THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3265, 11 October 1916, Page 6

THE GARDEN.

! OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. I FLOWER GARDEN.—The latest batch of gladioli bulbs should now be planted I ill the same manner as advised ior the 'earlier plantings--viz., deep planting in ' well-worked- soil heavily manured. The | present time is suitable for planting out ! dahlias.. Verbenas as they start into ''■ growth should have their shoots pegged I down securely, which keep 3 them from i being damaged by the wind, and as they ! readily throw out" roots at the joints when pegged, they derive additional support thciefrom. Such tender annuals as balsams j an J zinnias should not yet be planted oiu ! in the open borders unless protected at ! night. They are safest kept in boxes until | the weather is warmer. The planting I out of chrysanthemums should be comI pleted as early as possible. If the black • aphis shows itself, the plants should bo i sprayed with a solution of soft soap, with a little tobacco juice added In the matter of inects and, insecticides generally, prevention is 'belter than cure. It will be I found much easier to keep the plants clean j than to clean them after they are badly affected, which entails a considerable amount of labour and material, when, if an occa sional spraying is given, the young growth ; is kept clean, and at the same time made distasteful to insects. KITCHEN GARDEN.—Ad vantage should j be taken to plant out cabbage, cauliflower, j lettuce, and onions in quantity. All I failures among those, planted out earlier i should be made good. All potatoes that j are forward enough should bo earthed up j while tho soil is in good working condi- : Lion The later crops as soon they aro j through the eoil should bo flat-hoed. In localities whore grown, plant out tomatoes. Those planted out earlier must not Ibe kept covered up too long, or they will become sickly and yellow; the covering

should be removed as scon as the frosts have disappeared, and the plant fully exposed to the heat of the sun. In localities where it is necessary to help the- plants they should be put near a wall, from which a sash can be placed over them. They will thrive thus, even though the sides are open. Rhubarb which shows a tendency to throw up secd-sta'ks should have these pulled up as soon as they appear. Newly-planted roots should in no ease have any leaf-stalks removed the first season. Tile more leaves that are allowed to develop, the liner the crowns will be for another season. Thin out all drills of carrots, parsnips, onions, and turnips while the soil is .moist, and the work is thus rendered easy. Vegetable marrow plants that were raised in heat should now be hardened oli ready for planting' out. Where a heap of refuse has accumulated a few plants would grow well thereon if the situation be not too shady. Marrows are not particular as to position so long as they have plenty of root-room; but, being gross feeders, it is essential that they are well supplied with nourishment, or the crop will be a short one. Those who-have only a limited space at their disposal may plant them against a fence, when their shoots can be trained thereto, or the growths may be fastened to stakes the same as for tomatoes. Whichever way the plants are grown it will be absolutely necessary that they have plenty of root-room; therefore, if a trench be taken out 2ft wide and then filled with manure, so as to form a ridge, the soil can be replaced, and the plants set out about 3ft from each other. Do not allow them to fruit until they are well established, as this will have a ten dency to exhaust them in the first instance, and so prevent a heavy crop afterwards. For small gardens the bush varieties ore very useful, as they take up so little room, and, being very prolific, will soon meet each other. When the soil is naturally heavy and retentive, leaf-mould, thoroughly-decayed manure, or other light material should' be added to make it more porous. In hot, dry weather it will bo necessary to water freely, and if any signs of fly should make its appearance, syringe the plants with soft soap in the evening after the sun has gone down, and repeat every two or three days till it has disappeared.

FRI JIT G A RDE ST.— Stra wbcrries should now be making rapid progress, and - if a mulch has not already been given, it should be done at once—or-; nt least, froiiio dry material placed around the roots, bo that the fruit may bo protected from the effects of rain, which splashes the fruit with sand and grit, and much of the finest fruit is wasted simply from the want of a slight mulching. Attention should be paid to the grafts upon young stock or old trees which may have boon cut down and redrafted, as after rain it often happens that the clay spliis, and if the scion is exposed to the air at the union success is difficult.

The quarters devoted to fruit should bo kept frequently hoed in order to_ keep down weeds, at the same tjmc cultivating among; the trees and bushes. Deep-working among raspberry eancs should be avoided. Many of the largest growers in the Old Country do not even dig among their canes, but practise a sys-tem of heavy mulching in early spring, and as soon as the crop is gathered the old canes are cut out and the yo mg canes thinned out, so that tlie whole energy of plants is devoted to building up a strong growth in the young canes for another season, and as soon as the leaves are oft' in autumn the mulching is lightly pointed in, and as little damage as possible done to the roots. VINERY,—Vines will now bo making rapid growth, and require almost daily attention. Care must be taken-to keep the border moist, and shut down the ventilators enough to raise a moisture all evening.