Garden Notes.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

Garden Notes.

Now that the wet weather has cleared off and the ground is drying, l^ garden work must be pushed on [is soon as the ground is fit to work, as the season for sowing and planting has been postponed by the rain. The garden, oil a large or a small scale, has his or her hands full at present, tidying up after a long spell of enforced idleness. Autumn-sown vegetables should be attended to and kept free from weeds, which will not begin to show themselves. If the hoe or cultivator is used when the weeds are young, they are more easily destroyed, than when older.

Work in the kitchen garden must be carried on with the utmost despatch, as soon as the soil is suitable for working. Successional sowing and planting of cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuce, onions, potatoes, peas, dwarf and runner beans, turnips, carrots, onions, radishes, parsnips, beet, are all in order. Herbs that are raised from seeds, such as parsley, basil, etc., may now be sown. Old roots of thyme, sage, marjo, ram, and others may be taken up and divided and replanted. Potatoes must be kept earthed up when the plants are fit, also cabbages and cauliflowers, and rows of peas and beaas; draw the earth up well around them. Sow seeds of pumpkins and vegetable marrow. Plant out tomatoes, arranging them in rows about between each and Ift apart in the rows. Spring flowers are coming on well, and x few days of. warm sunshine after the aor'-twesters should maka a notable difference in the amount of colour to delight the eye of owner and passer-by. . The present, says an exchange,- is a suitable time to apply some fertilising material over the roots and trees and tushes that need assistance, either to encourage freer growth during- the succeeding season or to nourish the crop of fruit which the trees may subsequently carry. A mixture of fresh loam, decayed mixture, and wood ashes proves of great benefit to Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. Lime, cholk, or mortar rubbish may be required in soils deficient in calcareous matter the latter being essential to stone fruit. The addition of a little bonemeal and muriate of potash is excellent for fruit bushes, including Red and White Currants and Gooseberries. They require to be fed liberally with phosphates and potash; bonemeal supplies phosphate. Black Currants need more liberal nitrogenous food in addition, -owing to the necesity .for them tQ form a fair amount of strong new wood each year, as we'l as perfecting the fruit.Similar dressings should be applied to Raspberries. Liquid manure is excellent to apply to large old trees of Apples, Pears or Plums, which may have their' roots deeper', "'especially when making deficientgrowth or showing other signs of enfeeblement.