Our Garden Calendar for October.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5093, 1 October 1891, Page 4

Our Garden Calendar for October.

CONSERVATORY AND FLOWER, FRUIT, AND VEGETABLE GARDENS.

[By A dam Fop.svth.] This is a busy month in every departmerit of the garden, and those who would have flowers in season and vegetables in abundance cannot afford to lose any time. The copious rains of the past month have pat the ground in good trim for all kinds of work, and everything k springing into growth. Grape vines are now growing freehand all superfluous growth should be rubbed off and the shoots stop]>ed a joint above the fruit. As they grow, gradually tie down to the wires, and, in doing this, be careful, as the young growth is brittle and easily broken. hen the weather is favorable admit a little air. here the structure is not heated artificially moisten every part and close up early to economise the natural heat. In the greenhouse, camelias and azaleas having flowered, onght to be kept in a warm and a moist temperature and syringed occasionally to induce young growth. Cinerarias should have pleuty water, for if allowed to get dry the lower leaves will turn yellow, and the plant will be spoiled- Calceolarias now coming into flower must suffer no check. The flower spikes should be regulated, and the plants kept clean of green fly by fumigating. Fuchsias that are growing freely require plenty of water at the root, and should be Hyrinnetl overhead. The shoots should be stopped to induce a more compact growth. Cuttings from the stronger shoots put in now and placed 011 a hotbed will root in a short time, and make good plants and flower towards the autumn. Show and fancy pelargoniums and other soft-wooded plants when growing freely require every attention. Water carefully so as to avoid any check in their growth, and ventilate freely on warm days. Cuttings of zonal pelargoniums struck now and shifted into live or six inch pots will till the pots with roots by the autumn and bloom through the winter months. Hyacinths, tulips, and other b 111 Ks in pots, that ha\e flowered, should be planted in a warm comer in the garden to allow the leaves to die away and the bulbs to recover for next year. In the flower garden all seeds for flowering through the summer should be sown this month, and cuttings of verbenas, petuneas, lobelias, and other plants adapted for bed or border struck now will be useful for bedding out next month. Owing to the dry season, I find many of the best {KUisies have died. Old roots may with advantage be taken up and divided. Now is a good time to sow the seed in the open, which will flower in the autumn. If the seed is procured from a reliable source a fair percentage of good flowers may be secured. Half hardy annuals sown last month should, when they can be handled, be pricked out into boxes tilled with good msulil to gain strength, so that they can be lifted with a ball. By adopting this plan the results will be more satisfactory. A few gladioli maybe planted at once to come into flower early, planting others next month. By this method, the flowering season of these ornaments of the garden may be prolonged for a considerable time. Asters required for the purpose of exhibition should be sown about the middle of the month. Dry roots of dahlias put into a box filled with good mould and placed in a warm comer of the greehouse, near to the glass, will soon make cuttings, and if these are cut off with a heel and dibed round the edge of four-inch pots tilled with fine mould, and placed in the hotbed, they will root in a short time. Growers of dahlias prefer young plants, as they give better blooms. Where the time cannot be <nven to this work, old roots may be taken up and divided. Carnations layered in the autumn should be cut ofl and planted in a bed or round the border. Hoses have made a rapid growth during the last few days and require some attention. Where the leaves are curled search for the grub, which, if not removed, will get into the bud and spoil the bloom. Hand picking is the best remedy. Chrysanthemums are now universally admired here and throughout thecolon\, but do not receive the attention that they deserve. I have at different times in my monthly garden notes ventured to give a few hints respecting their culture, with which, no doubt, readers of the Mail are now conversant with. Still there are in many gardens old roots of good varieties occupying the same place for years. This is a mistake, and is the primary cause of people not being pleased with their blooms. As stated in previous notes, the old plants should be dug up. a small piece cut off and planted, but not exactly in the same place. A much better quality of flower will be obtained, while the plants will be more compact and have a better appearance. It is remarkable what a difference will be produced by a little care and attention.

In the kitchen garden the recent ruins came in time to give vegetables ;i goocl start. The main crop of most things are now in the ground, and doing wellCelery .sown last month, when it can be handled, should be pricked out into a bed, to gain -strength, and shaded for a few days ; a little may be sown in the open, to come on for late use. The main crop of carrots should now be sown. Sow kidney and runner beans about the middle of the month. Peas for late crop may be sown any time this month. Spinach may still be sown, and if a shady spot be chosen, the crop will last much longer. Sow cabbage, cauliflower, savoy, and curled greens. Sow a little turnip every fortnight. Strawberry beds should be mulched, if tin's has not already been done; the covering will be the means of retaining the moisture, and will keep the fruit clean. Tomato plants should be kept under cover, either in the greenhouse or frame, for some time yet, as they cannot withstand the frost. They should have air to harden them ott and make them strong and sturdy by the time they arc to be planted outside, which cannot be done with safety before the first week in next month.

As the wind anil r.uu may hare rendered the ground loose about the neck of recently-planted trees, these should be gone over, and the earth made firm about them.

After the rains, the weeds are coming away furiously, and every opportunity should be eagerly taken co keep these down. Keep' the Dutch hoe going weli. particularly on days when there is a warm sun. It does the ground good, and helps the growing crops, and, best of all, it prevents the accumulating of weeding work, and makes the garden look tidy.