THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

VEGETABLES IN HOT WEATHER. It frequently happens at this season of the year, when the vegetable garden ifl well stocked with most kinds of seasonable crops, that growers often overlook the fact that sowings and plantings are still necessary if a supply of suitable vegetables is to be maintained. It is true that during the hot dry summer months the same success can scarcely be attained unless extra care in taken in preparing the soil and keeping the plants supplied v?ith the necessary moisture. In deeply worked, well manured ground, most deep rooting plants penetrate well into the soil and are not quickly effected by a dry spell. It is the more shallow rooting plants, and those that mature their crops in a few weeks that need most attention, as they are naturally th« first to suffer in dry weather. To protect the roots of such plants, keeping the soil well stirred is of great assistance, though thorough mulching is more effective, and during dry weather watering may be necessary. Such crops as lettuce soon feel the effects of dry weather, the foliage drooping unless kept well supplied with moisture..

Manuring Vegetables. When growing freely, manure water can be applied with advantage. In the cultivation of most vegetables, however, but little liquid manure is required, providing a liberal supply of manure haa been applied at the time of trenching or digging the ground. It is when the plants can no longer obtain the necessary food from the soil, that the greatest benefits accrue from the judicious use of liquid manure. Ground from which crops have been removed should be deeply dug, and if necessary manured in readiness for future crops. With such crops as peas, beans and other green crops it is an advantage to dig in rather than remove them from the ground as it will add humus to the soil. Crops to Grow. Kumeras may still be planted in well prepared soil. Ground that has been manured for potatoes or other crops if well worked and placed in a nice friable condition should grow them successfully. As stated in previous notes, trenches should be prepared for the planting out of ce'ery. These naturally love rich soil and in the preparation of the trenches well decomposed manures should be freely used. Leeks, too, require rich soil to produce well grown plants. The trench for ieeks need not be as deep as for celery as all the bleaching required for these can be obtained by drawing up the'soil with the hoe. Tonuto Culture. Tomatoes are now growing rapidly and will need frequent attention in stopping or removing lateral growths, and in tieing the plants up to their supports. Caterpillars are often troublesome and commence to attack the plants as soon ao they are formed. The best means of destroying these pests while the fruit in in the green state is to occasionally spray them with arsenate of lead. To be effective, however, every portion of the plants and fruit should be well sprayed. Aa soon as the fruit is well set the plants should be well mulched with manure or other suitable material. Up to the present there has been an abundance of moisture without mulching, but it is better to supply the material at this time than to wait until the soil becomes dry and parched. Abundant Vegetables. At this time a well kept kitchen garden should be replete with vegetables of almost every seasonable variety, and should be clean, free of weeds, and in the best possible condition. The land among all growing crops should be in a good state of cultivation. All staking and thinning out should be completed in fact everything should be placed in as perfect condition as possible so as to admit of a period of rest during the holiday season. The only requirements at this time should be the digging and gathering oi the various vegetables needed for the household.

A SUPPLY OP FLOWERS. To have a regular supp?y of what are classed as standard flowers, to come in at different seasonß for which they are intended and suitable, a proper and regular system of plantings and sowings must be attended to. When this is done a supply j of flowers may be had almost throughout the whole twelve months of the year. There are a number of what are termed permanent subjects that do not Require to be frequently replaced, excepting for changes, or for the introduction of some newer and better varieties. Amongst these permanent occupants of the flower garden roses usually predominate; fuchias, the different representatives of the pelargonium family, bouvardias, Michaelmas daisies, gerberas, herbaceous and tree paeonies, agapanthus, a few liliums, quite a number of dwarf-growing shrubs, cannas, carnations, rudbeckiaa, agathea coelestis, abutilons, watsonias, and some other bulbous plants, heliotropes, also ericas or heaths, and azaleas, hydrangeas, etc. —these are more or less permanent subjects.

