Practical Gardening

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1922, Page 20

Practical Gardening

Correspondents will greatly oblige by observing the following rules In sending questions for publication in tbesc columns: — 1. Letters should be addressed Garden Editor, "Star" Office. Auckland. 'A. Write on one side of the paper, and make all communications as concise as possible. 3. Flowers, etc., sent for naming must be sent separately, and, if possible, packed In a tin or wooden boi —cardboard boxes are very liable to be broken in transit and the contents damaged. 4. The full name and address of the sender must always be sent, bat a norn de plume or initial may be given for publication.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. 1 MARROWFAT (Mi. Albert) asks:—fP The 1 name.- of one or two varieties of revs. tall sorts sultahle for vol, am.- soil. >-) Do tall peas produce a heavier crop than , the dhvarf? —I'll Yorkshire Hero. Puke of j Albany. Quite Content. Sutton's l'crfee- i tlon. i-) Yes. EXCELSIOR (Hamilton! writes:-I wish to' ■block out un objectionable view from my garden. What would you advise. It must be quick growing, and height annul eight to ten feet. Sunny position.--Your information Is very sparse, hut I take It you do not mind what It is so long as the view is blocked up. Cupressus Lawumlana wonld suit you the best. mtosporum crasslfolluni would also do. The quickest method would be to erect a trellis olid cover with Roses of some other quirkgrowing climbers. The L-awKoula-i.l would be the mo-t permanent and satisfactory, however. Pit. (f.rey I.yniii writes:- Enclosed p.len'e | find leaves from Marguerite Palsy. All lln mv earden are attacked. 'bin you tel, in.- what it is. also the remedy, if any?-; Tlic trouble is the "leaf miner." .*i small 11 v. which Invs an egg on the underside "t I a" leaf, which eventually hatches into a ' small maggot, which eats lis way between j Ihe upper an.l lower skins of the leaf, j You should cut down the plants and burn the rubbish. Be careful to pick up and j burn every leaf. The lu-si way to parent the fly fruni laying its eggs on the leaves is to sprar tbe plants frequently, with a tablespoonful of sheep dip or any .•oal tar disinfectant. In n gallon of water. This inakec the t.hints distasteful to the Injects. Your plants are so ludiy at-, la -lied that rutting down and hurtling is I th» best menus t" net a 'lean start. i AMATEUR. (Mt. Albertl writes:- I have a| voting lemon in full hearing, which Is near a path. It Is four or live years old. Is It too late to move It this season';—l should not move it this season. 1,e.-ive it till the end of tlie summer, say. abo.it next March. When about to move it. dig a trench round tbe tree, about three feet from the stem. Then, with a garden fork urndunlly work the soil away without damaging tin* roots, towards the stem until within about ciwtlleen inches of tlie stem: work underneath this bull of soil nnd when the tree is loose work a sack under the hall. The tree c.m then lie carried and placed Into the new position. Mnke the hole deep and large enough to lake the tree ensllv. Work some nice soil about tho ball and rani It tightly. SprinUlf the folinire arorntng ,-md evening with clear water If the weather is dry. NOVICE (One Tree Hilli writes:-1 have prepare,! a large piece •■!' g-ronml for commercial flower culture, etc. ill What ate the best (lower seeds tn sow from now onwards for commercial purposes? ('.*> What is the best soil and locality? My present sol", the bes: vciranlc (3) Should rittospunmi seed be sown In a much Blinded position? i-Jl Should the seeds be soaked In hot water previous, to sowing? (..I What Is the best position for Mariocarpa seed?— (1) Asters. Carnations. Sweet Teas, rrinirosos. Anemones. Ranunculus, Antirrhinums. Sweet Suit a lis. f'uillnrdlas. Coreopsis Grandlflora. Cyclamen. Cosmos. Delphiniums. Ten Week and Beauty Stocks. CJI Thne is no best soil urd locality: yours should do very well |S) Sow l'ittnsfionuu seel in the olien. Shade is iiunecc.-sary and harmful. il) If need is not yet sown but it is Intended to be put In this season, it should be soaked. The time In sow I'lttrispurnni seed is in the autumn, as soon as ripe. (,"u Tn the open ground. Gil. ('Henderson) asks: How should I proceed to plant out some plots of Violets? il) Can any part or all of the "runners" lie used? 1 have seen Instruction given to keep "ruuners" >-nt on*. If thi< is done, how can they be used for planting? |2) Mv plants have been, and are still, in flower. In cutting off the runners will it interfere with the yield of bloom? r,b Can you tell mc if the Catnlp.-i would succeed here? ill S.<,ne Oazanias I had I died out after about three years. I he | lieve I killed them by too much manure I and moisture.—il) Any part of the plant !' or runners which is strong onoiiirh and has a few roots attached inn be used tor planting. The instructions to keep "runners'* cut off plants thai are required for i flowering Is good advice. A few plants run easllv be leTt to produce ruuners for propagation. [H> It will Interfere .1 little, but not much. f.'ll The Cntalpn will succeed here, (-ti GUKatilas require a fairly ilrv. very sunny position, not iniicii manure, and not too much moisture. A few cuttings should be planted yearly, as the plants have a habit of dying out I when they get old and very large. i " j CAPSICUMS. | The Capsicum**, or Peppers us they are ■ sometimes called, are very useful for culinary purposes, and a few should be grown in every garden. When in fruit they are also ornamental, and a few planted ni mixed borders hoik well. The plant is like ihe Tomato, very tender, and fchould be given a position in full sun an.l shell oreri from cold winds, feed can lv sown this month in shallow pans or boxes. The boxes should be well drained, i and either stood in a greenhouse or cold frame or covered with a pain* of glass t>> protect them from heavy rains. When larso enough the seedlings should be pricked out into other boxes of rich. bright soil. Tlie plants can be put out in October. Choose a well-drained, sunny position where the soil is rich. The plants should ho put out about loin ' apart. Keep the surface loose by frequent use of the hoc. and durintr dry weather occasional watering,* will be found beneficial. MICHAELMAS DAISIES. Michaelmas Daisies, or Perennial Asters, may be safely divided and re;,planted at the present time. They are strong-growing plant-, and should '"'* i divide 1 every year, or every second at lea-t.

