Practical Gardening.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 200, 23 August 1919, Page 20

Practical Gardening.

By DIANTHUS.

Corrcspondsnis tril? greatly oblige by observing the following rales in senditte questions for publication in these columns: — j. L-etters shCKiid be adrlressed Garden Editor "Star" Office Auckland 2. Write one one side of the paper, and make all Communications as coiMX-ee as possible S Flowers, etc, sent for fuiming must be sent separately and, if possible, pack-ed in a tin or wooden box — cardboard boxes are very liable to be broke* w transit and the contents damaged. 4. The full name and address of the sender must ahaiys be tent, but m nsdi de plume or initial may bfi awen for publication. „ „ .. v .. <. xt ->r +r " «> ■»• " V V ** '*■ ** V V, V, V V % *T, K. V, ,V. ,V* .** %.V.■**-.V-.T V T iTI ■'/■ */■ Vi T< iVi T , *- V V V V V Vi fc-'.yjy A"J«*y«i '» X"X**'i* J. *> ** *■ •- A A <iV< Aft .ITT *» Vv #« V« «r *. .. wA7« iT ' VT» AwA «» "iVTA A 'J. .. *.T < * i= THE WEEK'S WORE. * != . * THE FLOWER GARDEN. : _: Sow hardy annuals, such as Asters, Candytuft, Centaurea Clerkia, X £ Coreopsis, etc. J ir Asperula, Cypsophila, Mignonette, Poppies, and Virginia Stock are best i j: sown wh&ra they are to flower. ;fr •f P'GJit out Carnations. Pansies, Gaiilardias, etc. -f 'r- The hoo used freely now will disturb a largo number of wead seedlings and : ; ; *= say© endless trouble later on. * Where required stake and tie up Carnations; the border varieties an) T f commencing to grow. * r Take Chrysanthemum cuttings, either rooted or unrooted suckers can bo X { used. £ When enough cuttings are taken destroy tho old plant; such useiess thinge :j: i encourage slugs and disease. ••: >■ Stocks that are showing flower should be staked; otherwise they will bo -£- * blown over with wind and rain. * -■j; Hlulch or topdrees the Roses with well-matured stable manure, or give 4oz. * : of bonedust or blood and bone to the square yard. \ * If Rose pruning is unfinished get it through at once. Planting new trees X j should also be pushsti en. % THE VEGETABLE QARDEN. :k J Sow Peas, Bread Beans, Csrrot, Turnip, Lettuce, Radish, Onions. Z * Plant Potatoes, Cabbage, Caulißowers, Shallots, Potato Onions. Col the ground ready for Peas and Runner Beans. '-j, i Hand waed flsporagus beds and topdress with manure, or give 2oz. of =t -Jf, superphosphate and loi. nitrate of soda to the square yard si -(: Lift any Parsnips or n'ain crop Carrots that are left, and siore"; tho ground =t 4: can then be prepared for another crop. q * Topdr*33 Vm Rhubarb bed, either with stable manure or 2oz. sunerphosDhate 3 =f to the square yard. '• * Prepare ground for Onions at once; planting can be done as weather permits. 3 j s>tir the ground with the hoe between ell standing crops; this will check any 3 £ weed seedlings that are ready to grew. '.\ SJ. Complete the pruning and spraying of fruit trees. Dig the ground, ard laave 5 everything clean and tidy $ ** Bnnnicnxn " v x x y. x x -a-s-s-x-;:;:.: »»^-xs{-s-s-»**-:

