THE GARDEN:

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14531, 19 November 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN:

The rose, "the queen of all / flowers," is the feature .of ; the garden, just now. All varieties are a profusion of bloom, notably so those' belonging to the climbing section. The weather throughout the spring - has been most favourable for the growth of the plants, which are clothed with luxuriant foliage and strong shoots, and are remarkably free from aphides and other insects. The general verdict is that roses have done better and are more numerous and beautiful than. ever. The wealth of blooms displayed at the Horticultural Exhibtion now being held at the. Choral Hall must be a revelation to the visitors and impress them with the adaptability of our climate and soils for successful rose-growing, and from the large number of novelties shown, including the latest and best, it is evident our growers keep their collections up to date.

CLIMBING BOSKS. ■ Of late years the additions of climbing roses have become so numerous and varied that it is an easy matter to clothe and decorate the various wooden and other walls, hedgerows, and banks, and plant .- to climb up and ramble over and amongst some of the trees and shrubs, also to cover _ arches erected over walks. The pergola is now indispensable in all gardens of any extent, it being the best and most artistic and effective means for displaying the beauties of climbing roses, which have become the floral feature of the garden at this season.

' bose eons. A good deep, fairly stiff, loamy soil, that has been deeply cultivated or trenched, and well enriched with manure, may be designated as ideal for all .members of the rose family.

FESTILISEBS fob BOSES. ; ■ Some growers still advocate the old system of liberal manure-waterings. A much better system is to well trench the beds of ground around the plants with short manure, or to "occasionally scatter one or other of the artificial fertilisers that are best suited for roses near the roots. r The natural rains or the artificial waterings soon convey the manurial properties of the mulch or other fertiliser to the roots of the plants. Frequent applications of. manure-waterings invariably make the soil sodden and sour.

PROLONGING BLOSSOMING. In these days of rapid change and advancement old ideas have in a measure to give place to new. As a rule the old-school gardener is prone to keep ini the, one groove and slow to alter his methods. To prolong the blooming season all spent flowers should be removed from the bushes. Carnations and picotees will.'soon be a profusion of bloom. Attention should now be paid to neatly stake, regulate, and tie up the flower stalks, and remove a few of the surplus buds to produce larger and finer blooms. An occasional dusting of lime is beneficial to the plants, anplied immediately around them. It also helps to keep away wireworms, which are most destructive to the roots and frequently kill the plants.

THE KITCHEN GARDEN. General work in this department will chiefly consist in hoeing the surface soil to keep down seedling and other weeds; in earthing-up potato®, peas, and beans, when at the proper stage for the purpose; in thinning out seedlings to the necessary distances apart, and in hand weeding the plants in the rows; in sowing various crops for succession in planting lettuces to keep up a,' regular supply. All vacant spaces should be fully occupied at this season; as soon as one crop ■is cleared away another should bo ready to take its place. Preparations should now be made for. a trench in which to plant celery. THE VINZBT. The weather still continues most'' favourable for this department. Up to the present the borders have been kept well supplied with moisture, without having. to resort to artificial watering, and where the borders have been well mulched, so that a genial • moisture is encouraged, there will be little difficulty in -maintaining healthy growth for some time with watering. It must be borne in mind, however, that, in the cultivation and production of good fruit moisture plays the most important part. FEEDING THE VINE. Vines during the growing and fruiting period are gross feeders, and absorb a great amount of food before they can develop and mature the thousands of juicy, luscious globules that they are frequently allowed to carry. This should be borne in mind in , the treatment given to the borders or roots, as the borders are prepared with tho view of providing the plants with the food required. BOOT BEQITIBEMENTS. It frequently happens, however, that during a long spell of dry weather this part (either through dearth of water or neglect) is allowed to become parched ana dry; this, too, just at a time when the vines stand most in need of assistance, with the result that the roots wander outside the prepared border, seeking the food and moisture they must have, often penetrating soil that is cuite uncongenial to healthy growth and development of sound fruit. The object of growers should be to not only have a thoroughly prepared border, but to keep it provided with the necessary food and moisture, so that the root requirements are met. ■ j. SUMMER VENTILATION.' With the increasing .temperature, more ventilation must be given.: Care, however, must be exercised not to create a draught, while sudden changes should bo avoided. The safest method is to open early with the view of preventing the temperature rising too high, and not to allow tho temperature first to . rise high and then open with the object of reducing it. If this is dine there will be little or no risk of scorching, particularly if the vines are trained well away from the glass, so that the air can circulate freely between the gtftss and foliage.

_ THINNING THE BCNCBEB. ( llinmng o(' will n ro , ''' i-fi* the time available. This i* Tn ° CWl£ ° r 80 - r i ;that cannot bo neglected sistent vvvork will beyond control, partieularlv - number of oni removal of .sub-lateral Jf 1 bo attended to- Thte • * to fall in arrears while tWnnr^ ; ' #B®*! Kress but if left until a ari« s W 1,1 shoots are grown there -'s !f nu ®)*r o f-' H of shrinking, ° f at least a'chSln a**Sl \ from tho loss of sap t'<at u" Vf-■ th?s m it a i! ahvavs of womds *° avoid :fi f. l ? ls always advhab'p «k i ' ®Void;#'i| well m band, so thai ,fi k€e^ the wo .l 18 removed at one time * a Bma " orti 0» '*; 1