, equal proportions, with a little dry cow manure added, is all that can be desired. It is far better to make the bods properly at fust, as the plants, when they become large, require a good depth of soil to root into. Tho presence of lime ill the soil near the roots is injurious to these plants. Avoid using any, either as a topdressing or in the mixture. During dry weather tho surface soil around the plants should be well mulched and cccanonally soaked with water to keep it cool and moist. Magnolia Halleana atellatos still continues in the utmost profusion of bloom. Magnolia conspioua (tho yuian tree of China), and its varieties is also most conspicuous. Its large, white terminal tulip-shuped blossoms aro produced at the cuds of every branch and shoot. Coming out before tho leaves appear it, is rightly namx?d "conspioua." No shrubbery should bo withouf a representative of this most elegant species. Magnolia obovata discolor, more frequently railed purpurea, produces its purple blossoms in a similar manner to the preceding species. Photinia glabra, a. hardy evergrfjen shrub or small tree of compact growth and upright habit, with dark green shiny leaves, is also conspicuous in many of our gardens and r-hrubljorios, being laden with a profusion of flat heads of flower produced at t'he termination of every root. Selectors in choosing hardy shrubs should invariably include, one of each of the above in every new plantation. KITCHEN CABDSN, Operations in this department have for fully a woefc been at a standstill, owing to the wot stafte of the land, it having been quite impracticable to do any digging or planting under such conditions. The recent spell of wet weather has again brought tho slug nuisance to the for®, seedlings and youngjicwlytrunsplauted cabbage and cauliflower plants having suffered considerably. Jf, is almost impossible to apply artificial remedies with effect during periods when rain falls mora or 1c33 evetry day*

. THE viircnY. The mild weather of the last few week? has been all that could ho wished foe starting the late vines into growth, as well as for those that are well advanced. Constant attention ; must bo given to their requirements through* I out the growing season, and on no account I must they lie neglc-ctod if satisfactory re- ! sults are to follow. Disbudding is the first 1 operation demanding attention _ after they ; have fairly started, that is, removing all weak | or superfluous shoots that invariably start : around tho spur, >: or base, of the fruiting | laterals. When two laterals are left to each 1 spur, one should be shortened back, or reI moved as soon as the one showing the best i bunch is determined, and if two bunches are formed upon one lateral the more inferior bunch should be removed. On no account should two bunches be allowed upon one lateral. As soon as sufficient growth is made the fruiting lateral should be stopped two or throe eyes beyond the bunch. The number of eyes left should be regulated by the strength of growth and the space of trellis required to be covered. In every case sufficient growth should ho left to nicely cover the trellis, at the same time allowing ample space for the foliage to fully develop without being cramped. A short time after the first stopping a second pinching is necessary, stopping back the secondary growths that start out from each joints of the fruiting lateral. In removing the secondary shoots all that form below the bunch should be taken clean out: whilst those above the hunch should be pinched back to the first bud, that is, leaving another leaf to grow op the secondary shoots. The stopping should be done almost daily, so that the work i& kept well in hand, and only a small portion will need to be taken from any one vine at tho same time. This is really a most important matter, as vines are very frequently weakened by being allowed to grOw until a large quantity of growth has to be removed at one time, the ; number of wounds naturally causing a check | by the loss "f sap that exudes from them, i The number of bunches left on each vino should bo regulated by the strength and con-

j dition of ihe cane. One thing is certain, that j overcropping is the main cause of a great ; many failures with growers. Vines are soon exhausted unless they receive very libers,! treatment as well as very careful attention to their many requirements. Varieties, of course, differ as to the number of bunches they, are able to carry and perfect. Some varieties produce much larger bunches and berries than others, and should be regulated accordingly. The maintenance of the foliage ill a. clean, healthy, vigorous condition is one of the most important features and the surest means of success in vine culture. .ANSWERS TO COBBEarOJTDENTS. Brutus (Wanganui): Persons suffering from rheumatism, and those with rheumatic tendencies, should nob partake of garden rhubarb. Tho acid in the rhubarb has a tendency to aggravate the disease. Celery, 011 the other hand, is recommended to be freely partaken of: also asparagus. G.K. (Mount Eden): Ericas, or heaths, succeed admirably in light volcanic soils. Your non-success is easily accounted for by the liberal dressing of fresh manure that was dug into tho soil before planting. Manure is fatal to them, especially in tho fresh state. Woll-established plants that have been planted two or three years are benefited by a light dressing of old cow manure that has been well dried, powdered up, and lightly forked into the surface around the plants. Rotten turf and decayed leaves are what heaths delight in. E.M. (Devonport): Mervta Sinclairii, the native name of -which is' puka, is admirably adapted for planting in positions exposed to the sea winds. This species is indigenous to our northern coast, its only known habitat, growing abundantly on one of the Three Kings Islands. There arc a few specimens on the Hen and Chickens, where it was first discovered. Some trees have also been found on the mainland on the Northern coast. The puka grows into an exceedingly handsome small tree-, and is quite tropical in appearance, having extremely large, dark green shining leaves. Expos. ■