•* TO CORRESPONDENTS. iMATEOt. Mr.rnixipsiao—Asks (1) What Is J .•.he correct method of cross fertilising j ■n.iir.BS ot a few perpetual tarnations that I have a porfo.-tly clean edge. Fnwotli .-■rais. non-bursters, Mooms no: l<?.--s thau inches across, and ihe furm ' ►■iinJlsi to a soml border carnation: also ' the names of reliable «jK>t-iaJi.-a8 of Enz- ' lantl acd Australia.— Ut To cross fertilise tiiusc dowers you m-jst tafee lUeni i they open, and remorp ti»- J Ktnra«!j* l.y opening- the petal*, frailly I this is done by cutting away Uie peials ' .-jr'.y. The blo.nja nins-t ithou lie j protected from inse-ts. and woen tn-j i pi?;ii is receptive the foreign pollen ! must "oe placed on it. The experience '■ of srroTvor> in Auckland who l.s-.,. novr ■ been at ir->rk oa the perpetual c;tniKtio:i for many years, is that it can he frown ' sjct-essfully outside. and really jrooil '< biooms obtained from the niiildle <>r i Aujrnst until the end of November or ! lte<-?mher; b:r iml»?s protected from rain ■ end nlnd uijiiiy i:ih- blooms wi'i ;■•< :.».<- i The plants will hl«m:n. Lut ton Tr».-iy. \ duriiijr June am! July, bur «B-'. n -_. to th.- i In-avy s-.irui* are spoiled by ih» raiu aIW ' wind. T«i cat a la:-;;- numlx-r ..f l>liioms j they must I* euvered with ihe "A.m.-." . or rfmilar |in.tec-t«r nearly all ihe time, j us many of liin scarlet and deik-ate varie- j tio-s are sfiiicd. eitlie.- w-ith ruin or ! tn-iuj; scorched ivith Uie mil All thi- j j.r..if,i.iou you may sin- them will nut i stop many varieties from bursa injr when ! grown «utrfde. y,,u ask r..r a list of ! -IK-rf;-.-tiy i-IfjD-edzM. siiHiutli innals. ! biiilei sbai.-d ami uou-spiirrius calyx w>l less iii.m threi- iu.-ln-s aiTtiss." Tlicrr rmMI2U.V su.-h varieties, but they .-ir,- u,o-ilr under ynd alihougli they s Idom or oner burst when grown inside. ■ they -n-iU frequently di> bo wL.'n grown j outside. As t OU pro&aW? avraia, I

most of the perpptnal /lon-orlns carnation« are srown under glass in England. ] Canada and thy States. There are also several amateurs in New Zealnnd, especlnlly .votrth of Auckland, who rai&e very flue lilooms hy the same method; blooms which wonld nipet. all your requirements. V"ii say yon have bei-ri .successful in prowtog many nun-bursters '.im-c inches a.r.-is, with smooth n.-t.ils u> yon mean ria-t you have h.id th.-w in liliwui diirius; the past tv.o .-liouths and ' have l.ecu able t.. cm tupm without a I.lemLHh ,ir a Imrsi. }■.», haiv been more fuuuiiati.- tiiaii with a wider «-1 nl,:, wl-renvi. t« tl:« panTgrapU™ nif.»l™**}* ' if--li'M in .« -Auckl^U friar, tin- fHlvWLup is vvhai appwu-, J;- I iu' u :%rir^ , v/ r .u;;e.^ r v O a ia t 1 ir c!e !^ r a ;. 1-ar-d tv v Lheui pr.,,,;.,- aurmion. pruiwlj li«>k,M ~ttV r if u.kml results .ire t;. Ik; «!» ;! .,i«1.- w<. ~il, ...ato,,, ,| lt . s . "rajUtioiw art- .-ssenUal, orherwi.*.- r.-ults ■""or imraKru'lS K .;:' r '-" ,;; ,llr Th!.*" ,^, " ■ ,^'«II '™""*«! Inere are pom.- |>:-r.-n;i< j UN j sMrr.eii Prowtaß perpitnaK who will save firuu Jii to .to per ,-ent. and they are wi'il J..-V lied with the n-snlt. bm the bl•« ... '. *.' m.i wha.t yon and others are iwktuiE t» sro,v. viz.: ■•Non-bnrs-i.-.;. ..,„„<;> roui l>etals. and three inches 1,,-ross" ill c ...-.I Many ja-e-t;- 1,1. M ,m5. only two in.-lies :K-r i; s<. wiMi >:iff m.nmi l"ii«-stems many varieties su.h as [.ink „,„] whi ,,,. l-.n.-h.iiiJtv--. iv'ii, !, it-ill i;,,: <- :im i ;1^ WniKlrr: oUi.tk i-<. t!:e .-.ilyx will l.u'rs'i orLSi wii^T^^F ,1 p " r !' o^i"' than is eiven to -K-aliflower-! and antirrhinums,', -will never be realised, althousU

