Practical Gardening.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 7, 8 January 1916, Page 17

Practical Gardening.

tof&mation and ZVews for Amateur and -Projfessfona/. By DIANTHUS.

. Correspondents unit greatly obUge by observing //u aj» ■ tyfrg ytestton* for publication* thJL *** f° a °«™f-<**™ in 1 tetters should be addressed Garden EAtor "Star" n*~ a v, j tJjzr. m ~ •* of tAe -—* zz^btfttL* ifeWwrtf end tte entente **»* *re very twofe to be ftr,fe»

TO CORBESPONI>ENTS. (RPXTfFTR BEAKS, ronsonhy.—The rauseof the flowers not setting on the tomaI toes is <ine to overfeeding. You say you have a rich soil, and also add other manures, and wator every second night. I shonld suggest that you wiahold the water for a time. Thp weather wp £:ive had this season is such that tomatoes should require little or no watering. Banner beans do sometimes shed I lie first blooms without setting. This Is also often due to excessive manuring, especially if an excess of nitrogen is "present. Pinch off the points of the shoots; this •will mean a <-.heck to the plant, which 1 will caoiso it to product* pods. The stopping of the leaders will not effect ihe growth of the plant, as it will produce side shoots. It is a usual procedure to stop the leaders when they are nearly .to the Tops of the supports. By stopping, jnnQpr "iiesnp win produce a crop within il. loot or so of the ground. This is" tie method in vojue when growing them for .seed pnrposes. supports betag out of the question "when acres of them are s r<>wn - CALEDONIAN, nt. Eden.—Spray the loquat with arsenate of lead—half au ounce to the gallon of water. If you have some MoDougraTs insecticide you can cry it, bnt the arsenate of lead Is more sure for leaf-biting insects. C.S.W., Birfcenliead.—Nifcan palm seeds should be thoroughly dried, put into a cloth bag, and then kept in a room where it is dry and cool. liow long they will .remain "fertile is> hard to say without recourse to experiment, but. speaking in 'a general way, they should be good enough for Wo years. E_A 'Epsom.—July is rather an off month, for making a display of bloom. The best show could be made with paper-white narcissus, yellow jonquils, and anemone?. Antirrhiuinnms if sown now would probably give some J>loorn. Wrnter-floworins sweet peas sown about the end of the month would also rfve some blooms at that time, especially if put in a sheltered Eosition, I ffAlill, I'onsooby Road.—Your palms require feeding- You do Dot say how long since they were potted.. We shou'.d advise you to procure a tin of Clay's fertiliser, and give them a teaspoonfnl every week or ten days. If they have not "been potted for a year or so torn them oot of ihe pots, and take off as much of tie oW soil as possible, and repot into ifot a size larger than they •are in at present. For potting soil use two parts good loam, one part sand, one part leaf soil; pot firm and be sure that tie soil is worked well amongst the roots. The new pots must have some good drainage put in the bottom; broken scoria is very good. -• - 'I'M m WEEK'S WORK. / ~- —— THE BLOWER GARDEN. The chief worK iv mc iwwer garden Scat vow is keying the old blooms cut off. U you have not pruned your raiuDling roses, such as IKirotuy rerkins, etc., it i≤ Umeto set about it. rue sooner after flowering these are pruned the better. •Kose cuttings can be put in now If desired. Shoots that have uowered may he Bsed. Take the cutting off with a "Oeelf • carefully pare the rough edges, remove the lower leaves, aud put the cuttings iv a Sed of sandy soiL Toe bed should he made in a 6Ha<>y position, or should be shaded. The sou most lie made firm, and each CS-*«H! must fee well Srmed without bruising. Border carnations are about over now, and layering should i>e commenced at once. The sooner tbe layers axe down the better lor next year's bloom. When layering carnations scoop out the soil around the plant an inch or so deep, to that when the layering compost is put down the layers will be almost on tne leveL When raised up too high they are liable to dry out, and take more watering to keep them going. As a rule too much soil is used, only a Email quantity is required, two or three irandfnls being sufficient for a lair-sized , plant. Dahlias are growing fast now. and need attention to stoking, hoeing, etc. The dahlia is a coarse growing subject if left to its own devices. A free aud JBdicionß *ise of the knife will make a lot of difference to the plant. Never allow any inside growth or any growths that are not in a position to produce bloom. Tuberous begonias in iheds or borders need plon-ty of water to keep them going, in overhead watering night and morning is what they like. Chrysanthemums ore growing fast and appear to be fairly free of rust up to the present. It is as well to take no risks, and spraying should be given at least every three weeks. iflWew on roses has been rather severe this season, and the spray has bad to be iept going to keep It In check. The hoe ebonld be kept soing. and should t>e used after every -watering, otherwise the ground cakes and cracks, and a lot pf the pood of the watering is loet. - The trenches for winter flowering sweet Jteas should be thought of now. The seed ■fill need to be sown next month, and the ground chould be ready beforehand. Ihe trenching should be deep and thorough, and although there may not be the same need of havins manure in the bottom of the trench to consume the moisture, yet there shouM be some, so that the roots have some good to go after. THE GARDEN. Here tnere are pleuiy of edd Ju3s to do to keep -mc place tidy, t-ieau uu. iiuy ruoiisa us auou as jiossivje; uu not ulluv/ Hi» l(e auout. li ouly mu-oours raiiuiu n»*u disease. A sowing of dwarf ieans fiiould tss mate according io requirements, lettuce slioulu bo suwu at Intervals. It. is no use »o\viu!S to" much; taia dry "cather it will not last. Celery may uti.l be planted out. If possible piaut m KliowcCf weaincr, otherwise water must i>e used aud tae plants ehaued. A little caubage and cauliflower seed should be sown tais nioAli. The seedlings wiil ueed careful attention, owing to tue cabbage fly. Carrots.—Tiese can be sown still if required. Young carrots are very nico and are very welcome for a change. This is a good time to make another towius of parsley. Parsley should t>C eown twice a vcar, January ami August. In this way a "continuous supply call ulfays be kept goins. ~ A little spinach may be sown this montn tbis vegetable is required. Onions are ripening their growth, ana >n Mine cases will be ready for Having Uic tops iMot over where this Is done. Garlic and shallots and potato onions should be harvested as soon as ready. These crops are not grown so often as one ■*ooM expect, yet they are nscfnl, and are always being required by the cook. I keeks can be planted now. Choose a ■fell-manured deeply-worked piece oi Srouad if j-on WO uld have a good crop. J-eeks are a flrst-class winter Tegetaole, * u t they are usraally forgotten, Saving to fcfr planted •β-hea peas and beans are in abundance. Tomatoes need constant attention to To get a crop you need to Keep the lateral growths ent out, and the main *tern tied up. Spraying is also necessary. The caterJ»!!ar -srfll be soon putting in «n appearance, "M will need to be received wtth a. cose « arsenate of lead, otherwise be will De •spoiling a lot of fruit before you are aware 01 bis presence.

