November 1, 1909 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
View showing method of training Roses at Malvern Gardens, Victoria. 
‘certain seasons of the year growth 1s very 
free on these soils, particularly in eurly 
‘spring and in autumn; but the growth 
lacks substance, and is very liable to 
insect or fungoid attack, so that it is very 
difficult to carry green stuff of the 
‘Cruciferous kind through the winter, 
It is to the lightness of texture that we 
must attribute in the main the defects of 
these soils; they are almost wholly com- 
posed of the coarser kind of soil pariicles 
‘classed as sand, and they contain a very 
‘small proportion of the finest particles 
which may be termed clay. Soils com- 
posed chiefly of coarse particles possess 
very little retentive power for water; the 
surface exposed by the particles is 
‘Comparatively small, so that weight for 
weight there is less surface which remains 
wet after rain in a coarse than ina fine- 
grained soil; the channels also between 
the particles are naturally larger, and 
allow water to drain away more readily. 
This explains why the soils we are 
‘Considering ‘dry out’? so readily, but 
Other consequences also follow. A dry 
‘Soil is a warm soil, or rather is more easily 
Warmed and cooled, and is, therefore, more 
Susceptible to daily and  seasonable 
‘changes of temperature than a soil well 
Supplied with moisture. Hence we get 
4 state of things which is not entirely- 
Congenial to vegetation—early spring 
srowth due to the ready warming up of the 
soil, followed by checks caused by short 
spells of drought which would not effect a 
soil initially better provid: d with water, or 
-by overheating while the roots are still 
near the surface,and lastly a renewal of 
‘growth in the autumn, when the warm 
soil is.again provided ~with plenty of 
water. . 
‘All such changes and checks tend to 
curtail the period of growth, and force the 
plant into produciug flower and seed 
before it has accumulated a proper reserve 
in its early period of vegetable activity. 
From the chemical point of view, the 
small proporiion of water retained by tha 
soil affects the crops injuriously; the 
comparative warmth stimulates _ those 
decay proceses in the soil which convert 
the insoluble nitrogenous compounds of 
humus or manure into the nitrates which 
serve as food for plants; but, on the 
other hand, not enough water remains in 
the soil to bring into action the sparingly 
soluble reserves of mineral food. Hence 
the nutriment which reaches the plant is 
badly balanced; the comparative excess 
of nitrogenous over the mineral food 
results in a soft growth, susceptible to 
attacks of disease, : 
Per contra, a moderately strong 
soil, which is capable of retaining a con- 
siderable proportion of the rainfall, and 
which also is fino-textured enough to be 
able to lift water from the subsoil by | 
Yean tend to keep the plants clean ; 
capillarity, only warms up slowly as the 
season, advances. Growth is therefore, 
slow and continuous, and not liable to 
checks through drought; it is also more 
‘prolonged, because the ground parts with 
its heat more-slowly in the autumn, just 
for the same reason as it rises in tempera- 
ture more slowly in the spring. Such 
continuous and pr. longed growth is the 
most favorable to vegetation, and results 
‘in high quality in the produce.’ 
— Watering. _ 
Assuming that the gardener has worked 
up his soil to something like a fair con- 
dition of richness with ita top-dressing of 
mulch, it will be in a proper state to 
receive watering. It is a great mistake 
to water a garden every day. Two or 
three times a-week in the hottest weather 
is all that is needed. Give a plentiful 
supply, so that the soil gets a thorough 
‘soaking, and the plants wil] flourish far 
better than continually keeping the 
surface moist. The water is wanted at 
the roots, not on the surface. 
— Roses, — 
Roses everywhere have been excellent 
this season, but they will soon begin to 
wane. Aphis is making its appearance, 
and unless this pest is speedily checked 
it will rapidly spread, and do a lot of 
harm, Frequent hosings with the Yan 
Im, 