recently a ui»tr hybrid betTPPMi the I'ink Mid [Miri«slUiU '-nru;i:iii>n. much numired at tli.- l.i-t f'belsen Khov.-. Jias bwn luuro-.lui-til. and ll»e rather <-laim.s thai 1: can I ).» croim tn any where without ! ■the usual etitemiuu devoted to the Winter ] or perpetual eaxmuUoa, Tin- folion-ine lfct will give some of the leading v:i.rl.- I ties of the perpnlital which cnihrnrp nil ' the RO-od points referred 1o In your li-iji-r. but ithcee are till grown under In Knsrlaml:—While Wonder. Clmmplon isearleti. I>.~ati:iy i>ertsi>>. Klektni ulwp orange, petals prnk'. Mary Allwouri urill one of the hart, cardinal pljikt. Mr*, r. IV. War.) .rose pinki. Seamrlnii ami Triumph (rrlaisou). There arc. of course, many othor-:. nntl sonic varlotlm nuiy b* , 4»JiUiin« fc il from oitr lo<-;il B»**-<t-::tien. ILA.NGA (King ,-mimrvl asks, il; I|,,iv to sprout potatoes which wore .In- ln«t M:ir.h? iJi Will they lie rellily by iho pud of Septfuibor? They are Mprend nn l!i«>r <>f Kli<'d: tvill it [>p iieci'ssary lo Ikix themV i:{i Bnnehc boiih- ta1.1.-' potatoes tlic-s,- I have cut Into three pic ns to plant in November, each with le»a than three c.vo-<. Would tlipy be better with tm.rp «}•«•»> Hi Will they five rcsulis o<]iiiil tn uur;it i-oi-d. or is it bettor tn use a small pout,, and plant whole? tli The pota toes sh,.uld 1..- laid out tliinlv. where plonti of and air. lint no frost, ran set lit them. i-Ji They should be ready by the cml of September, and spread out ■ ill thi> Ilimr should <l ■>. Koxiug js not absolutely necessary, but It Iβ conrenicnt. The wanner ih<> seed Is the more .[iii.kly they will sprout. It Is a question ~f temperature. <.:• The potatoes .ire all rislit. but the i-iittlne Klioulil net be don.- till planting time, otherwise shrivelling tabes place. Three oyes is more than suffielcut: one is eUOUKU, •■<■) as it is stronc. Hi Tliey should give results e<l ua I. If not belter tliHn small seed whole. The results of experiments prove thai large st-tnl cut gives a big percentage oC large imtLttot-i.. ! W.N.. Takapuna — Ask« ill h"w < i> prepare i an asparaptis hed. I'lont.v of scawi-pd is available. The soil about ISiu nf iuam With a yellow .lay subsoil. C.'l How many plants should tie put 111 lo <-us.urc on iidifjuato supply for oiip houspholil. |31 Arc two c-r ihree-yenr-oi'l plants pmtvrablr. —To prejiare the hefl rroneh the Kix)uml about Sliln deep, lwivlnii the clay sub-i-il ::t fie Imtlnni. l>lll l.i-akiliH it well witli tlic Turk. Add a .-•■. to ulce-lneJl liivw of seawond in tlie bottom of the tri-neh ai!<l mix bonedust with Hie soil ks tUe treiiehiug proteeit. ir liny rotteu Ktnblo manure is available il should he aiklcil. If you Intend planting tills season the heil ninst be trod iliiwu the work liror-r-edp to eonsolidatc- the poll. When pJnntiiijc, <iis out a trench ahotil nine inches deep uud place the plants ea.-h nil a llttlfl ninunrl. allowing ahoiu, ei-lue-.-ii betwppii them. After planting :i rntilchlnp of srawped. The rows >h.>uM be two f<-et .Tl'art. ■ Tile size of the bed depends n;>ou the miniber and Icnstli <>' rows. CJi To ensure a supply for the nvernse limißelmld almnr UN) plant* n-onld tic snflic-ient. <:;i Three-venr-■•:d W preferable. I'laiMe<l this Siwsii-.l a UgUt euttlns eoultl be obtained nost year. They should, however, be planlrx] during tJm next three weeks. If on,- or t-.v...year old plants are used, enttins must not take place tii two years after nlnntlns. KAK/.V STKAIV. Jlomit ICdeii-Asks fur ill ,»(>«i method of apttinn cut onions. i-Ji Wlmt nuinun> to use when pluntlns. |."l What to feed with lit IlHi-rvaK - (li The heat i;ierlio<) of planting is to sbnrten 'the roots and tops and to plant villi n trowel, although are plant •'A with the dilib'.er. Al'.iv,- fl to ir. !n.-h<-s !j.-tweell tin- rows, anrl I! to 8 sjli-lie-) hrtw*vn the ■plcmt*. I>r> not plant too i doi'p. i2l AVond ashes nnd blood and liona : ..i- af :he time of plantinc. j i.-N lilve a sprintlins of ultratp of soila I Mine wt-ks afrpr pj.-intlnir. and antitli'r n: •ilie.Mtions B":ve a siiriukliij; ;if snjmr- • i.ii.-<i!i:i;e an<! almiit a fortnight after : ,-,.. ........ ~i i..- ~r n-iirot.- sire another ; i.r 'liperphosphate.