PROPAGATING GM)XDfIAS rSOM I.EAT CUTTINGS. Both the foliage and flowers of the gloxinia are handsome, and although they are of no value as out-door plants, yet to those of our readers who have greenhouses they are of great value for giving a display during the summer months. Gloxinias can be raised from seed, but it is not often that the uninitiated jrets much success from this method. The seeds are very minute and expensive, and in a young state the plant needs very careful handling to ensure success. Propagation by leaf cuttings is much more sure, of course there is not the possibility of getting new colours by this method as with seed, but if one has .a few plants of good varieties it is an easy method of increasing the stock. The leaves for propagating purposes should be well developed and matured, and must be removed with a good length of foot stalk. With a sharp knife notches should be made in the main nerve or rib at the back of each leaf. The correct place to make the notches is immediately below the junctions between the main rib and the branch ribs as shown at figure 1. Well-drained

Fis. 2. pans or pots of lignt, sandy compost should be prepared, and after watering and allowing to' drain for a short time, the leaves should be placed on the surface, cut side downwards, the end of the etem been inserted in the soil. A little sand should be ecattered over the leaves, and wire pins should be passed through the leaf over the main rib to keep the leaf fiat on the soil. Figure 2. The pan should be placed in a, box which should be covered with a pane of glass.

In Figure 3 is shown how to insert i leaf cuttings round the side of pot, and • figure 4 shows how the same pot may 1 be" placed into a larger one, and a pane ] of glass used to cover it, thereby making < a small propagating pit. K<rnre 5 shows the notches made m {he wrong position- Compare this with fimire 1. At figure 6 is sho-wn the small j tubers that will form at the end of the ( stem of a leaf cutting- The pot or pans , should *c placed at the wanneet end of ] tL greenhonse, and when the leavee haT e commenced to form tubers the jrlaas may bo gradually removed. The, tubers should bo kept growing, and! ghould be kept just moist throughout the winter. If dried off as the older tubers are usually done, there » a WceU-. hood of the small tubers dying right out., 1

"So attempt should be made to force ) them during the winter, but they should just be kept from shrivelling. The present is a good time to propagate gloxinias by this method; the sooner it is done the longer they have to grow before the winter.

