The Garden.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 23

The Garden.

VEGETABLE GARDEN. The spell of dry weather with drying winds during the past week has interferred with planting out, and everything has been at a standstill. Cauliflowers should now be planted at the first sign of rain, but delay is best so long as the dry winds continue. As soon as late-sown onions are ready, thin them out to 4 inches apart. A few may be transplanted in damp weather if particularly fine bulbs are wanted. Celery requires well earthing and a mulching of liquid manure would be of service if the soil is and not over rich. In earthing up, the soil should not be banked too heavily above the hearts, nor too tightly pressed about the stems, as this causes bulging and splitting. Carrots, parsnips, and beet should be lifted while the weather is dry, and they should be packed in dry sand or even wood ashes at once for winter use. Small salads may still be sown in any suitable position. FLOWER GARDEN. All tender plants should now be lifted and put under cover for the winter. This is generally a slack time amongst flowers, and preparations should now be decided upon for next season’s display. Any bulbs remaining in the ground should be lifted at once and put in a sunny spot to dry before being stowed away. It is a mistake to replant bulbs as soon as they are lifted. By letting them remain in a dry condition for a few weeks they exhibit all the stronger growth next season. Next month will be about the time to remove evergreens. The vigour of the sap will be exhausted about this time, with still enough life left to give the rootlets a chance of striking before winter actually sets in. Chrysanthemums would be all the better in this dry weather for a good soaking with manure water. Many gardeners imagine that manure water for flowers is a difficult thing to make. Nothing is easier. In some spare cornel - of the garden half bury an eighteen gallon cask or one larger if suitable. Put into the cask say about two bucketfuls of fresh voided horse dung, one bucketful of fresh cow dung and a couple of spadefuls of poultry droppings if on hand. Add two or three pounds of salt. Then fill up the cask with water, stir well up, and when settled use the liquid manure and fill up the cask and again stir. The above quantities of manure will make over one hundred gallons of liquid sufficiently strong for flowers. THE GREENHOUSE. The nights will soon be getting cold and delicate plants should be carefully housed after sundown. For choice flowers now in bloom a weak solution of sulphate of ammonia should be used. Say one ounce dissolved in one gallon of boiling water, and then use the water sparingly to the pots. Heaths should be placed in the coolest part of the house with plenty of fresh air at their command. Large camellias in pots should be treated to a little soot water. All house climbers should now be trimmed and the house made ready for the winter display.