>V. Dominion Hnsil-Kpnils n «i>i>rimpn r,.r numlne. am! wNlic< in know if \t rciilid N> im-rra.'-eil ill six. liy rllltlvfltiou: i-onlil it ■■«• liy'.iriaiscil, nti'l, if so. wiih wb:ii? Is i: rljjlii :,. .-lit i!->wji nv.. plant- «f sn.-ii! Ih-jum whi.-h ilrtwetwl, lint iU(I mil fruir last season.—The plaut ta n«piioil<-!a-! lisnvliwus. ana nltbonsr.il it uilsht he liM-rnua-d l>,v ciilrivation it woulil only In- Ijy raving sct<l. fsowUiß :md Rc]pct'ti(? iliofp sin.wins: an improvement HyhrirtlKins Is v.t.v complex, and «li<-tliiT It nn Iμ- ifprforined on ithiß plant miJy cxi.i-n----iiHii- ran tell. Why not try? Mnny .if ~nr 1,p.-; iivl.rids harp res'ill-wl Tpoin . h:im-i. polUn:itkm. i 2) Tt N all rizht cnt-i-niT.Tstnnil why iVilTiKl-i'-i nrp mii'-'li "11 rnllnm with you. Lift t'm-ni w'.i.n tlipy (Jii-'l ilovvu. ami replant. Au"iYrr-< to -Amatmir" (Mount AMicrri ■M.S." i.Mo.nit ]-Mon). "SvllOol -, [lc Kuliij will appear ueit week.

TO PROPAGATE THE DAPHNE. The daphne can be rooted from cuttings, but a surer method if by layering. although it may be somewhat slower than cuttings. Select shoots that will bend to the ground-level easily. Make a mound of tine, sandy «oil just where the layer reaches the soil. "With a K-mrp knife make :i tongue on the lower side of stem, about "in to 1-in from the top of the shoot. In making this

