THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19809, 28 November 1919, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN' GARDEN. • Seeds to (Sow.—Beans, bent. broccoli, celery, cauliflower, cress, cucumber, lettuce, peas, savoy, turnips, spinach" vegetable marrows, Vi hat to I’iant.—Cabbage, cauliflower. Brussels sprouts, potatoes, tomatoes. • vegetable marrows, it)i the advent of December, one may expect some hot weather, ’when most garden crops wil want moisture. How best to conserve moisture hj \ question often asked. The host answer is deep cultivation and frequent hoeing. Laud that has been cultivated coop will store more and retain moisture ior a much longer period than land that is cultivated shallow. The man who trenches or sub-soils his land will have the best, crops, and. secure the heaviest returns, thus reaping a good interest from Iris labour of trenching. ) hen there is the i albumen, of moisture on ill. l fpmlil..y of the vegetables grown. Those grown on tlio deep cultivated huid jin’s much sviptirior to lho?G grown on shallow cultivated soil. They are more tender, remain, good for a, longer period, and arc more healthful to cab, because they are more easily digested, bids is a. most, important point from a health, or food-value viewpoint. The surface soil should he, kept loose and open by frequent booing whore the cultivator can Ik* used without injuring the planks. The line particles of soil when loose and open will prevent a, big escape of the, moistu.ro from below;

therefore it is retained, as a. reserve for the roots of the crops. In sonic guldens the soil gets extremely hob during December and January, so that something more, than frequent booings are, reeded, especially between rows of pears, beans, etc. Fresh manure, used as a mulch, will keep the moisture in the soil, acting as n screen from the hot sunshine. Unfortunately stable immure is not very plentiful and it would seem that with the increase of motor traction the supply will grow less and less. Therefore gardeners will have to provide some other material for mulching. Probably the next best is leaves, collected in the autumn and stored for use in the summer. Large quantities of leaves are burned every autumn—a wasteful practice that should be discontinued Examine all seedling crops; and if “green fly ” are present spray at once. This pest will be found on the lower side of the leaves. It should be destroyed at once, or the crop will suffer. Use a. spray pump. The ordinary plunge syringe is quite useless for destroying green, fly when the pest is on the lower side of the leaves, because the stream of spray fluid, to he effective, must have an upward direction. This js only possible, from n spray pump with a short length of hose- and an, adjustable nozzle. This aphis increases at an alarming rate, therefore attack it at once before it becomes too mimerOllF. THE YJ XEim Thin the berries on late vines ad soon as possible. There ja a. tendency among many gardeners to leave the late varieties until the berries begin io swell before they start thinning, 'this is a mistake and is often responsible for many ‘‘ stoneless berries.” It is strange that most of the late varieties have such a great number of flower buds on every bunch. Alicante, which is the most popular late variety, lias about 80 per cent more flower buds ir. every bunch than space for them to develop. If we reflect on this fact a little and remember that to form tiro stone (or seed) is a, great strain on i lie vine, we shall sec the necessity op reducing the strain as soon as possible. ft is not wise to attempt to complain the thinning at one, operalion, because whore there are such large numbers of “buds” all will not have seeds, and stonoless berries will not swell any bigger than a pea. Therefore go over the hunches as soon as possible and take a war about threefourths of the small berries. The vine, relieved of those, will soon begin to develop those with seeds. Then the final thinning should be done. A little experience and observation will enable one to tell which are stonoless. These are paler in colour, while the berries that have seeds in them are darker. The grapes in the early house are turning colour, and many are inclined to keep the house rather dose in raise the temperature and hasten the ripening. But, this is ;ui error. A dose atmosphere will not hasten the ripening, hut. will spoil the flavour ami rob the berries of a. good colour. T’lentv of fresh air will improve Imth the flavour and colour. WATEIUNG OF’ LAWXH Christchurch, November 2f. Dear Sir, —"While recognising the fact that I. am fully three mouths inn late in laying my lawn, still I. am anxious to get same in. T. have a, plentiful supply of water, and would be obliged if you can toll me what quautitv of water to use on same once the send is sown, ami at what times to j water.—“ LAAA’X.” ; The question our correspondent ; “Lawn” asks is one that cannot bo I answered in a. few words. A few re- | marks on the subject- may he useful !to others as wd) n? “Lawn.” AVator | ing grass seeds soon after they are sown needs groat care. The water j should tall on the soil much, the .same ias rain. If it is applied forcibly I froip a hose at any angle much, of the seed will be destroyed, because the stream of water drives the soil and seed before it, and many seeds that had just begun To sprout are disturbed and left on the surface to bo dried up by the warm winds, or scorched by the sun- Once the seeds are sown and raked in they should not bo disturbed. Therefore, when watered, put the water through a, fine rose, with the nozzle pointing upwards, so that the water will fall down much the same as rain, j Don't put it on too fast, but steadily, j so that it can soak into the soil, instead jof running over the surface. Cure I the seed is watered the surface should j bo kept damp until it is covered with j the grass plants. AUatc.r will make the seed swell and sprout, and as It in on the surface ifc will soon get dry unless given more water, and tho young sprouts will shrivel and die- As to bow much water should be used, tbt* will depend on the clia.racl.er of the soil. If it is on the heavy side very little is needed to keep it damp, but if the soil is sandy, light and piirnuj it will take, a largo quantity to keep the surface moist. Water late in tha day and the colour of the surface, soil will show if enough is used. After the young plants cover the surface they should lie watered during a spell or dry weather, especially on dry, Jjofc land. The roots hare not gone, far into the soil, and if this gets parched many plants will perish, so keep them watered until February. After this they will ho able to take care of themselves.