4° ] ounial of Agriculture. [lo Jan., 1910. 



Flower Garden. 



The deservedly popular flower, the Delphinium, which has frequenth- 

 been called the " King of the Blues," now occupies a prominent part in- 

 most of our flower gardens. It is easy of management, and yields such- 

 fine results, that no one can go astray in cultivating this beautiful summer 

 flower. It should be in full flower at the present time. If the old flower 

 stems are removed at about ground level, as soon as the flower has, passed- 

 its beauty, another crop of flower shoots will spring up from the base, 

 and give another succession of bloom. With crowns that have been 

 well matured, and that were planted early, it is thus possible to obtain^ 

 four successions of bloom each season. If seed be desired, one stem of 

 each variety will yield abundance of seed. This should be saved from, 

 the early flowers. It may now be planted, so as to get young plants in 

 the autumn. The Delphinium requires a fair amount of water and 

 manure, and a good summer mulching is always beneficial. 



January should be a busv month in the garden. The waterings will 

 be constant and frequent ; and after everv watering the surface should 

 be well loosened and stirred with the hoe, to keep it moist and cool. 

 More cultivation and less water is a good rule to be observed. If the 

 hoe be used more and the hose less, in summer, greater benefits will 

 accrue, and the water bill will be considerably reduced. 



Mulchings with straw, grass, &c., are very useful just now. The 

 mowings from lawns form valuable mulching. Waste tobacco stems are 

 also valuable as a mulch ; they will considerably reduce insect pests, 

 snails, and slugs; and as they contain about 2 per cent, of nitrogen, 4 per 

 cent, of lime, and 5 per cent, of potash, as well as about i per cent, of 

 phosphoric acid, they are valuable as a manure. 



Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, and other tall growing slender herbaceous- 

 plants will require support in the way of stakes ; they will also need 

 mulching considerably. These plants should receive no check whatever, 

 but should be continued with a regular even growth right through the- 

 season. Another desideratum is that the soil should be well drained. 

 Plants of all descriptions thrive far better in well drained soils, and they 

 require a far less amount of water. 



Constant watch will need to be kept for the various small caterpillars 

 that attack the buds of these plants. Spraying with a weak solution of 

 Paris Green and lime, or similar in.secticide, will be u.seful ; hand-picking 

 should also be resorted to. 



Carnations require lavering this month : and seeds of Cosmos. Zinnia, 

 Iceland Poppv, Aster, Pansv and Delphinium mav lie sown. 



Vegetable Garden. 



The work in this section is much the same as in the flower garden^ 

 Frequent waterings, good mulching, and regular soil stirring will be the 

 work for the month. As soon as any bed is cleared of vegetables, it 

 should be manured and well dug over in preparation for the next crop. 

 Deep digging is alwavs desirable in vegetable growing. Cabbage, cauli- 

 flower and celery plants may be planted out. In planting it is the usual 

 practice to water the soil, so as to cause it to set well around the young 

 roots. The upper, or vegetative part of the plant should also be sprinkled 

 occasionally. This will vitalise it considerably ; and as the leaves absorb 

 the moisture, it will assist in keeping the plant alive while its roots are 

 taking h(>ld of the soil. A sowing of potatoes, and also cabbage, cauli- 

 flower, turnip, peas and leek mav now be carried out. 