tongue viie Mine snuuiu rai m<- j titcm about half-way. mm.l should be about one and a-half to 2in in length. The top of the shoot should be kept erect, by which method the tongue will be made to point downwards. Make a I Miiall hole in the sandy soil, put in the tongue, place 11 small pep each side of the tongue lo hold tlic shoot firmly; I press the r.nil firmly, entirely covering j the stem where the tongue is made. The present is a pood time to layer these plants, and the layers should be left on the plants till next spring. When taking the layers off be careful to sever the stem between the tongue and the main stem. I ROSES. How pruning affords r. clrance of securing some pond rose cuttings. These. should be. inserted very firmly in soil to which plenty of sand has been nddcii. insert the cuttings where they can be left for about a year before being transplanted. Win re animal manure is not obtainable souk- fertiliser should now !>c used on rose beds. Kor a heavy soil use ban-u- slag. *lozs to the square yard. J-'or a light s.ul v.-v kaiuit or bonedust in the same proportion. t THE GLOXINIA. Although tin- gloxinia is not what may be termed "everybody's flower." its rare beauty and its air of distinction make it a warm favourite with the more fortunate gardener. While it would be untrue to say that the gloxinia can be grown with tlie fame ease as some of the commoner /lowers, yet it is not such it hard subject as many imagine, and it is worth while for the I amateur with a small greenhouse, or I even a "cold frame," to give it a trial. 1 The best, method to start and grow this I plant in to procure some bulbs. These [ bulbs should be treated similar to I begonias; the soil to be used should be I light, and should consist of about equal j parts of sandy peal and leaf mould. If I the peat is noi obtainable, use extra ] leaf mould and some good sandy loam. ! Illoxinia.s nerd to lie grown in shade an! I protected from i-uld winds or draught*. I Abundance of water is necessary, and a | r-vringiug overhead night and morning will l"C found lo be very beneficial. li the intention is to raise from seed, it can be- sown now. Tile soil should be silled very finely, and should be similar to that recommended above. The seed is very tine, and care must be taken to sow thinly and evenly. The seed must not be covered, but a piece of glass should be placed on top of the pot to prevent excessive evaporation. This glass should also lie covered with a p : e:-e of paper till the seed germinates, when it can In l removed. iln no account must the se-.l pot or pan be allowed to get dry. The best way lo water is to stand the pot in a shallow basin of water, and let the water gradually soak upwards through the soil.

BEGONIAS. The single and double tuberous-rooted begonias mc one of the most remarkable achievements in horticulture in modern times. The original plant had flowers which were small aiul imperfect in form, and without the runge. ol colour that is to be seen to-day. .The begonia to-day is one of the best flowering decorative plants for summer and autumn use. It lcnde iteelt to pot or open ground cultivation, and it in equally valuable for outdoor bedding or conservatory decoration, and i* ideal for cultivating in pote ' for the verandah. JJulbs or tubers can he procured from eeedsmen at the present time. The dry bulb should be stood on some damp soil; leafsoil is the best, and should be damped occasionally with the syringe; a shady pufition should be ciinsen. The bulb will then begin to push shoots at the centre. When the shoote are about liall-an iinii to an inch high the tubers may lie potted or planted. It they are to be planted out permanently they should be left till the growth is more advanced. When potting for the lirst time do not put the bull) too deep; the edge of the bull) just level with the soil is quite Huflicient. When the final potting is given, or when the plants are bedded out, the bulb r.hould be put down so as to be just covered: an inch below the soil is ample. The begonia is a very gross feeder, and a soil ennnot be too rich; in fact, a soil ! composed of well-rotted manure, threeloam one part, should make n good medium. 'When potting make the ' soil firm, but not hard. All that is needed is that the soil be firm enough to hold the plant safely. The bed lor begonias should have a good dressing of manure added. Abundance of water is another essential. The begonia will take nil you can spare so long as the soil is not, stagnant. The 'hest position is a half-shaded one, preferably one which is shaded somewhat from the hot mid-day sun,. A syringing in the early morning and j another late at night will be found to be of jrrrpat value to the plants. The begonin, given a good soil and water, will eland almost any weather. After a heavy etorm. when everything is linaten down, begonias included, given a day or two of fine weather, and the begonia., will ngain be growing, and be making a good show, whilst other things are showing the effects of the weather. CARNATIONS FROM SEED. j (Irowing carnations from seeds is very fascinating, and may be carried out in the small garden. They are c|iiite hardy. | and may be grown outside without any shelter whatever. The seed should be =owii in spring, about August. It is best to sow in pots or boxes of light, soil. Wc-ll drain the box by having plenty of holes in tlic bottom, and covering them with pieces of broken pots or M-nria. Use. good soil, not heavily man-u.-ed. but ns fresh as possible. The soil should be tinned, the surface smoothed over, and the seeds sown one at a time nhniit an inch apart, pressing them into the soil with the lip of the linger about a quarter of an inch deop. A pinch of line soil on each will be enough covering. Cover with a piece of glass to throw oil' any heavy rains. Very little water will be needed if the boxes are put in the shade till the plants arc up. When the seedlings are large enough they can be planted, \1 inches apart, into a bed to llower. A certain proportion will be single, and can 'be pulled up as sooji as iseen. Others may be double, and. although not gooil enough for naming will give blooms for cuttings. The seedlings make large plants, and give abundance of blooms. Any tiiat are worth saving •houW be marked for layering when tiie . time comes.

