THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 705, 4 September 1885, Page 11

THE GARDEN.

FOR SEPTEMBER. The Floweb Gakden.

Evergreens in a young Btate may still be successfully planted out, providing reasonable care is taken in transplanting, staking, and sheltering them until they become re-estab-lished.. The removal of large shrubs, at this late period, will, however, be attended with, some degree of danger, and on that account had better not be moved till the following season, unless absolutely necessary. Autumn sown conifers and others should be lifted from the seed beds and transferred to nursery rows as soon a 3 they are fit to be handled. Mixed borders containing bulbous and herbaceous plants may now be advantageously top-dressed and forked over in order to counteract the battering effects of the winter rains on the soil and add to its enrichment. The surfaces of vacant spaces may afterwards be rendered smooth for the reception of seeds of desirable hardy annuals.. Where the ground is stiff and heavy it will be necessary to use some sifted mould in which to sow them, and should the weather prove dry after sowing, it will be well to cover the seed patches with old bagging, boards, or anything that will help to conserve the moisture till the seedlings begin to appear. . , Dahlias may either be placed in heat for cuttings, or propagated by simply separating the tubers from each other, in which case they can be planted out at once. Plant out gladiolus, antirrhinums, violets, and all hardy border plants not already done, and gradually harden off semi tender plants prior to their being planted out next month. Sow under glass zinnias, marigolds, asters, amaracthus, balsams, and others of a tender nature, and pick out into boxes the produce of last month’s Bowing. _ No time should now be lost in making good any deficiency in the stock of bedding plants of whatever kinds may be short, and especially will this be necessary where formal floral decorations are carried out to any extent. However, it is best to well confine the scope of such arrangements to the means at command, as an isolatod bod or two artistically arranged with appropriate materials are more telling and pleauiDg than a large group imperfectly planted for want of a sufficiency and variety of such materials. The Greenhouse. Shade-loving plants will now require some protection from the sun’s rays,, and should therefore be disposed in the shadiest parts of the house until such time as the use of blinds becomes imperative. Hard-wooded plants of all descriptions, except those in flower, should be potted and otherwise put right in order to make their season’s growth without cheek of any kind. For their successful culture in pots, heaths, and plants of an allied character require soil of a peaty nature containing a liberal admixture of coarse silver sand, and if of a fibrous nature so much the better. In giving them a shift it is very important that the new soil added be made a 3 firm and compact as the soil in which they are already growing, so that when water is given it will meet with equal resistance, and so permeate the whole body of the soil. It should be borne in mind that such plants have a tendency to resent associating with those of a soft herbaceous nature, and should therefore be placed by themselves as much os possible, and where they can enjoy an abundance of pure air. . . Propagate fine foliage begonias from leaves or root stems. The tuberous flowering kinds which require to be increased should, be started into growth at once, as if the cuttings are not rooted early in the season the buibs formed are liable to perish during the winter. Bing the stems of leggy dracaenas immediately below the leaves, surrounding the cut part of each with damp moss or soil, to induce the emission of roots, after which the heads oan be entirely severed from the stems and potted up with the foliage intact. Strike fuchsias, geraniums, pelargoniums, bouvardias, hydrangeas, and petunias, from cuttings. So.w celosias, torenias, and globe amaranthus. in heat. Prick off gloxinias, cyclamen, begonias, and others which have been sown early. Apply liquid manure frequently to soltwooded plants in flower or nearing thereto, as it is impossible to maintain vigorous growth without such aid when plants are confined to small pots crammed with hungry roots. The Fruit Garden. The garden should now be in good order and ready for a fair start. Now that the growing season may be said to have fairly com--i-menced, if any planting or pruning still undone, it should be no longer delayed. Examine all recently planted trees or bushes with a view to ensuring their being firm in their position either by securing them to Btakes er by treading the soil firm about their roots. Wherever the soil becomes caked by alternating heavy rains and sunshine, a little labor Bpent in scuffling it over will always be a good investment. Strawberry beds should be kept free from weeds, and tbe surface lightly stirred occasionally to admit as much of the warmth of the sun as possible to the roots at this early season, though later on, except in Vtry moist situations, it will usually be batter to keep the the weeds down and the surface moist by mulching with spent hops or manure. Grape vines will have made a start by now in most places, and where the rods have been taken from the trellis and tied along the front ' of the house, they must be replaced so soon as they have made two or three inches of growth, before they have become sufficiently long to cause difficulty in handling them, as the shoots come off with very little provocation and the damage from this cause sometimes irreparable. The chief thing to vine culture at this season, besides g 8 border a mulching of manure, will be the ven-

tilation of the house. A pure, warm, moist atmosphere, free from draughts, is a most essential point, and this can only be had in properlv constructed bouses, and even then the house should either be devoted entirely to the vines, or at least, anything else occupying it should only receive secondary consideration. In houses placed with their back to the sun, ill-ventilated, damp, or crammed with plants, to which have to be given the first attention, it is useless to expect good results, and usually even with the very best cultivators in charge there will be failure more or less complete. With regard to ventilation, the house should be open in the morning of fine days just before the sun shines on the glass, and should be closed again just before it leaves it. At the time of closing the house the vines should receive a good syringing ; this should be continued till they are in .flower, when the syringing should be discontinued ; when the shoots have made sufficient growth they should be pinched off beyond the second or third joint. The Kitchen Gabden. At the very beginning of the month any planting of asparagus, sea-kale, or rhubarb still remaining to be done should be brought into to a conclusion. Directions for planting have been given in former papers. Horseradish may be planted ; any piece an inch or two long will suffice, though those with crowns are best ; it should be planted about 12 inches below the surface in rows 12in. apart and 6in. apart in the rows.. Increase the plantation of herbs either by division of the old plants, by seed, or by cuttings; thyme and sage, both constantly in request, may be increased very rapidly by means of cuttings of the young tender tips, which will strike readily now with just sufficient moisture to keep them from flagging. Make also a sowing of parsley. If a sowing of turnip was not made at the end of the past month some seed should be got in at once—either “ early six weeks” or “ white stone.” Continue to sow according to need, and having regard to what has been previously sown. Supplies of onions, carrots, leeks, parsnips, beet, spinach, radish, mustard and cress, lettuce, cabbage and cauliflower. Make a sowing of broad beans and two fortnightly sowings of peas. Celery and tomatoes raised in a hot bed should be hardened off gradually when they are sufficiently advanced and before they become drawn. Hot beds for cucumbers and melons should be got ready. Turn the heap frequently aud mix thoroughly at each turning. At the end of the month make a first sowing of “ French beans.”