THE GARDEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 266, 22 August 1936, Page 3

THE GARDEN

GENERAL ROUTINE WORK. (Written for the ‘'Guardian” by J. A. McPherson, N.D.H., N.Z.) THE GREENHOUSE Readers with Hyrdangeas in pots will find that these are starting to .commence growth. In order to produce large liower heads all side shoots must be removed as they appear and the plants heavily fed with liquid manure. Much more could be done with Primula Kewensis order glass. It is a cool greenhouse subject of easy cultivation in five inch pots and blooms throughout the whole of the winter and early spring. The flower colour is bright yellow and in association with Cineraria matador (brick jeed) it makes a splendid contrast of colour. In cold districts where Lobelia cordinalis (scarlet lobelia) has been boxed up and stored for the winter, the clumps can be split up, relaxed and later planted out when severe frosts are over. Start Dahlias into growth especially those required for increase of stock. All Dahlia cuttings will root readily in a mixture of equal parts of sand and soil, but they must have warm conditions and a good growing atmosphere. Get all Chrysanthemum cuttings inserted as soon as possible. If some stools are shy in throwing up the required number of cuttings take a handfork and prize the plants partly out of the soil. This usually has the desired effect. Soon we will be in the midst of seedraising for summer bedding and no time should be lost in giving the greenhouse a thorough overhaul, repairing broken glass and touching up all woodwork with a coat of paint. SWEET PEAS In preparations for Sweet Peas see that soil conditions are perfect, otherwise very poor blooms will result. Sweet Peas are deep rooting subjects hence the necessity for deep cultivation. Trenches should he opened to a depth of at least two feet six inches and a good sprinkling of rotted strawy manure added to the bottom spit. The top spit should consist of good turfy loam to which has been added bone meal and superphosphate at the rate of a four-inch potful of each to the barrowful of loam. Rotted cow manure can be added at the .rate of one barrowful of manure to throe of loam. Charcoal and sand must he added to keep the mixture open. Before planting out the seedlings fork in a good dusting of lime, all members of the pea family demand it. CUT-FLOWER SUPPLY. Very often a good garden is spoilt and robbed of its maximum display through the continual cutting of the flowers for house decorations. Flowers in the house we must have, but why rob the formal bedding displays, when with a little trouble we can procure all the cut flowers from another part of the garden. This other part of the garden we will call the reserve plot for want of a better name. It can be situated alongside the vegetable garden and should contain several rows of various types of annuals such as stocks, asters, marigolds, salpiglossis, and antirrhiniums, etc. Furthermore the surplus plants left oyer from the splitting up of subjects in the herbaceous border can find a happy and profitable home in the reserve plot.

Good herbaceous plants for, cutting are Phlox, Scabious, Gaillarclia, Michaelmas Daisies, Seleniums, Itudbeckias Paeonies, Chelone, Gypsophila, etc. Try the above method lor' this coiling season and I am satisfied you will not only have a splendid supply of cut blooms, but the general garden will he much brighter in consequence. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Plant Early Potatoes. Most readers, even though their gardens may he very small usually find a place for the growing of early potatoes. This is accounted for in several ways: firstly, there is inward satisfaction in having ones own grown, and secondly, there is the question of economy in as much as early potatoes are more expensive than the general main crops. Besides having; the new season’s tubers for the table while prices are high, they are out of the ground in time for a. crop of broccoli and other greens to be: planted. Choose the warmest and most sheltered situation possible and remember that the land must be well drained and free from the roots of shelter belts and hedges. Potatoes do best on fairly light land and it will be found that those growing on extra heavy soils have not the same keeping qualities of the former. The question, of manures for tins crop is one that requires more attention. Besides the usual nitrogenous manures, such as sheep, cow, and stable little, which are dug into the land during the autumn and late winter, potatoes respond better to a more complete typo of fertiliser and especially for early crops where vigorous and sturdy growth is required, the following mixture may be either forked into the top spit of soil prior to planting, at the rate of 12 pounds to every 40 square yards, or dusted into the drills at planting time; 4 parts superphosphate, 1 part sulphate of ammonia, and 1 part sulphate of potash. The first named gives sturdiness to leaf, stem and tuber, the second assists general growth and foliage and the third teds on the quality of tubers and assists with the sugar and starch formation. Tubers for j .anting should be well greened and sprouted, and the number of sprouts reduced to three strong ones on each. Planting may he done either with the spade or trowel without going to the nesessity n f opening up a scries of drills. Certa. dy the opening of the drills helps with the further working of the soil and then permits of ousting the complete fe-tilisev over soil that the roots will ce bound to come m contact with. For early crops it is an advantage to plant shallow, that is to say four inches below the surface as compared with five to six inches for the main crop. This keeps the sprouting tubers in the warm surface, soil, a distinct advantage. Place each tuber twelve inches apart and allow twenty to twenty-four inches between the row's. Once the tops commence to show through the ground care is necessary to see that they are not checked by late frosts. If there does come _ a distinct nip in the air when foliage is showing, a further hoeing up of the soil over the entire foliage will be found of great assistance. Even when tops are frosted a shovelful of soil placed on the tops lief ore the sun shows up will minimise the damage, and the soil can he removed later if necessary. Many growers

erectc temporary frames over which sacks or scrim can be quickly rolled on cold nights. When planting potatoes use certified seed if obtainable and choose the early varieties from the following list, Arran Crest, Arran Pilot, Cliff’s Kidney, Catriona, Epicure, Early Regent, Eclipse, Early Puritan, Garden Filler, Jersey Bennes, Robin Adair, D 1 Vernon Witch Hill (Snowdrop) and Sharpe’s Express. Current Work. Proceed with caution for the next fortnight when sowing seeds. Do not be too eager to fill no the whole of the garden with rows of seeds. Firstly bear in mind that the nail, is still not too warm for the”general germination of some seeds and growth ctf tender seedlings, and secondly we cannot sow early, mid-season, and late varieties all in the same week unless we are aiming at a jumbled garden. Early sown peas are coming through the ground and require protection from winds. The earliest root crops that can be sown are carrots, and radishes (stumprooted varieties of both these crops), while a. start can be made next week to sow the early types of soft-fleslied turnips, such as Early Milan and Snowball. Birds are particularly fond of young seedlings.