ROSE HEDGES. Eoses are one of those (lowers that ' no matter ihow many we have -we can ahvays do with a few more. They are j ueed in many ways, but one seldom sees I them used in the form of a hedge. It | J would be useless, of course, to attempt | to form hedges with many varieties, I especially those usually grown for cxhi-1 bit ion, but there are many varieties that could be used for this purpose, and if properly cared for would be much more pretty and becoming in a garden than many of the hedges and fences that arc to 'be found in many gardens. There are many vigorous-growing roses that i would be ideal for this purpose, where- i as in the ordinary rose bed they arc rather out of place, owing to their vigorous habits often causing them to i over-grow their neighbours. As a divid- I ing fence or screen between the kitchen garden and the flower garden, or to hide some unsightly spot, what could equal a hedge or screen or roses? If a tall hedge ie required, poste should be put in about 8 or 10 feet apart, and three or j four wires stretched along. For tall , hedges nothing could surpass the ■ Wichiiriana type. It -would probably look j most imposing were it all of one colour, but if variety is required it can be ob- . tamed in this claes. A few good varities, not Wichurianas, which 'would be almost continuously in bloom, suitable for a tall hedge, are: Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, Nova Zembla, Mad Alfred Car- ' riere,- Allister, Stella Gray, Aimee Vibert, ! Longworth Rambler, Francois Crousee, ] Drouhin, Eeine Marie Henriette, Grus an Teplitz, Ards Rover, Mad ; Bexard. For lower hedges etrong-grow-ing rosee such as Hugh Dickson, Avoca, Ards Rambler, Ards Pillar, Roeettc de la Legion d'Honneur, Mad Wagram, J. P. Clarke, Frau Karl Druschki. The Japanese or Rugosa roses make good hedges. For lower hedges there arc the China roses and the Polyanthus, or the Tea roses of the Marie Van Houtte class. ; There is no end to the suggestions one might make, but if you select the varieties that are about an equal growth from your own collection you should be able to make an addition to the garden "of a unique and unusual character. Before planting the hedge it would be bo3t to well trench the ground where the plants are to be planted. Of course it will be obvious that suitable varieties need to be vigorous and free flowering, and if possible mildew free, and should be as perpetual blooming as possible. MANURES FOR ROSES. There is no doubt that the opinions of Bean Hole, Foster Melliar and the Rev. H. iyOmbrian, that, whether in solid or liquid form, there ie nothing to equal farmyard manure for roees, is still worth following. Many, however, find it impossible to obtain sufficient, and in consequence have to look to chemical manures to supply the necessary food. Baeic slag and bonedust are two of the best manures that can be used for roses. Basic slag is first-class as an autumn dressing; applied during May or June, at the rate of about six ounces to the square yard, hoeing it in at once. The bonemeal can be put on at the same time, but is better applied about August at the rate of a good handful or two to the bush, depending somewhat upon the eize; this should also be scratched in at once. Tonks' manure is a capital fertiliser, and one often recommended by roearians. It can be applied in the spring, just before or after the bushes are pruned. It is made up ac follows:—Superphosphate, 12 parts; nitrate of potash, 10 .parts; sulphate of magnesia, 2 parts; sulphate of iron, 1 part; sulphate of lime, 8 parts. Apply 4oz to the squaTe yard. Many rosarians advocate the use of nightsoil, and where there is no sewerage system this can be used. It ds recommended to be poured on the roses, solid as well as liquid, in winter and early spring. Drills or holes should be scooped out near the plants, the fertiliser poured in and then covered with soil. It may also be used as a liquid manure during spring and summer. Dilute it with nine or ten times its bulk of water, or the better way is to put two or three gallons into a 40-gallon barrel and fill up with clear water, stir well and let it stand for a few hours, then use. Give the plants a good soaking •when it is used, and that would mean that a kerosene tinfnl would do two plants, and .if the bush is extra large only one.

TLOWERS IK VASES. The disagreeable, odour which comes from flowers in vaees is due to the decay of the stems and leaves in the water. Therefore remove all the lower leaves before putting flowers in vases. GARDENING. Gardening is an occupation adaptable to everybody —men and women, old and young, rich and poor—for even the smallest garden may afford infinite interest and pleasure.