THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12698, 29 October 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

The weather during the week has been most favourable for growth and also for the planting: -in the various beds and borders of annuals and othoi suitable subjects for thei summer display. Copious rains have again, thoroughly moistened the soil, which was needed, as the surface had become baked, and hard and difficult to hoe and pulverise. The planting of chrysanthemums, particularly those intended for the production of exhibition blooms, • should' now be attended to.. i For thin purpose select an open but fairly well sheltered situation. A moderately stiff, loamy, well-drained soil that is rich, in humus is the best. For convenience in staking and the constant attention that the plants • require during their different stages of growth they should be arranged in rows about ISin apart in the rows and three feet between each row. A dressing of lime evenly scat-' tered over the whole surface and lightly. hoed ; m previous to planting not only sweetens the soil and destroys vermin but acts as a stimulus to the- plants. Select healthy young plants recently struck—cuttings being the best. Thoroughly firm the soil around the roots, using the handle, of the trowel or a blunt stick for the purpose. Making the soil firm produces slower and more sturdy growth. Chrysanthemums intended for ordinary garden decoration and cut bloom's need not be planted until the middle or end of next month. Autumn-sown sweet peas are now growing apace. See that they are well staked, or, otherwise supported. For thosethat are sown in clumps here and there, in the mixed borders a ring of four foot,wire netting placed around the plants makes an excellent support the growth soon conceals the netting, and produces a charming effect when the plants are in bloom. Lawns and other grass plots require a 'considerable amount of attention at this season, when the growth is so active, in the way of cutting and rolling. _ The machine should be run over the lawn twice a week. Grass edgings should also be kept clipped and neat and tidy; walks must be weeded. THE KITCHEN GABDEN. - j Crops in this department have benefited by the recent rains and now present, a flourish* ing appearance. There is still plenty to do in the way of sowing successional crops anil attending to the thinning out,, hoeing ,and earthing up of those' that require it, also" the staking, of tall-growing peas and runner beans.' The sowing of melons, marrows, cucumbers, watermelons, etc.,! it not already done, should be attended to forthwith. As, slugs are partial to melons the seedlings should be carefully watched as soon as they are beginning- to come through, ■ otherwise they will soon disappear.. A ; Isprinl-ling of tobacco dust or ring.of lime placed around the hills will prevent slugs attacking them. Sowings of French or dwarf kidney beans may now be made; hitherto the weather, has been too wet and cold for kidney beans. Still continue.to bed out a few cabbage and cauliflower plants for late use. Sow or plant'potatoes for general crop. The first planting of kumeras, or sweet potatoes, should also be made. Obtain rooted plants grown from off-shoots; arrange their in rows three feet between each row, arid from eighteen inches to two feet between the plants in the rows. The ground for kumeras must not be too rich, otherwise they wilt' grow to tofc and produce but few tubers. THE .VINES?. : ' In this department, too, the favourable change in the weather has had a. beneficial effect upon vines, in all stages of growth. : Vine 3 that were started early and.;forced.! on with the aid of: artificial heat will now j bo well advanced. Care, however, will be I necessary to maintain hsalthy growth until j the grapes are fully developed. Mulching of the borders, if not already done, should be attended to without delay. The late rains have thoroughly moistened the soil, "and, if j well mulched when in this condition, \ the j moisture will be retained and the labour ■! of watering saved. Later-started vines, too, I

are making rapid growth, arid thinning of the berates will now demand i*e greatest at-, tention. ■ Thinning is always a Blow;and tedious operation, and needs persistent work to ' keep' pace' with requirement Ac this stage the grapes grow very:rapidly, ana when a lai<o quantity of any one variety is grown it is ■: (difficult to keep them under control, unless taken in hand Jas soon as they are large enough to thin. A good plan (as mentioned in previous notes) is to paraally thin as soon as '~ the fruit is properly set, going over them again and completing the work as ■ soon as- the berries are large enough for the final operation. Where a larger number of different varieties are growin?:, varieties conning in at different seasons, the task of thinning is easily performed, as only a few may require it at the same time. The amount of thinning (required will depend upon tlw varieties and the object for which they are grown. Varieties vary so much in the size of berries produced that no hard and fast rule ; can be laid down. When vines are grown simply for home consumption large, well-finished = fruit;,. is at all times most appreciated. To obtain this, however, hot only must the bunches be well thinned/; hut the vines must not bo overburdened by leaving too much fruit. The general tendency of nearly ■ all : growers is to allow the vines to carry far morfi bunches than they rah cany to.perfection, and probably more failures can be traced to this than any other cause. Under careful; cultivation the cropping vines should continue t& carry and ripen good crops of fruit for a great, number of f years. The condition of the border, which should always be tho natural feeding ground of the vines, is of the greatest importance, as it is almost impossible to grow vines successfully (for any lenrtK oi: time at least) unless the border is wolf prepared and made congenial to '■'.■ healthy, vigorous root growth. Keep all superfluous lateral growth well under control. When growing rapidly it is advisable to go over the vines two or three times a week; by this means only a small quantity is removed at any one time, and there is litle or no risk of cheeking growth. It is important that a nice, even, genial temperature be maintained, air being admitted early in the morning to allow the vitiated air to escape before the sun raises the temperature too high. '. |,_ : /- -/: " -\ EEPOS.