IN THE GARDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1922, Page 11

IN THE GARDEN.

THE VEGETABLE PLOT.

CULTIVATIONS. (By “Agricola.*’ , One thing is certain —that a well tilled soil will, if it ig allowed time, gather moisture by means of capillary attraction. This power of lifting water through minute is observable in blotting paper, or in a rag dipped in water and hung over the edge of a basin. It -is possessed by aoih and operates to many inches in depth. Jf a soil has been rendered dry by repeated cultivation, it will gradually moisten itself from below, and, no doubt, also absorb moisture from above. Time is, therefore, an important element in successful cultivation, which should always be carried on in conformity with natural laws, and not be forced too rapidly. There must be time for weeds to die from exposure, for seeds of weedfl to strike in order that they may be destroyed, and for capillary attraction to bring up moisture. Seeds to sow: Beans, 'beet broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, capsicum, celery, cucumber, endive, leek, lettuce, melon, onion, parsnip, pea, savoy, spinach, turnip, tomato, pumpkin, marrow, maize, and sweet corn.

What to plant: Broccoli, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, kumara, leek, marrow, melon, pumpkin, potatoes, and tomato.

There are many important duties which should claim attention during the month, if success is to be achieved. Special attention should be given to the initial preparations for the winter supply of vegetables, as these, to be firstclass, require a long season of growth. Nothing can be done to make up for any delay at this end of the season, as unless the plants are got in early and are given a. chance to become established before the very hot weather arrives, they will require a lot of nursing to keep them growing. The ground is very warm now, and with the soil in its present favourable condition, seeds sown now will germinate rapidly and with a little attention will make a vigorous growth. Broccoli should ho sown as required, but as these plants take a lot out of the ground, do not plant more than are necessary. The heads of asparagus should now be cut very sparingly, as the plants must be given every encouragement to assist them to build up strong crowns. It is a good plan, especially where beds are situated in exposed positions, to provide some moans of support to the shoots to prevent them being blown about .by the wind. Liquid manure may be given to the plants now with real advantage. Bean® may be planted as required in good rich soil. A sowing of runner beans, put'in now, will furnish a supply of tender pods for early autumn use. Early sowings that require staking should have this attention at once. Where the demand for cauliflowers is extensive a planting made now will come in useful at the end of summer and in autumn. Cauliflower are valued at as long a season as it is possible to get them, and if sot out as advised they will be enabled to become well established before the warmest weather sets in. A variety of the autumn giant type should be selected for present planting, or, if good strong plants are not available, sow the seed in the position in which the plants are to remain. Savoy seed is generally sown too soon and consequently they come in long before they are wanted.

The heads often burst and become useless long before the summer supplies of peas and beans are past. Another result from sowing too early is that the heads become over-big and coarse. -Medium to small are much more serviceable and better. Tomatoes may be sown outside to provide fruits for pickling. Turnips may be sown for succession. Choose small bulbed varieties as they are more tender than the large sorts. Form the drills three inches deep and fill these to the surface with a moisture of superphosphate and fine soil. Sow the seed thinly. Thin out as soon as possible. Beet for the main crop should be sown, thinly, so that a lot of unnecessary thinning may be avoided. Carrots are best sown at intervals so that a supply of young and tender roots may be constantly available. Capsicum may be sown in a warm corner of the garden. The best method is to raise the plants under glass in October ,and set them out about the second week in December. Cucumbers give the best results when sown where they are to remain. They revel in a liberal quantity of manure, and are rendered more tender and palatable when this substance is supplied to them. As water is all important for cucumbers, select a position handy to a ( mutant supply, as it is for want of moisture that causes most of the troubles to which the cucumber is subject. Hoeing between crops should he done regularly during November. Do not wait for weeds to appear, but keep the surface soil loose and open, as these conditions will encourage a rapid growth of the vegetables.

FLOWER GARDEN. OUT FLOWERS. If an arrangement of cut flowers is to remain in good condition over the longest possible period it is necessary that a few simple details be observed. The first of these is the health of the plant from which the flowers are secured. Blooms that are taken from an unhealthy plant, or from one that Js flagging from want of water are scarcely worth cutting, as they will fade almost immediately. Closely related to this point is that of cutting when the plant and flowers are at their freshest. This in the case of the plant will be early morning' or evening when the sun is not .shining directly on it. With the flowers the anthers -determine the age or youth of the bloom. When the pollen is observable in the anthers is it a sign that the flower is approaching maturity and will quickly fade. All flowers should be cut and any that are. pulled or broken off should have the stems cleanly out before placing them in water. Flagging flowers may be revived by placing the ends of the stems in almost boiling water for a few minutes. A few drops of liquid ammonja in warm water will hasten the revival pf cut-flowers which have beep packed and posted. In arranging cut-blooms the (wo great faults to avo'd are over-crowding and using too many colours. The individual flowers .should stand sufficiently clear of each other to d'splay their respective

shapes, and as a rule, not more than two colours, besides foliage, should -be used. Cutting off a small portion of the stems daily, renewing the water at the same time, and keeping the flowers away from draughts on the one hand, and dry hot places near fires on the other, will do much to prolong the life of cut flowers. GENERAL Spray roses as a precaution against mildew, and apply liquid manure each week. Disbud carnations slightly and employ ■some mean# to prevent the soil about the plants from becoming dry. Mulch with lawn mowings if no better material is available. Plant out zinnias, asters, ealpiglossis, phlox, or other annuals required for bedding purposes. It ifl not too late to sow dwarf sunflowers, but the seed should be sown where the plants are to flower. Go over your rose buahes and cut away all the buds or flowers that have rotted. The sooner these are removed the better, as such rubbish tends to disfigure the plants and make the garden look unsightly. Chrysanthemums and dahlias should be set out as soon as possible. Remove faded blooms from sweet peas, pansies, violas etc., and give liquid manure occasionally. Peg down the tall growing varieties .of phlox Drummondi. This annual should not he planted closer than one foot apart. If large Iblooms are desired from African marigold, plant in rich soil, fifteen inches apart. Give attention to spring flowering shrubs and trim up as required. Wallflowers that are past the decorative stage should be taken up and destroyed, as young plants produce superior blooms, and more of them, than the old plants. Never plant honey-suckle near a flower-bed. Once (this runner gets a foothold the roots take full possession, and spoil everything else within striking distance.