EARLY PEAS. A correspondent (R.C.. Remucra) writes on the method he practises to procure early peas. He says: — I .planted the seeds about the middle of .Tune, between etiekfi, ai= shown in the illustra-

tion. Kaeh evening I covered them over by placinft macroparpa branches between A and li. removing the branches caeh morning. This causes rapid growth, so that the plants are now about a foot high. The variety is Yorkshire llero. BORDER CARNATIONS. Carnation-growers should go over their plants now ajid clean off any rusty foliage. The. plants must- be tied up, and the ground weeded and the surface broken with this lw>c. A dressing of superphosphate and wood ash«s or Clay's fertiliser can be given now. and worked in with the ho*. A dustirur of linrc «vll do the plants good, and will help to combat rust, but lime and superphosphate should not be applied together: a,llo\v at least a week or ten days between them. It is an inherent fault with many to burst their calyx, but it will be foiuid t'hnt. strong, hoal-thy. vigorous plnnt*. are less prone to it thau weakling*. Plaute tliat have n ( , side growths, and in which (lower-shoots arc sent up from every growth we usually I the worst offenders. Some varieties are already sending up flower stems, and as we arc likely to experience some bad weather yet it is well to have them β-ecured to sticks or tied up =o that they are uot spoiled. MIGNONETTE. Xo garden should be without a patch of mignonette. The flowers are co very sweet-scented, and they greet one witn a delightful whiff of fragrance »t all times of the day and night. The soil where mignonette is to be grown should be well dug. and should have a little leaf mould and plenty of coarse sand or road grit mixed with it. The rSot* of mignonette seem to appreciate the presence of plenty of gritty matter in the soil. If the ground 16 dry. soak it thoroughly with water about an hour before sowing the seed. Prick into the surface soil a sprinkling ot" bonedust jiic.t before sowing the seed. Juot cover the seed with a little earth- and as boon as the seedlinps are 'big rnongli thin them out till they are three or four inches apart each way. and nip off the tips of the plants left. A SPRING NOTE. Til planting very early in the spring i you should keep in mind existing conditions, wihioh axe quite different from ! those that will obtain later. At thie I time, of the yea.r tlie ground is likely to |l>e t*o wet rather than too dry. ThereI fore .veed-s should be planted comparatively >h-.jllow. not so deeply covered as j you would cover the same kind of seed .a Sew weeks hence. For the same reason it will not bp so necessary to roll the soil ■hard above the seed, though they should >never be covered loosely.

