THE HOME GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN

, THE FLOWER GARDEN. The holidays over, gardening operations must again be actively resumed. The various flower beds and borders will need an overhaul. Dig under annuals that are past, and prepare the ground for replanting. Chrysanthemums need special attention. For exhibition or show blooms, reserve three leading shoots and remove all side growths —preserve the leaves intact—also suckers from the base. Spray with Bordeaux mixture to prevent rust and other leaf diseases, and tie up from time to time. Dahlias should be trained upon one stem to six inches from the ground before allowing them to branch out to form a well-balanced, shapely plant. To destroy thrips, which attack the young plants and stop growth, spray with black leaf 40. During dry periods such as we are now experiencing, mulching, by frequently stirring the surface soil, is a necessity. Dahlias and lilies should be mulched with well-rotted manure. Spent hops provides a » good mulch for dahlias. Zinnias, petunias, phlox Drummondii, celosias, atnaranthus, cosjnoea, portulacas, salvias, and verbenas, may still be planted, provided the soil is well watered at the time. By lightly forking the ground around old carnation plants, and adding fresh soil, they should be in readiness for layering after the first good rain.

Rain is badly needed for all departments of the garden, as very little planting can be done until a change takes place. Artificial waterings are necessary to keep some of the shallow-rooting plants alive.

THE GARDEN YEAR. A GENERAL REVIEW. In reviewing past operations and making comparisons with previous years, 1925 has, with the exception of the past two months, been remarkable for dull weather, and the number of days upon which rain has fallen i;i more or less quantities. Fre-

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PROGRAMME OF WORK.

ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. This class of work has again made marvellous progress, as evidenced by the splendid displays in oar many parks and other public place;;, ji.s well as in private gardens. Our City Fathers are to bo congratulated upon the improvements effected during the past twelvo months, and in their endeavours and successes in making this " The City Beautiful." Tho construction of artistically arranged and planted rockeries has

transformed unsightly barren spots into ""charming beauty spots. RAISING NEW FLOWERS. Our climatic conditions being peculiarly xavourablo to soed-saviug and raising, specialists arc doing good work in cxoss-fertilisavon and producing novelties of superior merit. The magnificent displays of gladioli seedlings are a telling tribute to the skill and ability of the raiser. The splendid collection of seedling daffodils exhibited at tho spring show were equally commendable, and show that hybridisers and specialists are more busy than ever in raising and cultivating new creations. There is a wide and profitable field open to the specialist who undertakes a work that would raise him to future fame. HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. Our Auckland Horticultural Society is to be congratulated upon tho keen interest it haf, worked up in the cultivation of flowers fit for the show boards. By monthly exhibits and special lectures and discussions upon tho cultivation and qualities of tho lead-

ing flowers it has created a keen interest and rivalry in horticulture. The recent exhibitions were a great advance upon previous shows of the kind, both in arrangement and in tho superior qualities of tho flower. The exhibits of daffodils, roses;, dahlias, cannas, begonias, and other popular flowers, including chrysanthemums!, included many of tho best and most up-to-date kinds. VEGETABLES IN HOT WEATHER. WATERING PLANTS. - ' Tho protracted dry spell that has prevailed for several weeks is now beginning to materially affect the growth of many crops. In such weather artificial watering with some crops is necessary to maintain anything like healthy growth. A good deal depends upon the "way the ground has been treated. In well-manured, deeplydug ground, where the roots can penetrate well down into the soil, the crops are not so quickly affected by 1 dry spell as those growing in shallow worked ground. Mulching, too, as stated in previous notes, is an important factor in tho cultivation of summer crops. Water ing, in any case, to be of the value intended, must be thorough, and the ground well soaked to tho full depth the roots extend. EFFECTS OF WATERING. Simply sprinkling the ground, so often practised, often results in more harm than good, as it encourages the roots to come to the surface, which are tho first to suffer from the least neglect. Artificial watering, in any case., though, sometimes necessary, is in no case equivalent

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. In cropping, the greatest success is attained when the soil is in s. i'.ree, sweet, rich state. It should be free, so that the roots may not be impeded in their quest for food; sweet, that the food may be wholesome; and rich, that there may be no defect in nutriment.