Dwarf Flowering Plants. Violets for borders, also polyanthuses, primroses, echeverias, spiraea japonica, cyclamens, aubretias, phlox Nelsoni, are permanent plants that may need an occasional change. Anemones, ranunculi, freesias, and other hardy spring-flowering bulbs must be planted at the proper time, and followed up with successional flowering bulbs, such as ixias and kindred species ; later gladioli, at present the most beautiful and conspicuous occupant* of the mixed border. In their order chrysanthemums and dahlias must have their places in every garden. Climbers, too, must be amply provided, for these, with a few exceptions, notably sweet peas, mina lonata and annual convolvulus, are permanent. Then there are the numerous varieties of annual and biennial plants that are distributed throughout the year, also many beautiful herbaceous perennials. The rockery, now a leading feature of all gardens of any importance, may be stocked with an endless variety of flowering and other plants. With the permanent plants once arranged for, and proper attention to the numerous kinds that may be planted to flower at their respective seasons, a constant succession of flowers may bo maintained throughout the whole year, even during the depth of the winter season when there is the greatest, dearth of flo\vering plants, a limited number of varieties may be selected. The holiday season is again aft hand when the garden should be fully stocked with the different varieties of plants now flowering, those that have completed their flowering, and those that are in their earlier stages of development and coming on—any vacancies and spare spots that there are should be planted up at once. Dahlias are available and suitable for present planting; as previously stated there is no advantage in planting these too early as they are strictly summer and autumn flowering plants, continuing up to the early winter. When planted too early they are affected by the hot dry weather and prevalence of caterpillars and tKfips. Dahlias are usually at their best when the nights become longer and more dewy, and the atmosphere cooler.

Crysanthemums. Chrysanthemums n«ed special attention at this season, especially those that sxe being grown for the production of large show blooms. They should be frequently gone over and have all superfluous shoots removed, selecting three of the strongest shoots produced after the first break to grow on and flower. The first break w Occasioned by the formation of a blind bud at the apex of the arresting the upward flow of the sap.and causing side shoots to appear. Three of the be§t of these shoots should! as mentioned above, keeping any otheirs JLSS off *, they oak. appearand j

The secret of success in growing chrysanthemums is to keep tho foliage in the healthiest possible condition. Consequently, aphis, caterpillars, and fungi must be, as far as possible, prevented. For black aphis, which often makes itg appearance in the early stages of the growth of the planft, spray with black leaf 40. For rust, the deadliest enemy of the plant, spray with lime sulphur or Bordeaux mixture. Vermorite, another effective fungicide, is easily applied', and as a combined spray to treat caterpillars add a little arsenate of lead! Spray every three weeks. Finally apply a light mulch of well-rotted stable manure.

General Work. Needlessto say the garden and grounds should be kept neat and tidy and in the. best possible condition ; not a weed should be seen. Walks and paths should b* swept, and grass edgings should be neatly trimmed; dead flowers picked off; plants thai need snpport tied up; the whole surface should be gone over with the hoe every few days. Lawns must be kept closely mown and occasionally rolled. THE GREENHOUSE. During the hot summer months, water* ing is one of the most important operations in indoor plant culture. The difficulty is that no hard and fast rule can be laid down for watering, as scarcely any two plants may require exactly the same treatment. These vary so much in their requirements according to variety and condition in which they are grown, that what is good for_ one variety might' be fate! to another. In everv case careful judgment must be exercised in watering; with plants, for instance, that are exposed to the sun and wind it may be necessary to water two or three times in a day, while plants in a more shady and sheltered part of the house may only need watering three or four times "in a "week. Plants, like animals, only require drink when they are thirsty, so that as soon as the soil shows signs of dryness on the surface, sufficient water should be given to thoroughly soak the soil. This in fact is the best guide an amateur can have, and if strictly followed, the operator will soon learn which are the varieties that need the most attention, as well as the cause of their absorbing so much moisture. AH quick-growing plants whoso pots are full of roots, require mudh more water than slower growing varieties, or plants that hare only recently been potted. AH newly potted plants need special care in watering, as they are not m a condition to absorb much moisture until fresh zoota are made.! Dangers of Neglecf.

Plants that are allowed? to suffer for thai want of moisture soon fen a prey to thripa, red spider, mildew, imd ethermsjects and diseases!. A goofl plan during! the summer is to cover the benches with' sand, coke breeze, fine scoria, <* other suitable material that will assist to retain the moisture. The house shrmH be well shaded during the hottest part* of the day and a genial moist temperature maintained. The repotting of all quick - jrrowing plants must . havo attention.Tuberous begonias are now sufficiently advanced to be placed into tieir flowering pots. This is one of the most useful of summer flowering plants, and being hardy and of easy culture, may be successfully' grown in either greenhouse, window, or in the open border. Gloxinias are now well advanced and should be repotted into their flowering pots. To obtain the best results the plants require to be gnJv/n in an even, fairly moist temperature from the time the bulbs are started until they com* into flower. They produce an abundance of gorgeous flowers that are worth all the trouble bestowed on their culture, e

