THE GARDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 231, 27 September 1905, Page 7

THE GARDEN.

CB_ HORTUS.)

[Hortus is willing to answer any questions. Correspondents must give their real uames and addresses, though not for publication.] TO CORRESPONDENTS. Drying Fern Leaves (Fern, Ponsonby). — Tne fern fronds, when gathered, should be fairly matured. Yon will know this by the seed on the back of the frond being" ripe. It will then assume a dusty brown appearauce. Gather when the fronds are dry; expose to tbe air for a short period to thoroughly dry. Then place them between double sheets of paper, or better, in blotting paper; press and put away in a cool room to dry. Poppies (Amateur). — The great objection to popples is that the bloom does not last long enough, the reason being tbat fertilisation takes place as soon as the flowers expand. For decorative purposes they should be cut while in bud, and will open ln water, and last must longer than If allowed to expand on the plant, HINTS. Shrubberies should be well hoed after the hravy rair-s, before weeds appear or become unduly prominent.

Before eartb'ng up potatoes for the second or final time, a light sprinkling of nitrate cf soda or sulphate of ammonia with a little salt, is recGairni.ndc'l. The first rain wi'l ''mr i' down tc the roots, and a great imbrovtment will soon be perceptible, especially It the plants are not cor strong or the soil lipht iv tc-xture.

Tomatoes, properly hardened, should all now be planted out o/ doois. The ground lor them should not be over rich and snou'd b»' trocMcn firmly about tbe roots Strmg •jtake supports are essential for snch as are crown iv the open, and they art hesi placed in position at planting time, else there ;-; a danger they may be overlooked until ;i high wind occurs and inj'jres, if it does not destroy many. The importance of pinch-

i'.ic oft' all unnecessary side shoots when they tirst appear cannot be overestimated. Those continually farming at the apices must bt similarly treated.

Summer surface culture amongst growing crop* cannot be too highly appraised — i.e., kepir.g the upper crust free by periodical hocinss during their season of growth. To do this efficiently, and with the least labour, the ground surface must be maintained loose from the time the seedlings appear or plants are planted. If neglected, and the snri_.? once becomes caked by dry weather and sunshine, it will be extremely hard hoeing to loosen it, and then uot with the desired result. By maintaining a loose, free surface from the tirst. slight periodical stirrings, comprising little effort, are rapidly performed over tar_e surfaces.

Plant Houses. — 'With the many plants in .class house-; now coining into blossom shading during bursts of bright sunshine is desirable, to preserve the flowers which would, unless so protected, rapidly fall. .■Shading is also of service during such periods" in preventing tender young shoots "T"!ii:r unduly wilted, and in lessening e_-

• essire evaporation of the mois'4ire in tbe pr-ts. The shading, however, should ;«.- ..I' inch a character that it can be removed as soon as the sun Is off the glass. or while the hot sun may be too strong

•or the plants it is impossible to give them tec much light. More attention to watering wlil now be necessary, but whenever the -.oi! in a pot has v conic so thoroughly dry \.hi_i the plant rs drooping, do not attempt ro remedy matters by pouring water oa th" surfa-e. Nothing but immersion in water for some time wiil sufficiently wet the soil all through. 2loss on the surface on the •ides of the pots denotes too much mo'sture in the soil, and improper drainage. It may uot be safe or convenient to make an examination at the time to see whether this is so. but wherever these signs manifest tbemse'ves no more water should be given until it is quite evident that it is absolutely needed.

I'al'.x Drunimoudii. the Texas annual species, makes a charming flower bod since the introduction of the greatly impioved i:;<v>in varieties, and being offered in well advanced boxes of seedlings, should be . within the reach of enthusiastic amateurs. , Tbey succeed best ln somewhat light soi's, ] properly enriched, and may be planted out •somewhat more thinly than most subjects. ! pruvlded they are stopped by pinching out the points of their strongest shoots after \ they have comtner-oed to grow freely. Yen- j dcrs offer them when they are com—ene- : ing to bloom. v."hi r h Is somewhat an ad- ! ranced stage, in surh case the blooming^ parts aie best pipched off at the time of panting. B< iilg succulent, th?y require j i earpful handling, tho soil pressed about j I the roots, and pegging down as soon as | j necessary, so as to save them from in- | ! jury by* sfong winds, and insnre that i j ground space is duly covered throughout, j i The markings of individual varieties are I !as difiei °nt one from the other as they ; ! are beautiful. i I STAKING AND TYING. ) Growth Is at the present, time very j rapid, and taking and tying; as a precaution against injury wi 1 occupy much of i the gardener's time. This staking Is don<- ] for protection only, and should be of a l character as litte liable to Interfere with I the natural habit of tbe plant as possibJe. I Some gardens aie all sticks and stiff formal i 1 plant 3 and very ugly ,y look. Hoi y- : nocks, dahlias, delphlnums and such like j 1 need stout stakes, but these should never , jbe more than about two thirds the height ! 'of the flower stem=, and ought to be so I ! placed that they are hiiden by the foliage. ! ; Where a number of growths spring from j I one root It is better to place sticks to each I rather than bunch the whole together by ! one tie aaound them. Fo- sweet pea* I twig,gy branches are best, as the plants intertwine among the twigs and need no i tying, or training, but convolvus require a thin stick o.r string to twine round. Carnat'ons are spoiled by injudicious tying more than any other subject. The sticks *hou'd be just long enough to support the flowers t.nd the ties must not be made I tight or the stems in making theii I growth will "knee" or kink, becoming uni sinht'y. and sometimes breaking. Let the ! tie be" made secure around the stick to keep it in place, but very loosely round the ! stem. . ! Vain crop peas are sown successionally i from the middle of September until near i the end of October. Though, owing to ; strong and robust giowth. marrowfats arc j mr.'- t-nder than early kinds. Expert gardeners and market garden farmers sow l_uuh ear'ler in these days than they did o f yore, and with excellent results. To grow tali main ciop peas in perfection it is■ I important not to overcrowd the rows; indeed. Sin-Ie rows amidst other lowly crops give faAhe best results, and it is important to I sow the rows from north to south. In ! view of aiving such roots all the light I possible, where space is limited, the rows i may be alternated with ti »iehes of celery. Some drop a row or two in between early potatoes: others grow alternate rows of : ouick podding second earlies between thf . tal' or two rows of the former to each om,of the litter. Seeds of tall kindsi should not be sown so thick as more dwarfed ' vai le-ties though sufficient must be sown to . Insure good, well furnished rows, even t_s_3i ft be necessary to thin the plants ' wT nn a practice usually neglected. : ! Peas of P braneh"g habit of growth must i not be sown so thickly as single bine■ varter rie« Make a wide drill for the seed with he who .width of the hoe. scatter it over 1 the who'e width, and when sown press it ' down into The drill with the foot before - covering it over.