The value of vegetable manures lies in the fact that they open the pores of the soil and lighten it by loosening its particles; they supply organic food to the roots of growing plants, and yield saline arid earthy matters to the soil. Green crops ploughed or dug in the soil are most efficacious for this purpose. The best time to treat land is during the hot summer months, when there is least demand for special attention, and when labour can best be spared. Shallow-worked soils are often the cause of failures with vegetable crops, and at no time are the effects more noticeable than after a few weeks of dry weather. One of the most important things to learn in gardening is the value of deep cultivation, and it is hard'iy possible to work the ground too deeply so long as the poor soil is not brought to the surface. Cucumbers, marrows, melons, and pumpkins !nq now running freely, and will be benefited by occasionally pinching out t;he tops of the strongest shoots. This operation will cause the fruits already set to swell rnoro rapidly, as well as encourage the production of side shoots on which other fruits will form.

It is in such weather that aphis usually makes its appearance. A sharp look-out should be kept, and upon the slightest appearance of this pest the plants should be at once sprayed.

in its effects fo tho natural supply. A good soaking rain at this season," when the ground is warn'-, would produce a magical effect that no artificial watering can do. CULTIVATION AFTER WATERING. irequcnt applications of water naturally have a hardening effect upon the soil. The surface especially needs to bo hoed over and tho soil well loosened after every watering. This, in fact, applies to all growing crops, whether artificially watered or not, for apart from mulching it is the best means of retaining any moisture there is in the soil. Little can bo done in sowing while the ground is in its present condition; in fact, it is better deferred until more favourable conditions pres'ail. Tho ground, however, should be thoroughly prepared and placed in the best possible condition for later crops. TOMATO CULTURE. Tomatoes grown in tho open, though later than usual in developing their crops, are, so far, looking- remarkably healthy and free from disease. This, however, should not prevent spraying as a preventative. When growing l'reeiy few plants need more attention in keeping superfluous growths under control; it is, in fact, tho main factor in tho production and development of heavy crops of fruit. As previously advised, after a few of tho bunches of fruit have formed, artificial stimulants can he applied with advantage, either applied in a liquid form or sprinkled around the plants before rain or watering. ATTENTION TO CROPS. Dwarf and runner beans, when fruiting, should bo kept closely picked, as they mature rapidly in such weather, and if left to form seed tho plants quickly deteriorate and cease to fruit. A further sowing can bo made as soon -at) a good rainfall is experienced. P.eas, too, if sown in well-prepared soil, should still give good crops. Recently-planted celery must, on no account be allowed to suffer for the want of moisture.

HOW TO GROW CELERY. To grow good celery tho plants require to be grown without chock from tho time they are planted until ready for use. When planted in well-prepared trenches the moisture is t bettor retained, and far less labour is needed in maintaining a necessary supply. In making further planting, select only healthy seedling 3 that have in no way become stunted in growth, Etnd ih lifting the plants from the boxes or beds endeavour to have a jjjood ball of earth attached to the roots ot each. This can be dono by watering tho seedlings v/ell before lifting them. Tho trenches should bo well watered a short ilime boforo planting is commenced, and again after tho planting is completed. If planted in single rows the plants should bo placed from Bin. to 9in. apart, in tho centro of tho trench, and lightly shaded until they are established. /

FRUIT CULTURE. THE HOME ORCHARD. Tho home orchard, like other parts o! the garden, is much in need of a good soaking rain. The harsh winds that have prevailed throughout tho recent warm spell have so dried up tho soil that, unless rain is shortly experienced, it cannot fail in some measure to affect the growth and development cf the fruit crops. Unfortunately, such weather does not lessen the work of the fruit grower, as such conditions are ko favourable for tho increase and ravages of tho various orchard pests that prey upon the fruit and foliage of so many of the treos.