ANSWERS TO* CORRESPONDENTS. " Orchid," Mount Eden.—Dendrobiunis may be crown in cots or caskets and upon blocks or pieces of wood. They are anions the easiest or orchids to &row, but require a decided period of rest or dr/ing 02. For cultivation in pots the soil should consist of equal parts of fibrous peat and chopped sphagnum, with a libera] supply of charcoal in lumps, and some brick rubbish. Perfect drainage is absolutely essential. The plants require to be elevated on a cone of soil above the rim of the pot. Give a liberal supply of water during the growing season, but care must be taken when syringing, as the water is apt to lie in tha sheaths of the psoudo-bulbii and cause injury. When placed in caskets thor should be surrounded with rough peat and sphagnum, but when grown upon blocks sphagnum o'ily should be used, fastened with some fine copper-wire, which will also fix the plant firmly. This is necessary at first, but after they are once established the roots will hold Sh.em firmly together. Plants of blocks rtfflure greater attention " as regards watering than fchoue in pots. In syringing or dipping ess irater the asma temperature as tha house, as cold water is 1 injurious. Dendrobium nobile, the species you are most interested in, is ona of the best knows and easiest stows, and although one of the oldest, is still ona of the moit beautiful. It is as evergreen, and sbouM be treated to pot culture if large specimens are wanted. When growth is matrix*, place the plant in a 000 l house, wad only five sufficient moisture to keep the peeudoulbs from withering. It usually flowers in the spring and early summer. The name Dendrobium is derived from Aecdron, a tree and bios, Hfe. They comprise a very large and elegant genus of orchids Dendrobium Cunninghamii, and is a native of New Zealand. " Inquirer, Avondale^—Bordeaux Mixture, whioh is sow universal as a fungicide, was an accidental discovery. Frenoh vineyardists found it necessary to protect their grapes crowing near road sides from the depredations of boys, and adopted the method of sprinkling the ripening crops within olose proximity to a highway with verdigris. In 1882, somo growers in the Bordeau wine distriot replaced this poison with a cheaper mixture, prepared by adding lime to a solution of bluestone. The blue sediment was found to adhere to the berries, and present a sufficiently poisonous appearance to keep hands off. In the same year an outbreak of downy mildew ruined most of the crops in the district, but it was a striking fact that those crops along the roadway that had been blued were healthy and free from disease. This discovery of the Bordeaux mixture proved a most valuable preventative of the downy mildew of the grape. It is essentially a preventative, consequently the secret of success is anticipating an attack, by maintaining a protective coating, as long as the infection exists. " Onions," Epsom.—Soot hi a complete manure, containing potash, phosphate, and nitrogen, and is much appreciated by onion growers: The beat stimulant at this season is nitrate of soda; apply at the rate of lib. «■ to every 40 square yards; it may be dissolved in water and applied with a waterthrough the roses, or by a light sprinkling along each row, with the hand, and watered in. Three applications should be sufficient; one at once and the other two at intervals of from 10 to 14 days between" each. You win soon notice the change, instead of the yellow, stinted appearance they will soon present a green vigorous growth. Vegetable Grower, Remuera.—Fresh hen manure contains from 18 to 251b. of nitrot gen, 12 to 241b. of phosphate, and 6lb to 1 12lb. of potash per ton. When allowed to dry in the air its value is about double that of the fresh droppings. When stored in sacks or barrels and kept dry it is a most valuable garden manure, and worth about four times as much as farm-yard manure. Being caustic and of a fermentative nature it should be applied in moderate, doses. A dressing of lib. to 2lb. per square yard will be found a safe quantity to use. A good liquid manure iiiay be obtained from cowdung and soot. Procure a 40-gallon cask, place £ of a sack of cowdung in it, and fill up with water, well stir to mix the two together. IS ext place about a quarter of a sujar bag, with soot in it. This liquid, diluted with two-tairds of water, is a valuable ig« basis for garden manuring abeoU be, toe maintenance of a certain amount or organic matter in the soil. TTawke's Bay.-— letter to identify of th ?Ved stoics, there fuse flowering, densely tuitedapeoies.xae are two colours. » a rose purplish ros £- Plants from obtained here. Bit; of o* x Ndßom rnurus hasi been gro diviflion9 . is easily P rop SP.j?-. Cambridge.—Passion wllf be* to procure and Plant young plants %Va?e U ur^ D lemons •ii *„v- ♦« fruit Your better plan would Sfto* have /hem budded or grafted with ,o^n^ulr?r.^Tit t i 7 rangi.--It is dIWHj assign a reason for lemon leaves dropping off when the trees arc in full blossom. It may be due to various causes, such as too strong an application of i asseticiae. «ryne»s at the roots, or root action has ipddenly a eheck by penetrating teio uncongenial eoCL Kepw*.