IN THE GARDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1926, Page 17

IN THE GARDEN.

THE VEGETABLE PLOT. SEASONABLE WORK. WATERING. When watering is necessary it should be done thoroughly and systematically, a,s otherwise more harm than good will Hkcly result. One of the worst effects -of merely sprinkling the ground is that the roots are induced to form too near the surface, and as roots in this position cannot withstand the effects of a few hot days they quickly perish and lhe plants suffer in consequence. In gardens where a good, supply of water is available it should be given in abundance during protracted spells of dry weather, performing th 6 work as far as possible during the late afternoon or in the evening. In eases where extensive areas have to be gone over, and cultivators are restricted to time, it is be«t to water a portion each day in order to saturate lhe ground, taking several days to accomplish what- wuold be done in a few hours by mere surface dribblings. Applications of manure water should follow the watering of vegetables or after rain as .liquid stimulants are much more effective when applied while the ground is moist. Another commendable practice is to syringe or lightly, hose the leaves and stems of vegetables in the evenings of fine days. Almost every vegetable benefits from the treatment, even to earrots, parsnips and such root crops. In the instance of ruuner beans it operates beneficially in assisting the flowers to set. TURNIPS. Turnips require a cool root run in summer as lhe plants cannot endure the occasional dryness to which light soils are subject at this season. A good soaking once a week will suffice for frequent watering is not good for the crop as it causes the centre of the bulbs to decay and also encourages an excessive leaf growth at the expense of the roots. CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER. Cabbage and cauliflower that are planted out now must be given plentiful supplies of water and be shaded from the sun for about a week. Earlier plantings should receive every attention, particularly in regard to watering, as

the lack of moitsure in the ground is one of the principal causes of cauliflower forming small and worthless heads. Liberal doses of weak liquid manure should be applied, about every six days with advantage. Brel coli may be treated in every respect the same as cauliflower, but the soil about the plants should be kept firm. LETTUCE. Special preparation of the ground is essential if good lettuce are to be secured from summer cultivation. Trenches should be excavated to a depth of about twelve inches and fifteen inches in width. On the bottom place a six inch layer of rotted manure or decayed garden refuse and replace a portion of the excavated soil so that, after treading firmly, the surface of each trench is two or three inches below the level of the surrounding soil. The seed should be sown ’thinly along the centre of each trench, care Jjeing taken first of all to make the surface soil even and line. Thin out the resulting growths promptly where the seedlings are at all crowded, repeating the operation at intervals as the plants develop until they finally aFtand eight inches apart. Water must be given copiously in dry weather and liquid manure also be regularly applied. The most effective stimulant for this crop is nitrate of soda when applied in liquid form by dissolving a handful of the nitrate in a kerosene tinful of water. GARDEN REFUSE. Every opportunity should be taken to clear the ground of weeds which ought never to be allowed to develop 'their seeds. Weeds, together with cabbage and cauliflower stumps and other waste products of the garden, are likely to become offensive when left to accumulate and decay in odd corners of the garden. The best method of disposing of such refuse at this .season is to,place it in a deep pit, where it will eventually become valuable material lor dressing the soil. THE FLOWER GARDEN. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. The plants should receive every attention in order that a steady and unimpeded -growth may be encouraged. If the final pinching of the shoots has not been done, no time should be lost in attending to the operation. A mukh of partially decayed manure applied now will benefit the plants materially. It is not advisable to over-water chrysanthemums at the roots, but the foliage may be frequently syringed with clear water with every advantage. Staking must be done without further delay, as otherwise damage to the stems may ensure from strong winds. Liquid manure should be withheld from the plants until lhe flower buds appear. FASCIATED GROWTHS. The writer was recently shown a fasciated stem of lilium auratum which was growing in the garden of a Fitzroy resident. This stem, instead of being round as is usual, was flattened out, giving the plant an unusual appearance, and in consequence has been an object of interest to many who have inspected it. Fascia'ted stems are not unusual in Nature, but often appear among shrubs, as well as liliums, and particularly among beds of asparagus. Those abnormal growths among soft-growing plants are only temporary, and the following season disappear. The coxcomb, however, has become a fixed fascination. So fixed are some strains that the cylindrical stems are never seen in the section of this family which is grown as a potplant. Fasciation is related to that branch of science which is included in teretology, tcretology being that part of biological science which is concerned with unusual forms of the whole body or any of its organs. These by comparison with normal forms called malformations or monstrosities. Malformations among plants are due to a disturbance of the ordinary course of the growth and development of the organs. Such a derangement of the functions may be looked upon as a disease. Mai forma-

tions may be occasioned by merely local disease or may be a sympton of general disease, etill further *inay be brought about by the direct influence of external physical conditions, i.e., by the action or presence of some other organism, plant, or animal or by the operations of unknown causes. Malformations may be inherited, and the form at first unusual may be fixed by selection, and become characteristic of the race. The coxcomb shows a hereditary and fixed fasciation. The lilium auratum often betrays the habit of developing wide flattened stems bearing innumerable flowers crowded 'together, giving the plant an abnormal appearance. Such plants, however, seldom, if ever reproduce themselves, but revert to the normal. These monstrosities are exhibited both at shows and in shop windows as wonderful reproductions of Nature, whereas they are the products of a plant suffering from physical derangement. Flattened stems of asparagus of enormous size may result fro m an overabundant supply of food or water throwing the system of the plant out of order, resulting in these unusual growths. This may account for the fasciated stem of lilium auratum growing in the local resident’s garden as already referred to. During the past few years M. L. Seveau de Lamerlaire conducted a number of experiments with the object of producing fasciation in the stems and enfflorescence of plants. The plants selected for liis experiment was Barkhausia taraxacifolia. It was found that mutilations practised upon the principal stems and branches favoured the formation and development of dormant and abnormal buds, and thus gave rise to branches more or less faseiated. Mutilation may lie one. of the reasons for these teretologieal growths.