THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12740, 17 December 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

The harsh, cold, parching, and boisterous southerly winds that have prevailed of late, together with exceptionally cold nights, are most unseasonable,* and consequently unfavourable for gardens. Plants that are at all tender are not growing well, and the floral display is greatly* interfered with. The uncongenial weather detracts from the pleasures of the garden, and is the subject of general comment, being quite, unprecedented. General operations in this department will consist in frequent hoeings to keep down seedling and other weeds, and also to well stir the surface soil. .All weeds must also bo eradicated from the walks ami drives, and the grass edgings clipped, in order to leave everything neat and tidy for the holiday season. Several plants will need attention in the way ot, staking, notably chrysanthemums,' dahlias, ami gladioli. Rosea should have all the decayed blooms picked off; this prolongs the flowering season and strengthens the plants. The samo remarks apply to carnations and pieotees. These plants are 'flower-, ing better than usual, and are in splendid growth: the colder weather apparently suits carnations. The planting of dahlias* now be completed, also cosmoea, miniature sunflower, phlox, portulueea, and all other annuals. There should be no vacancies in the beds and borders; every available space should he occupied. •■ THE KITCHEN GARDEX: ' ' i Operations in this department will now be of a routine character, and consist chiefly in hoeing to destroy seedling weeds and well stirring the soil to ikeep the land in a good state of cultivation and draw up the moisture" from below. The necessary attention must he paid to staking runner beans and the tallgrowing varieties of peas, and thinning out and regulating the growth of tomato plants and tying the shoots up to the trellises and other supports that have been provided for the purpose. In training tomatoes, the best and easiest system is to allow only one leading branch to each support. Cut away all side, shoots, and in some instances, where" the foliage is thick and the plants extra strong, cut off portions of the leave*. Tocombat the ravages of fungoid diseases, which have become so destructive to potato crops, tomatoes, and some other vegetable*, preventive measures in the way of spraying the foliage with Bordeaux mixture, verrnorite, or other fungicides must lx» adopted. Spray before the disease makes its appearance, as fungicides are preventives and noi effective enough to save crops that have bocome badly infested. When the young potatoes are a few inches high the tops."should be properly sprayed. Tomato plants should receive an application at regular intervals to ward off fungoid attacks. This spraying of crops must now be taken into serious consideration, and placed upon the calendar of necessary operations. Owing to cold, boisterous winds and exceedingly low night temperature, cucumbers and all other members ol the melon family aro making bill little progress, and present an unhealthy, starved appearance. ,'■■..' - . THE VIXKuV. In view of the holiday season, and to afford some relaxation from the numerous requirements ot this department, every effort should be made, to place the house in thorough order, so that the. gardener can enjoy a wellearned vest without the risk of injury to the. vines. Thinning.ie now practically over, so that the most important work is stopping and removing superfluous lateral growths. These, as frequently stated, should always bo kept well imd«?r control, for, apart from I

the risk of checking growth when a number of-laterals-. are allowed to -grow; and then suddenly removed, the grapes ; naturally swell more rapidly when these; are removed from time to,time'as they grow, as the energies of the plants are then concentrated in developing- the fruits and the healthy foliage • so necessary for the production of good, well.-: ripened grapes. Those, men, should be gone Carefully over, and every young lateral growth "not required for covering the trellis Should be removed or stopped back. Theseason so far has bet'!), anything, but favourable :to successful grape-growing, the. high; winds and frequently cold, piercing; weather having mode it almost impossible to maintain anything like an even temperature in the house, "the result being that vines are more backward than usual, and they will require more careful watching to prevent mildew from attacking them. The borders, too, on account of the dry, parching winds, will need careful attention. The surface soil should be loosened and the- borders thoroughly mulched with manure or other suitable material to assist in maintaining a nice, genial moisture at the roots. ANSWERS TO r:OIU!Esr-OXr>EXrS. : E.G., Stanley Point: In answer to your further queries' re pear trees dropping their fruits soon after forming, this spring climatic conditions are probably responsible, as the pear crop in this district, is a partial if "not complete failure. Trees -that have cropped annually have only » little fruit on them." Too much" wet after fruits had set and uncongenial weather at.the time of blossoming arc the causes. The same remarks generally apply to European plums; those (hat did set " mostly dropped afterwards. Japanese plums arc little better. The Burbank, which has never failed to crop since its introduction, is a failure this year. The leaf rust, which attacks the leaves: of European plums, '»r<>atty impairs the vitality of the trees. '■• The . premature dropping of the leaves in .summer and re-starting into growth late in autumn injures the trees and affects their growth mid. fruiting the following season. In naturally wet. unchained soils, where stagnant water collects, the fruits invariably drop after setting. .. _ .. # • J.K.,. Waikumete: The specimen ' leaves sent have all the appearance of be-in? affected by jsifli scald. Under the microscope there is no appearance of any fungoid growth upon those, sent; while the foliage except for the spots appears quite healthy. As soon as, more settled favourable weather is experienced the plants will probably cease- to bo affected; , . . KEros.