THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17351, 16 May 1924, Page 5

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR ALL SEASONS. KITCHEN GARDEN. Seerls to Sow —Broadbeans; carrots, spinach, turnips. What to Plant—Cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, Weather conditions are good for all j kinds of garden work. The best use should he made of the fin© weather by j getting as much outside work done as j possible. Jf there are any alterations to make, trees to plant, an old worn- ! out plants to grub up, get this work completed as soon as possible, while the surface soil is dry. HARDY FRUITS. Gathering and storing late fruits should receive very careful attention. Don't pick late varieties of apples and I pears until the fruits part easily from the branch when they are gently lifted. Every fruit on one tree will not be ready for gathering on one day. If all the fruits are collected on one day, some will eventually shrivel., and will he only second-class in quality. Alake every part of the fruit room quite clean and sweet, and provide plenty of ventilation to allow the gas to escape. After the fruits have been inside-several weeks go over them and if any show signs of a bruise put them aside, for present use. • Most of the late varieties ere fairly hard at this season, and this fact makes some growers very careless in their handling. The results are soon very apparent, especially with large fruits. These are valuable and should receive careful treatment. GOOSEBERRIES. The gooseberry is one of the best of garden fruits, also one of the most but it is very easily killed, if planted in a low, wet situation. If every part- of th© garden is low and wet in winter, there is only on© way to grow gooseberries satisfactorily. Throw up a raised ridge or bank, and set the hushes on this, so that the base of the plants ere above the level of water during the winter. Some of the roots will push down below the water level, and will suffer during a wet spell, but should they be destroyed the bush will not, perish. The roots that are in the raised bank will live and keep the bush growing. Tn some gardens, shade is necessary 1 ° Prevent the fruits from being scorched by hot sunshine in January If the bushes are planted on the south side of some fruit 'trees, -these will afford the necessary sha^e. strawberries. 3 hose that were set in their final quarters in March should bo firmly established be to re the winter sets in Keep the soil cultivated between the plants wlnlc the surface .is workable. Gfa plants that are to stand another season should be kept free from weeds, tne ground between them cultivated and some food given. Bone meal is good and lasting. Give the plants a good dressing now, and another some time in August. Often the plants do not receive any food until their trusses of flower buds are visible, and although feeding is helpful then, it would have been much more beneficial if the plants had received it two months earlier, to assist the formation of the trusses of flowers. Strong buds make big blossoms, and big flowers mean large fruit. The value of early reeding cannot be overestimated. GREENHOUSE. The earliest batch of Freesias may he put into a warmer house, but they must be kept quite near, the glass. If the pots are some distance from the glass the foliage, soon begins to get overlong an 1 tails over, and does not become upright again. But if the plants are kept quite close to the glass the foliage remains sturdy and erect, and the flowers come up among the leaves, just the same as they do when the plants are in the open. Put neat stakes to the flowers to keep them erect. Primulas are opening their blossoms Alove the forward plants to a cooler house. This will result in the flowers being more lasting and the leaves sturdier. Give each plant plenty of room, for if the leaves overlap they will soon come to grief during the first sped of dull, damp wintry weather. Cinerarias are growing fast and need plenty of room. No matter whether in a glass house, or in a cold frame each plant should quite clear from those near it. Put late plants into their flowering pots. Thev should never he kept too long in small pots. Those just opening their blossoms should have manure, and soot water alternately. The soot water will keep the soil sweet, and destroy insect pests. Do no keep the roots too wet. Let the soil become rather drv between watering the plants. This will keep the foliage sturdy and ' sortgn. Afove the plants occasionally to prevent the roots growing into the bench.