MARGUERITES. Cuttings of Marguerites, Mrs Sanders and other sorts, may be struck now. Choose young growths a few inches long. trim and insert them in pots of very sandy soil, which must l>c kept regularly moist; one drying means failure. Stand the ]»its in a shady position and nr.e sheltered as much as possible. A cold frame is the best for tiie purpose. When rooted they can be tra-isr-lanuM into the open ground. Alar*i".-rites need propagatihcr every year for. although the p-ants arc perennial, th-.-y get very rough and large, an 1 young plants are much preferable. PETUNIAS AND VERBENAS. Tho-ngh very distinct from each othet in appearance, these two plants have qualities of much the same character which enable them to lie treated or exactly similar lines. Their habit i: I dwarf and trailing. Not only do the;, when well cultivated form m.ist vaiuabl* Ibciidj-g plants —-just a few j'.'iijioiiilj I placet! covering a very large, space com j pletoly—l ut for hanging baskets am v induw boxes their trailing habit makC7 ihem ideal. They arc of fopical origii ! nnd liave the brilliant colourings asso r luted with .such plants. The richness and variety obtainable, in both allows i I«id.-, selection to be made wncn a liar lticiiious scbeinc is desired. See.l tar Ibe obtained in mixed packets or ii sepaiate colours, and many specially fini vanities arc procurable, though foi ordinary purposes the variety secured li} sowing mixed seed has a "harm of it own. Cse seed pans or boxes of fint iiti.post. sow on the surface, and cove! 'with a sheet of paper till germinatioi hu ■ tnken place. A good hotbed, propa gator or some kind of bottom heat i an asset, but it should not be excessive and plenty of air should be given whci the young seedlings make their appear ance. As soon as they are large enougl to handle, prick out into boxes of guoi loatn with a little sand and leaf mould And ker-p growing in a genial tempera Hire. Once well started, plants grov with vigour and give little troubh Potted on or potted out as soon as th bedding season arrives, they commenc to bloom at once and continue until frosi i when they can, if specially choice varit ties, be lifted and brought in to oontitiu j their di-piny indoors. { VIOLET PLANTS. I Now is the time to plant up runner 'of Violets. Every year some new run ners should lie planted. The best ar found fairly close to the old plants, ancan lv lifted with plenty of roots. 01' plants of Violets get very shabby look

