THE AUTUMN SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18996, 18 April 1925, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE AUTUMN SEASON.

GORGEOUS FOLIAGE. Autumn tints are already conspicuous among many of the deciduous trees, shrubs and several other plants. The dry state of tbo soil at their roots, together

with the cold nights, hastens tlio descent of the sap. The gorgeous leaf tints of sonic .species present a greater brilliancy of colour than it thp plants were a profusion of blossoms. The smalhlcaved Virginian creeper, anipelopsis veitchei, is one of the most conspicuous of all plants for the remarkable diversity and brilliance of its autumn foliage. This climber attaches itpelf to both brick, stone and wooden structures without anv training, and h;is the advantage of losing its leaves during the winter season. Lagcrstroemiai Tndica is the first among leciduous shrubs to turn colour, the leaves assuming the brightest crimson. SOME LOVELY TREES. The golden ash, Fraxinus Excelsior Aurcu, is now conspicuous' for the golden yellow of its leaves. When the leaves havo fallen the branches and trunk are golden yellow, making this treeinteresting in all stages of its growth. A judicious selection of deciduous trees, with their many changes of leafage during the spring and summer and bare stems during the winter, render them most telling objects at all seasons.; FALLING LEAVES. These begin to litter the garden and grounds, iiiid tend to give them ati untidy' appearance. This will continue for some weeks, as every gust, of wind or shower of rain brings.down a fresh batch to add to

tbo general disorder. They should be raked up every lew days. Do not buna the leaves, but remove them to the rubbish heap, where tbey will rot, and with an occasional turning will form into leaf would, <1 very vaJtuiulc jxi&tcri&l for niiX" ing with potting soil and for digging into the bods and borders, and mulching 1 around azaleas, rhododendrons, ericas and • other fibrous-rooted plants. J OPERATIONS. Alterations that necessitate the removal of shrubs and most other plants must bo deferred, as the present dry stato of tbo land will not admit of their being transplanted with safety. For the same reason the preparation of evergreen trees and shrubs by wrenching must also be put off until the soil becomes thoroughly saturated with moisture. _ JMas the season is fast advancing, the first favo" rn,l '' > onportnnilv should b« taken to riprform this nerossary operation. Tbo Present antw" has '""""n "irire fa--1 vonrahle than for many vnrs for the 0/>ne(r»ftion of new Iniyjns, as work of this kind is ever so much better when done durincr dry weather, and ' when the newly turned over soil has bad amnio time to aerate I and sweeten. DRAIN™* GARi DENS. In laying out new gardens and providing for planting conI siderablc judgment and prethought will ho required; but in the first place, where the soil is heavy and of a retentive nature, efficient drainage will be a matter of para--1 mount importance. Success can never - ™ I, c obtained in dealing with wet soils when not properly underdruined. The walks will always be wet and sloppy during moist weather, the trees, shrubs and- flowers will hot make the healthy and vigorous growth that they should do, and the more tjio soil is dug over and worked the stiffer and j morn difficult to treat will it become A I proper system of arrangement of drains j to best catch the natural soak ages and i allow a gradual fall to the main drains | must be made. The depth of tbo drains j should be dug according to requirements. Shallow drains socio become choked with roots where trees arid shrubs are planted above them or in close proximity. THE VINERY. - HANDLING LATE GRAPES, The season has again arrived when vines that are carrying late varieties of gropes will require very careful handling to keep the berries ijo a sound condition. , hp to the time of writing growers have been favoured with excellent weather for colouring and ripening of the latest varic- i ties, as there has been plenty of bright sunshine and warm nights. From this time onward, however, with the increased dews and decreasing temperature, jt. is no easy matter to protect many of tho berries from decay. Much, of course, depend upon the construction of the house, and the means taken to prevent an excess, of moisture. Where artificial heat cannot be applied, the next best, means to prevent I an excess of moisture is to have the floor j of the house covered with concrete, but ! when the floor is composed only of soil \ the amount of moisture that, arises by | evaporation is almost certain to result in ! the loss of many of the berries. \ RIPENING AND DECAY. Although no grapes arc proof against decay, when unfavourable weather conditions prevail the. mor.c imperfectly ripened berries are in every case more liable to decay than highly coloured, well ripened ! fruit. It is seldom there is any loss • through decay of berries until well into the present month, and it is mostly with the later and most imperfectly ripened that any difficulty is experienced. j LATE GRAPES AND MATURE WOQD The longer grapes arc allowed to hang upon the vines the later they arc in ripening and maturing their wood, as plenty of | ventilation is essential to obtain good ! results. This is oije of the reasons why difficulties arc often experienced in colouring and ripening late grapes, the vines not being sufficiently ripened to enable then) to ho started early enough in spring. Every effort must .'bo made to keep the foliage in a clean, healthy condition, until it, falls naturally from the vines. If the vines are in a healthy condition the natural decay oi foliago only lakes place upon the return of the sap. It is during the autumn, when the sap is about to return, that the vines require liberal treatment, as it is at this time that healthy, fibrous roots arc made, and when tbo vines store up food and strength for next season's crop.