THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10753, 26 April 1913, Page 12

THE GARDEN.

.; WORK FOR THE "WEEK. KTTCHEN GARDEN. Beeds to Sow—Cabbage, lettuce, onions (for salad), radish, savoy, spinach and turnips. What to Plant—Cabbage. leeks, lettuce and winter greens. The severe frosts have quite* killed all tender crops, such as beans, cucumber, marrow and torn a tor?. The remains of these should be cleared away as soon as possible, as nothing is gained by leaving these blackened tops about the garden; but much may be lost. Burn or bury them as t,oon a? possible. In many gardens there is a warm corner or fence where tomatoes are ttro'vrn every season. Tt is necessary to change the soil to get the bi.st resuite; and this is the most suitable time to' do this work. Take away about eighteen inches deep and twentyfbur wide and return pood soil from anlother part of the garden. Glub root on cabbage, cauliflower and ftthej" members of the Brassica family appears to be on the increase, judging by tha number of complaints made -nul questions asked by correspondents, ('ne of the many weevils that infest garden ■oil is the cause of ' this- 'disease, and these are more in evidence in gardens that have long been under cultivation. SPhe character of the soil must hove some influence tfhese pests, because irL«ome soils they are unknown. wrile in % ptßers so persisted* »hat one can only with difficulty "obtain a fair crop from any Brassiest. The late M. Woronin made extensive observations of these pests and named the one that causes the clubroot Plastqodiophora Brassica. These mites lay their eggs on the ground amongst weeds, the eggs turn into very small Suites or maggots and these find the root® of cabbage, cauliflower, or .some other Brassica, which they puncture, and a " pall" or warty excrescence is eopn produced. This develops rapidly, mnd injures the plant. These excrescences soon become hollow, and putrescent. If one is cut open it stinks abominably and often these hollow spaces are occupied by tiny slugs, beetles and wireworms. The pest> first attacks weak plants and gradually spreads to the stronger, and" Unless severe measures are taken the entire crop will soon be spoilt. Small plants can be taken up. Cut. nvay most of the warty growths, aud fUpithe roots in a mixture made of one ounce carbfllio acid,;;and Jib soft soap, 'dissolve in two gallons of water, with fenough fine loam to make the mixture into a thin .paste. Some substitute kerosene for the carbolicviiicid.

Wliere there is some tr.is pest, mix equal parts of soot, and airulaked lime, and when setting the plants out put a little in the holes 'with the plants. If the pest is discovered early in its life- liberal dressings of nitrate of soda, 'guanq or superphos-phate-of limn, may-destroy the mites and stimulate a -vigorous growth. Good cultivation will <lo, more to eradicate this p&t than : jany special treatment — p constant rotation of crops, deep cultivation of the soil, a liberal use of lime and sock alternately, clearing away tli© remains exhausted crops promptly and "keeping the ground free from weeds, exposing the soil that is 71 ot under crop to the weather oy throwing it up roughly, or in ridges. Then there is the seed bed where the plants are raised. ; This does not receive the attention it deserves. The cabbage seeds germinate easily, why trouble about, tha seed bed? Tliis is all very weli: Dut it should bo remembered that strong plants are better able to resist attack from any insect. It ip the weak ones that suffer first, and the-fact should be remembered wind the 6eed beds thoroughly prepared, bo that ■trong plants will be obtained. HARDY FRUITS. 'A correspondent asks for informalKan in storing apples in clamps. This method of storing late apples has much to, commend it, especially to those who da not possess a* properly-constructed fruit : shpd. Th<3 fclamp should be on the south side -or .a ouiiding fence*, because a cool position is essential to success. Take care that the fiooi*-of the clamp is above the level that water Teaches in winte# tnonths, 'because if water gets among tho apples it turns them musty. Cover the floor with clean strawj Jtot hay, as the latter often turns jiildewy and /Spoils the flavour of the fruit. . But the fruits in the clamp in advised lor potatoes, but handle*' wem with greater care. . Readers to last week's notts* .in harvesting late apples. Having put th^"fruit in position, ewer the, damp, with straw, then put several 'straw. J.f carefiS Mention is given to these few simple details the-ripples 'will keep much better than they would do in a*shed. ■No bruised fruits should be put with sound ones. Root-pruning, or,, as we prefer to call ft, root-lifting, should have attention as possible, Tliis work is ]>art of the system of pruning. Of course, all trees do not need, their roots lifted, only those that -are making^et vigorous grqwth and little fruit. If tiiess strong shoots are cut back it dees not encourage the formation, of fruit buds, hut it ensures a big of strong shoots .again next season. Now, instead of cutting these vigorous growths hard back, the-roots are uncovered and carefully lifted nearer th& surface, and tho >7 tap", or central root is cut (if there is one). Make the soil as firm as possible about the roots, and cut a few inches from the extreme end of each jßhoot to encourage the lower buds to push out. The result next season will be a very moderate extension of wood growth, but' a large number of flower ©r.'ffuit buds, and this will bringclfcho trees into a fruiting conditiou at "once. This is a much move profitable method of pruning than the never-ending cutting off of the shoots. GREENHOUSE. The management of glasshouses is snore difficult during the ensuing six or •ight weeks than at any other period.

Gardeners too often forget that most, vilant3 are more or less in a. resting condition, and need less heat and moisture. Where there is a service ot hot water for heating the houses the fires are started and kept corns;, raising the temperature much higher than necessary, and exciting growth that would bo better dormant until June is nearly out. By raiding the temperature now the plants are rendered soft, making them less able to withstand tha low decree often experienced during the end of June and early in July. A good practice w to keep the glasshouse as cool as possible consistent with the safety of the plants until the shortest day has passed, then gradullv increase the heat as the days lengthen. Another favilt is too much moisture. This is responsible for much trouble, when plants are making little growth. They need little moisture, and at this season the .atmosphere is heavily charged with dampness during the greater of the dav, and consequently the plants get much moisture from the air. Soft-wooded plants, such as cinerarins. cyclamens and pelargoniums, die from no apparent reason, but an examination would show too much moisture.

Another fault is too little air. " Winter is here, or nearly here, and so we must, keep the ventilators closed." This enems to he the ideaiiof many a man in chanre of glasshouses. Give all the ventilation possible, as this not only keeps the plants in good health, but enables them to pass through a spell of cold dull weather in the depth of winter without harm. Rearrange the plants, no matter how few or how many. Move them several times during the winter, as this will give them fresh positions, and if any require attention, their wants can be attended to before they get beyond recovery.