THE GARDEN

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 4, 20 October 1923, Page 269

THE GARDEN

VEGETABLE-CULTURE.

As the new season’s vegetables and fruit come in the rhubarb and asparagus beds 'should be given a rest and allowed to complete their growth. It is often advisable to assist them now with a good dressing of suitable fertilizer.

Complete the sowing of hardy main crops —carrots, red and silver beet, &c.— and keep all seedlings well thinned and hoed.

The seeds of pumpkin, marrow, cucumber, and melons may be sown as soon as the danger of late frost is over. They prefer a warm, moist, well-drained locality. Plant 6 ft. to io ft. apart, about six to eight seeds in a clump, first making a slight depression. If, after planting, a sheet of glass is laid over clumps of the more tender kinds it assists germination and keeps away birds, which are often very troublesome. .

In localities which are sufficiently warm the kumara (sweet potato) may now be planted out. Space the plants a little wider than the ordinary potato. Winter crops, such as broccoli, savoy, cabbage, leeks, and celery, may be sown now for planting out early in the new year.

Maintain a supply of salads and spinach by repeated sowings at short intervals.

T omatoes.

In most districts tomato-plants may be planted outside now. To get an early crop the plants must be strong, well rooted, and hardened off ; avoid plants that are stunted and crowded in the boxes. While the ground should be well prepared, it must have settled down firm. The. plant does best on rather a solid bed. Under glass the first picking of fruit will probably be made this month. The' ground should then be well mulched down, and occasional applications of liquid, manure made. Keep the' plants well secured to the strings and all laterals pinched, out. Foliage may be trimmed from round the ripening bunch.

SMALL-FRUITS.

In many small-fruit sections the plants are stunted and poor ; a great improvement would be shown if a dressing of the more soluble chemical fertilizers were given now. Usually this includes superphosphate, sulphate of ammonia, and sulphate of potash. The mixture should be broadcast between the rows and scarified in. ' .

Cape gooseberries may be planted out now. Results will largely depend on the preparation given to the land. A good spacing is 3 ft. between the plants and 6 ft. between the rows.

THE FLOWER - GARDEN.

It is now time to plant out the half-hardy annuals, dahlia and chrysanthemum plants. The violet-beds will benefit and give a much better crop of blossom next season if a good dressing of chemical fertilizer is applied now. The foliage of many kinds of bulbous plants is inclined to be in the way and look untidy, but it should be carefully preserved. The plants are setting the flower-buds for next season, and should have every attention. .

The proper use of chemical fertilizers is the secret of success in modern gardens. The soluble kinds make the feeding of plants with liquid manure an ■easy matter, but the application must be properly timed. For the different ■qualities and effects of the principal chemical fertilizers, see the article in the Journal for June last. An amount of 1 oz. to the square yard represents 3 cwt per acre.

Lawns and Lawn-mowers.

Grass lawns require regular trimming now to keep them in order. The work is often unsatisfactory owing to the mower being in bad order. It is either blunt or badly set. The principle on which the ordinary lawn-mower is made is that of a spindle of beaters revolving quickly on a fixed ground plate or knife. There .are set-screws at each end of the spindle to enable one to adjust it to the fixed knife. The adjustment should be even, and sufficiently close to cut paper cleanly when placed between. .

To sharpen the mower place it upside down on a bench and arrange the mechanism to enable the beaters to revolve the opposite way. By revolving the Leaters in this way and wiping them occasionally with a mixture of emery-powder ■and oil they will quickly improve. Finish with knife-powder and oil to give a fine ■edge ; then wipe them clean and reset the machine. Machines are made with .facilities for sharpening them in this way.

—William C. Hyde,

Horticulture Division.