THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPEKATIQIsS FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN.— The recent rain? have been of great benefit to all growing crops in this department of the garden. A dry spell •would now be of benefit, as there is plenty of moisture in properly cultivated land in which ■ the surface soil is loose. Late cabbage plants 'may be planted out in small qusutity; taey must be planted where they can be well supplied with water during the dry weather after the end oi the year, or they become infested with" blight and are useless. Late-sown carrots and parsnips should be thinned out, while the soil is damp from recent rain, as the work is then much more efficiently performed.' Celery „ should now be in good condition lor planting 'out;' if done 'during rapist weather, a considerable saving will be effected, and, the plants get an early start, and 'further sowings of "seed should be made" for keeping up a supply of plants' for later trenches. As soon as the criap of - early broad Windsor beans has been gathered,, r the haulm should be removed and the land - prepared for - further ' cropping.Manure should be freely used, as the 'bean ■groves' ,fi very "exhausting crop. Cucumber and % marrow"' seed may. still be sown in the open, -' grown where they -are io remain. These ■ wil 1 grow very rapidly now, and" overtake 'such ur lave been turned out of heated> frames, unlesi. 1 these have been properly hardened off without etunting their growth. SLOWER GARDEN".— The rose bed should "Tiow have more than a casual examination. While "the bushes are "in flower, note should "be taken of any that do not give satisfaction, as from a variety, of causes some kinds do not succeed in certain soils or situations. After uwo or three 6 seasons' trial, such sorts as do not give satisfactory flowers should be dug up ctnd thrown away now while their failings are discernible, as of ten,- if left till piuning time, •the temptation is strong to leave them and give them another trial. No bushes can be named that should de discarded, as -it freqriently occurs _ that what proves aa utter failure with one grower eucceeds perfectly with another, and that but a phort distance away. There are many roses, tooth light aud very dark, that in some situations pergistently refuse to_unfold their petals ; ihc outer leaves becoming scalded and seemi ig •io ■ seal all further progress. These should be discarded, and others selected at this 'season while in flower for planting out in the ensuing autumn. If the unsatisfactory loses are removed at this season of the yeai, there •will be the great advantage of having the positions prepared to receive others early in "I'he slanting season. Before replanting on an old V»ed, holes should be excavated and some fresh soil' added. Continue the planting out of an-imaid,-also thin out'such as- have been sown on •ihe open border: Chrysanthemums tor brnlcr decoration will need rrequehjrsto'ppings to' keep them "dwarf, and stouKstakej? should be driven«n to support each plant. »_ GREENHOUSE -A-ND- FRAMES.— Peter-, goniums should *iow bs at their best, and will require keeping as cool as possible, -and should rshould be kept growing "on freely to supply the place of the pelargoniums as these go out of flower. The general occupants of the greenhouse will now reqiiire plenty of room ; any overcrowding causes the plants to become drawn at this tin»c of the year. Palms bsing 'ijsed for table decoration should be carefully sponged and cleansed of all small white or "blown scales, which so frequently infest these plants. '. FRUIT GARDEN.— What is known a3 summer pruning — i.e., the lemoval of superfluous .shoots w.hile in a young state, and stopping or pinching those that are allowed* to remain, according to their length and strength, all oeing performed by means 'of the finger and thumb, - must now be commenced. Peaches, apricots, and pliwns are the first to need atten tion in this respect, .biifc even pears," apples, r.herrics", etc., when grown on", the restrictive nystem in particular, require to have thei jprowlh reduced in this way to a greater or less extent, according to circumstances. The first step is to rub or pinch out all weak, badlygplaced or supernumerary growth, thereby exposing that which remains to the benoiicmt influences »of sun, light, and air, the progress of these being subsequently checked by stopping ''when n suitable point has been reached, xhis is, however, "as a nile, better not done itnlil tie season is pretty well..advanced, 'for if performed too soon it has a tendency to force the auxiliary buds ' intc premature growth, and thiu. lessen the" chance of a crop the following aectson. - > i THE VINERY. — Examine the condition of 'the borders (especially those inside tho house) frequently where the crops are swelling,- arid | if the surface of the soil is dry, carefully loosen, and apply an abundance of liquid manure. Go through the bunches of swelling fruit. Thin , crowded clusters, and remove any small berries which would spoil the sample. The most important point to be attended to in the vineries is to keep the red spider in check. This can only be accomplished by maintaining a moist

atmosphere and by the unremitting use of the syringe. In the late houses the grapes, which require to hang into the wintei should be well thinned. Tie ' out the shoulder so as to ensure a free circulation of air i'.>cu%h the berries, which is indispensaMe to the healthy maturity of the skin and foot stalks in the winter season.