THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

The weather throughout the week has been most unfavourable for the garden. Strong northerly winds have prevailed, and wrought sad havoc amongst flowers, trees, shrubs, and plants generally. Deciduous trees being clothed in their young, tender spring foliage have suffered considerably. Where fully exposed the leaves and young shoots present a blackened appearance. The surface soil is littered with the now season's growth. The experience of the past few days clearly demonstrates the necessity of providing adequate shelter, in the way of hedges and suitable hardy trees and shrubs to protect the more tender subjects and plants in flower. Some of the hardiest European trees suffer badly when subjected to strong sea winds, and need others to shelter them. Owing to close proximity to the sea on either side local conditions must be studied when planting shelter trees and bodges in and around our city and suburbs. The boisterous weather we are having also proves the importance of having all recently-planted tree's and shrubs securely staked. When unsupported the swaying of the head backwards and forwards by the action of the winds severs some of the young fibrous roots and injures the plant. Owing to unfavourable weather conditions the planting of annuals and other subjects for the summer display has been in abeyance during the week. However, preparation must soon be made for transplanting chrysanthemums into their flowering quarter?. Those intended for the production of show blooms for exhibition purposes need extra care in the selection of situation, and require to be grown in a plot by them.elves, the best plan being to plant in rows, arranging the plant-, twelve inches apart in. the row? and from 2' to 3 feet between each row, to give ample room for staking and protecting; the flowers when out. The soil should hare been deeply dug and well ma- j nured, and in good friable condition at the time of planting. Select well established, healthy and sturdy plants, and rani the soil {irmly around the roots when planting. Those . that are grown for ordinary garden decoration and supply of cut blooms need no special care in the planting or preparation of the soil. Arrange them here and there at suitable intervals, and when the plants have grown a few inches pinch the tops out; this will cause them to break near the ground and to pro- . duce shapely plants. | KITCHEN GAItDEN. Crops in this department, especially those growing in exposed positions, hav?> suffered considerably from the violence of the winds. The tops of potatoes have fared badly, especially where the earthing-up has been neglected. Tomatoes have also had a bad time, and kidney beasts, where fully exposed, will not be worth leaving. In well-sheltered localities no injury has been done. Cucumbers, melons, etc., must be kept protected until warmer and more settled weather sets in; kumaras or sweet potatoes should not bo planted until towards the middle of next month. There is no advantage in planting earlier. At this -season it is important to have the soil between'the rows frequently stirred by hoeing to break the- surface crust. This acts as a mulch anu greatly benefits the plants. TUB OaCHABD. The heavy gale that has raged during the greater part of the past weekthough fortunately too late to affect the setting of many varieties of early fruitshas had a damaging effect upon trees that have been exposed to the full force of the wind. Fortunately "the gale has not been accompanied with the extreme cold, frosty air taat is generally experienced at this season, so that even the most tender varieties have not so far suffered a severe check. It is sincerely to be hoped that the trees will now escape the blighting effects of the cold south-west winds, for from present appearances there is every prospect of an abundant yield of most varieties of orchard and garden fruits. Most varieties of plum 3 have set well, while many of tin; Japanese promise prodigious crops. From, present appearances the Burbank bids fair to again head the list, and will require almost as much thinning as the grape, to enable the

trees to develop anything like marketable fruit Most varieties of European plums too have" set well, and promise good crops. Peaches so far, look very promising, and have set good crops of fruit; even somewhat are generally considered shy hearer* nave this Won set well. The foliage of toe peach, too, though by no means free from the leaf curl, is not nearly so bad as last season So much, however, depends upon the weather that this disease may yet become bad should unfavourable climatic oonaitiona arise. Apples, pears, in fact, nearly every variety of orchard fruit, show every prospect of producing heavy crops. This shows too importance of the advice given some time ago upon manuring the trees, for unless soma adverse conditions arise, most of the trees will he heavily taxed, and although they may carry and rincft their crops they must naturally become mors or less exhausted., unless assistance in some form is given. he soil too around the trees should be kept wellstirred, for apart from the advantage of allowing the warmth and air to penetrate to the roots the moisture is better retained. This is more important after such a wet season as we have experienced, for if the soil round the trees is allowed to remain hard and unbroken they are sure to suffer just at the time when they require the greatest assistance. One thing that orohardisfcs often lose sight of is that the frequent application of artificial manure must naturally induce the _ roots o. trees to come to the surface. in this condition, too, the trees arc naturally more fruitful, but it must not be lost sight of that trees having their roots near the surface are naturally more liable to suffer from the effects of drought than those that root deep down in the soil, it is not always practicable to mulch the trees with manure or other suitable material for the purpose, but by keeping the surface soil well stirred the moisture is retained even in the driest weather. The black aphis lias already made its appearance upon some tree.;, and should be at once attacked. KEros.