THE GARDEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 206, 13 June 1946, Page 3

THE GARDEN

GENERAL ROUTINE WORK (Written for the “Guardian” by W. B. Brockie, N.D.H., N.Z.) PLANTS UNDER GLASS Cyclamen ilke a slightly moist atmosphere and this can l>e. obtained by damping the floors of the house a little in the morning after watering lias been attended to. The plants themselves, however, should not be syringed overhead when in flower as this trends to encourage the growth of mould at the base of the stems. When the plants are in full bloom, feed them regularly with weak liquid cow manure made by soaking a bag' of the manure in the tub of water. Freesias in pots should be given support by inserting small twigs of silver birch among them. Cuttings in frames require to be kept as dry as possible during the cold season. Water them only when they begin to show signs of flagging. Open the sashes wide on mild sunny days. Hyacinth and tulip bulbs in pots plunged in ashes should be examined for their root growth. If there is a strong network of roots showing around the ball of soil when it is turned out, the pot may be brought into a warm greenhouse for forcing. Such plants make quick and strong growth and they will flower in a few weeks. Give them plenty of light and ventilate the house freely on calm, sunny days. Cinerarias must be given, ample space on the bench to allow the leaves to develop fully. Water them with liquid manure until the flower heads begin to open. Clarkias, stocks and schizanthus are useful annuals for pot culture at this time of the year. Sown now in a temperature of sixty degrees the seeds soon germinate and when the seedlings have grown an inch or so they should be pricked off into small pots, singly in the case of the schizanthus and stock, but with the clarltia it is best to have five seedlings in a 4-inch pot. The plants" are shifted into flinch pots as root growth demands. A very rich soil is necessary for these annuals. THE FLOWER GARDEN

Variegated evergreen shrubs are valuable for their brightening effect in the shrub border in winter. One of the most popular is Euonymus japonicus var. aureus;* this has a rich golden margin to its leaves and it is not so liable to produce green reversion shoots as some of the other variegated forms of this species. Another good variegated Euonymus is E. radicaus variegata; it forms a low spreading bush and is most useful for planting in the shade of trees. Variegated holly is very decorative used as a lawn specimen; one of the best varieties is called argentea marginata; its silvery foliage contrasts beautifully with the bright red berries. The common box is also represented among the variegated shrubs by the variety argentia; it forms a neat, almost globular bush three or four feet high. Other shrubs of this kind include the golden privet, Aucuba japoniea. picta, variegated periwinkle and there are some New Zealand variegated shrubs that compare more than favourably with many from overseas, such as those of the broadleaf and various species of Pittosporum and Hebe. Our native shrubs also present some excellent coloured leaf forms, among the best of which must be included the purple-leaved hybried forms- of the native myrtles (Myrtus). These are also most attractive on account of their red berries. The Pepper tree or horopito (Wintera. eolorata) is a colourful shrub at, all times of the year but the brightest of' all is the purple-leaved (Dodonaea viscosa var. puppurea); it grows to a height of about twelve feet and takes on its richest hue in winter when its almost crimson foliage makes it a conspicuous object at a considerable distance; seedlings are mostly true to colour and they must be transplanted to their permanent positions while they are quite small as large specimens dislike root disturbance. Pot gro,wn plants, of course, are the most satisfactory. Shrub cuttings such as those of Forsythia, ICerria, Philadelphia and Spiraea should be got in as soon as possible. Insert them two-thirds of their length in clean well-drained soil. Plant roses and shrubs of all kinds not forgetting those kinds that flower in winter such as Winter Sweet, Garrya elliptica, Erica melantliera _E. darleyensis and Berberis japoniea. When planting see that a good sized area around the plant is deeply cultivated and, if The soil is naturally rather, poor, work in a liberal amount of compost or rotted animal manure. Make a final clean up of fallen leaves, paying particular attention to those that are lodged among springbedding plants and in the pockets of the rock garden. The leaves along with spent annuals and withered stems from the mixed flower border stacked on the compost heap to ♦provide manure. THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Fruit trees and busli fruits of all kinds may be planted by deep cultivation and by manuring if it is poor. In ordinary good garden soil peaches and nectarines need no manure, as this causes such strong growth of the branches that the trees -become topheavy and in such condition they are very liable to be torn apart by wind. Tlie soil for black currants should be made very rich. Bush fruits are useful for dividing the vegetable garden into plots, or breaks as they are called sometimes. In such case they are planted in single rows running north and south.

Select seed potatoes l'roin stock or purchase sets and place them eyes uppermost in shallow boxes. They must have protection from frost hut place them in a shed where they will get plenty of light. Digging and trenching should be pushed on with. Add plenty of manure to the ground where it is intended to grow onions, cabbage, lettuce, spinach. parsley and silver beet. If it is desired to dig over ground now occupied by leeks, the leeks should be dug up and heeled in neatly alongside a path where they will be easily 7 obtained.

Rhubarb is best planted about the end of July but the lied for it should be got ready well beforehand. Select a piece of ground in a corner 'of the vegetable section, or a strip beside a path, and cultivate two spits deep, working in a liberal quantity of well rotted farmyard manure or compost. Fresh manure should not be used.

Sow tomatoes for early greenhouse crops. A temperature of 55 degrees at least i 3 necessary to ensure eyen germ* ination.