The Garden.

Southern Cross, Volume 19, Issue 26, 21 October 1911, Page 15

The Garden.

(By "Murihiku.")

NOTES FOR NOVEMBER

Although work should now be well advanced in the garden, there will be found plenty to do in attending to growing crops, assisting them in earthing-up, thinning, etc, and by keeping the soil clear and free from weeds. Also finish the planting of potatoes, Up-to-date, Abundance, and Derwents, for preference ; and put in at intervals, as required for sucession, small sowings of main crop, peas, broad beans, radish, lettuce, turnip and other salad. The main crop of beet, carrots, parsnips, scarlet runners, French beans, celery, vegetable marrow, etc. should be sown at once —the two latter on hotbeds, if possible to hasten their growth. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, curled kale, savoy, cabbage, spinach, etc., for winter use, should be sown about the middle of the month, on prepared soil, also prick off celery plants about four inches apart into cold frames, or protected beds, formed of well decomposed manure, well-water-ed, preparatory to planting out in trenches in December and January. Every advantage should be taken of the dry weather to keep the Dutch hoe going so as to keep the weeds in check. These, if allowed to multiply now, will cause much more trouble later on. Tomatoes and cucumbers planted under glass will require very constant attention as regards shading, airing, and watering, and may easily be lost by a little neglect of either, when young and tender. Both will require copious supplies of water daily during hot weather. FRUIT GARDEN. In dry and exposed gardens all newly-planted fruit trees will be benefited by a mulching of stable manure being placed round the roots, to extend about two feet from the stems of the trees ; shelter also from the prevailing winds should be provided. If short straw or grass be spread between the rows of strawberry plants, besides keeping the fruit clean, it will greatly help the plants during spells of dry weather

by retaining moisture in the ground. Apricots and peach trees which promise too heavy crops should be thinned out, leaving one fruit to each joint. This may appear a sacrifice at first, but it is necessary if wellripened fruit be desired. FLOWER GARDEN. Arrangements should now be made for stocking the borders with plants for summer and autumn flowering. Dahlias, chrysanthemums, carnations, pansies, verbenas, amongst perennials and stocks, asters, marigolds, phlox, Drummondi, in annuals may all be procured and planted this month, and where a failure has occurred with seeds these afford a good opportunity of replenishing the garden. Growing plants of roses, hollyhocks, etc., will be much benefited by frequent syringing of water ; this also helps to keep down green fly and other insects. If, during dry weather, pansies, carnations, and dahlias be occasionally watered with guano water, it will cause thiem to bloom with more freedom and to give larger and finer blooms. INSECT PESTS. Fhr anyone whose greenhouse plants are affected with green fly, thrip, or any of the numerous insect pests they are liable to, we can re- [ commend no insecticide at once so handy and economical as McDougall's tobacco sheets, which, suspended by strings from the roof, and ignited, I burn slowly and fumigate thoroughI ly. One sheet is sufficient for 1000 cubic feet. For syringing or outdoor work, Gishurst compound, diluted hellebore, or sulphur will each be found simple, safe and sure.