THE GARDEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 34, 19 November 1938, Page 3

THE GARDEN

GENERAL ROUTINE WORK. (Written for the “Guardian” by W. B. Brookie, N.D.H., N.Z.) THE GLASSHOUSE. Maiden hair ferns grown under glass which are not shaded from direct sun soon lose their freshness, the foliage becomes yellowish and in place of long slender fronds the stems become stunted. The'best maiden hair ferns I have seen were growing in nine-inch pots in a lean-to vinery where the light was diffused through the vine foliage. Plants that have not been repotted this spring should occasionally be watered with weak liquid cow manure. Never apply the liquid manure when the soil is dry. Good drainage is essential to all ferns. They like plenty of moisture, but deteriorate very quickly if water remains stagnant about their roots.

Cyclamens that have finished flowering should he placed outside in a shaded position. I.cave them in their pots until February when the eorms are shaken out of the soil and repotted. During their summer rest they must not he allowed to become hone dry, but very little watering will lie required. Sow seeds of Primula malacoides for flowering next winter. After sowing, the seed pans should he covered with glass and thick brown paper until ger munition takes place, when the covering must he removed. Prick them off into boxes when the seedlings have formed the second leaf. Subsequent shifts will be into tliree-inch pots and then into five-inch size. This primula develops the finest flowering specimens when kept slightly on the dry side throughout the wliolle of its growing period. Never water them until the pot gives a ringing sound when rapped with the knuckles or a piece of wood. When dryness is thus indicated give this whole" ball of soil a thorough soaking. Attention should he given to providing really good drainage, especially for the final potting. THE FLOWER GARDEN. From now on until the middle of December is the best time of the year for sowing almost all kinds of herbaceous perennials. It is also the most opportune time in establishments that have to follow a routine of operations. Bedding annuals take up most of the work of propagating during the spring months and the houses and frames are now comparatively clear of stock. Delphiniums, genius, statice latifolia, potentillas. oriental poppies, gaillardias, campanulas, verbascum, aquilegia, tlialietrum, sidalcea and a host ol other subjects for the herbaceous border can now be sown. The main sowing of rock garden plants can also he carried out now. Where small hatches of each kind of plant is required, Whether for tlite rock garden or for the herbaceous border, the best seed receptacles are foujr-inch pots. Give the pots good drainage of crocks and use a compost of 5 parts leaf-mould, 4 parts rivter sand, and & parts fresh loam, all well mixed and passed through a quarter-inch sieve. See that the seed pans are never allowed to become dry. I find that quarter-inch or smaller size road grit is a good covering for many kinds of seeds that have to stand in a covered shaded frame. After pressing the seed into the level surface of the soil with a. round tobacco- tin, a small handful of the grit (where a four-inch pot is used) is spread over it. No soil covering is needed, just the grit. This grit covering allows free access of air to the seeds; the grit- acts as a mulch, keeping the seeds moist and there is no danger of the seed becoming displaced by watering or by drips from the sash. Green scum does not form on the grit to suffocate the germinating seedlings, and where seeds are slow in germinating this is a decided advantage. The seedlings come up through the grit remarkably well. With very small seeds it is probably better to cover them with a dusting of fine soil, and in the glasshouse where conditions are under better control; hut in a frame outside or even in a shady sheltered place with no frame at all the grit covering is safest- and there is much less chance of the- seed drying during the process of germination f The grit should he perfectly clean. If not it can be cleaned by boiling and washing on a fine sieve. Some of the larger seeded, quickgerminating .herbaceous, perennials such as delphiniums end lupins can be quite successfully raised by sowing in drills outdoors. The kitchen garden is a good place, .hut for easier handling it is best to germinate them in pots or boxes and prick them off into boxes for planting out the following spring. Continue to plant out all kinds of summer bedding plants. Tine soil is in good condition for this work, being moist and warm underneath. If the surface is dry and dusty give it a light sprinkling with the liose just before planting: This will prevent any dry soil from being packed around the roots. Another sprinkling afterwards will freshen the plants and settle the soil about their collars. Pansies and violas should have the flowers picked off as soon a® the petals begin to wither. This will keep them from seeding and their period of flowering will thus he extended besides improving the quality of the'blooms. Water the plants occasionally with liquid manure or fork in some blood and hone manure abound them to increase their vigour.

Gypsopliila elegans sown in a> row near to the sweet pea® will be found handy to provide sprays for mixing with cut flowers of the latter. Old tubters of dahlias that were not started in heat may now be planted out. If they have been carefully stored these old tubers will make large plants. To encourage quick growth of new roots the tubers may be soaked for a few hours in a till) of water befoio planting. With a spade dig out boles about jftfqk square and nine inches decj) antlrfork in some well decayed manure or blood mid bone into ibe soil at the bottom. For the large decorative varieties the holes should be five feet apart. The smaller kinds may be planted from 2 to 3 feet, apart aeeoi cling to their heights. For tall singles 3 feet apart is about the right distance. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Weeding will be the principal work to be carried out among the vegetables at this time. Do not allow the weeds to grow big. If they are tackled as soon as tluey show through the surface they are very easy to destroy, so keep the hoe going regularly. Watering, too, should be attended to when necessary. When doing this job do it tlior-

oughly. Light sprinklings are not very beneficial. Soak the ground right down to the lowermost roots.

Thin out parsnips, carrots, turnips, beet, onions, etc. If thinning is delayed too long the plants get- drawn and they are never so robust as those thinned -early.

Sow silver beet-, and globe and long beet.

Make a sowing of broccoli'and savoy cabbage to provide plants for putting out about Christmas time. A good plan is to sow them in pots of free soil. They will be ready for pricking out in about 10 days. Prick them out three inches apart- into a speciallyprepared bed of rich soil in a sunny part of the garden. Broccoli and Savoy cabbage may be used to follow on the early crops of potatoes or green peas. Plant leeks in the soil previously prepared, for them. The manure for this crop should he buried at least a foot: beneath the surface of the. bed. Strong and long young leeks should he chosen. In planting make a hole with a dibber about one foot deep and slip the leek into the hole just as the dibber is being withdrawn. A little loose soil from .the surface will cajrry the roots to the bottom of the hole where they will soon contact 'with the manure. The leeks should be planted about, nine inches apart in the row and one foot between the rows. Leave the holes open and when all are planted give each a little water poured in with a jug. By' this method of planting they will not: require earthing up.