SEES PANS AND BOXES. These should not be too deep, as a great depth of soil holds too much moisture, and is not easily warmed. Three or four inches is deep enough ff>r most seedlings: there are a few exceptions that require deeper soils. The pens should be thoroughly clean and the boxes strong enough to hold together. Nothing is more aggravating than to go to lift up a box of choice seed just germinating, aiid the bottom and sides come away. It is almost impossible to replace into another box. and one is fnred with the possibility of losing all or going to a lot of trouble trying to I transfer the seed to another box. The drainage should be perfect: so long as there is sufficient soil there cannot be ■ too much drainage. It is a good plan to cover the drainage with the rough sifting obtained when soil is put through a sieve. The soil should be of a light fri- ! able sandj- nature, put through a fine sieve, and made moderately firm. The i surface should lie levelled by pressing it ] with a piece of board, or. in the ease of a pot or pan. use the bottom of another pot. Before sowing the seed and after lit is ready, water the soil and let it ! drain before sowing. Sow the seed thinly: with most seed it is a good plan to put the seed in one at a time. This can bo done with small seed by using a pointed stick, and, wetting the end, a seed or two will stick to it long enough to transfer it from the packet to thn box. This thin sowing will, in most ease, eliminate the first pricking out, and the saving in time and seed i= more than compensated. Cover the pan or box with glass if it is fitood outside, and also keep it about an inch off the ground to allow the water to get «way easily. If the weather is bright, or even under any circumstances, -shading until the seedlings are up is an advantage, as it '. eliminates the need of watering- Once : the seedlings are up. allow all the ventilation and light they can stand, for j hardy plants give the best results. HERBACEOUS BORDERS. Take advantage of every favourable opportunity to complete the work of manuring and digging or trenching herbaceous borders. In all these, operations remember that paeonies, nltstromerias. epireae, liliums, and delphiniums resent severe root disturbance, and require a season after planting to become established again. If the plants are deteriorating there in no other course open than to transplant them. Strong, healthy clumps should have the soil about them carefuly worked with the fork and incorporated with well-decayed manure and leaf mould. These plants are all gross feeders, and amply repay generous treatment. Other perennials mieh as the perennial asters, helianthue< 1 phlox, etc., benefit from being lifted, I divided, and re-planted annually. "When a plant is divided only healthy outside portions of the original clumps should be selected for planting. JtHE CAKE OF GAR.DEK TOOLS. I Ti> keep tools bright ;<ud clean U ono means, -and an important one, to miniImi&e the accompanying '"backac-he" that I waits upon mtuiy who o.re not accustomed to garden work, and even to those who are. To have clean, brigint tools to work with, reduces the labour by onehalf, and instead of it boing drudgery, nixlcee it a pleasure. We know how essential it is to keep a mowing macdiine oiled, and it is just as < ~ ssp.ntia.l in keep the fork, spado, and hoe- brigiivt and clean. Probably the beef, means of keeping the Iw and spade lrr;>rh,t U by continuous Uje. and by so doing weed-s are reduced and the soil kepi in the best condition. it pays to leave off work in time 6t> that the tools can be cleaned and put a-way, and not left lvimr a.bout dirty. • **

FOINSETTIA. There is no shrub in the garden that can compare, with this during the winter. Tlw he-ads of bracte, or. a~ it.hey are sometimes called, flowers, are of tinmo.vt vivid sc-arlet. and are from six incite?; to a. foot across. It is not hardy in all positions, but in a warm, sheltered. well-drained position, it has no equal, ft is suitable for the small garden us it is not a large rampant shrub, and can be easily kept to a. smaJl size. It should be cut back to two or three eyes of the previous season"* growtih every spring, before it commences to grow. Plant it in a hot. dry position, in soil well manured. Poinsettias ran be grown well in tub* or pots, and in UvA nre ideal subject* for this treatment. They require, however, good feeding. Plant* should be obtained at once, and planted in a piece of well-prepared ground. Those wilio are. looking for something that will be striking, and ut the fame time be admired should get one of these plants. There are two or three varieties, including a white one. but the type is the be-st. The chief ckim is the brilliant intense, scarlet, and anything le*,< detracts from it? beauty. ' HOEING. Nothing helps to conserve moisture in bho soil like frequent hoeing. Xllis advice has orten been given, but for all that it Is worth repeating, and no matter how often jt is written there aro still w denera who ,ue liable to gire up Ann the dry weather comes on. Daring the Spring tune it is a fatal mistake to Illow ram-sodden .-oil to become hard «nd bated on top by intermittent burets ~i •nwhine; -the sarae tiling applies to artuica. h-watered soil in the summer and autumn. By hoeing the soil h, the spnmr t.be water contents o f the ground are conserved, and are made to last ionpr Continuous hoeing aerates the ivTVV n " mn<vr forms a miili-h of drydbrt which i, desirable. Tin, mulch •stops water from evaporating through Z m ,'' ~la" t s - ,e * vi "-' »" & passage through the c,!ls enough nourishret«.ailj, n land is eonstantlv stirred on top it would take years to 'become Vv