! harbour for slugs ami other vermin. Th : runners .should be lifted and *>lanlei about a foot apart. Soil for them shou!. lie well prepared by digging, etc. Th ground is now in a very suitable couili tion, and if the plants are got in not they should pet a start before tb .dry weather comes. I GREEN FLY ON ROSES. Amateurs who grow ros.*s will do wei to keep a sharp look out for (lie Jirs 'appearance of aphis. The eolil wet sen :-on seeia-i to check the roses, and t' give extra life to the in-r.-ts. The foil age i- very soft, so whatever spray i used it shoitlil lie u-eil with care, Som nf tiie nicotine soluiinns are \ory 2001! ami soupy water pi.t nn w'nil-t warnthat is. mi th.it Ihe linnd can he hel. in it com fort n blv, i- cheap aud <-as\ Whatever is used i; will he tiee : '.«ur. ito givr two nr three »pr:iyinga at ii iterval.- of three or four dny-.

PHOSPHATE OF POTASH TOR SWEET PEAS. Phosphate of potash, although expensive, is an excellent fertiliser for Sweet j Peas if first applied when the flower buds ( are forming, and then not more often f than once a week during the flowering ( season. It should bo given in liquid ( form, dissolving one ounce in two ( gallons of water, this amount being . sufficient for three or four feet run ot ( row. As the plants develop and carry j more haulm and flowers, the strength ol . the application may be gradually to- • creased to one ounce per gallon, but on i no account must this stimulant he given when the soil and roots are dry. I 1 , dry, water with clear water, and follow , with the fertiliser the following morn- j ing or evening. POT PLANTS AND THEIR BOOTS If a plant is examined after it has bee.ii for some time in tihe same pot, it will often bo seen thai the-re ere. q-uan- i titles of roots matted round t_c outside of the soil and very few in the > middle. In the open ground roots growl outwards because 'they find there more] room, more water, more air amd moire , wa.rintr.i from the sun's rays than they , do in true area sliaded by the foliage. In a pot they grow outward far the •s.amo reason. More water always runs down close to the sides tJhan anywhere else, and air is more abundant there because it passes through the porous clay, of which the pot is composed. i-e?ult c«ilMia scarcity or absence of roots in thi middle is that the food there is not utilised until the supplies beyond are becoming exhausted, and unless the necessary precautions are taken this unutilised food not only will be wasted, but also may become injurious, turning the soil souir. Hence the general practice of starting a plant in a small pot, arid hot only when it has filled all tflre soil, not merely tiie outside- with root*, moving it into anotflier a little larger, arid so continuing a.s often —s may be required, instead of putting it into a large pot at once. REPOTTING MAIDENHAIR FERNS. •Maidenhair Ferns may be divided and repotted this month before the new ' growth is too far advanced. Largv* pothound plant-; may be cut into three or tour pieces, the loose soil removed, and the pieces put into pots of sufficient 6ize

EARLY PEAS. The early Peas will now be up, and should be protected from birds. The protection should lie afforded before the Peas are through, so that the birds do not get a taste. If this is done they will not go seeking, and in many cases if the firet row or two are protected the other*; can be left. Should the. Peas when about an inch or so high appear to stop growing, which is often the case at this time of the year, a little artificial or liquid manure should be given. One of the best is sulphate of ammonia applied in the following manner: Put 2oz in a kerosene tin of water, stir well to dissolve, then water the plants with the solution. making the four gallons do about four yards. Do not pour the solution overhead, but just alongside the row. I hOW TO TIE AND BLANCHE COS LETTUCE. The Cos Lettuce when well grown is usually of better flavour and more crisp I than the cabbage type. They also require more room for growing, and should bo planted at least twelve to fifteen inches apart. Many rarietie6 are 6old as being self-blanching, that is, the leaves grow so close that the hearts will blanch without tying. Although this may be true in a sense when compared -with the

DIVIDE FERN'S. t to hold them comfortably. The Maidun- . hair Fern may be grown in loam with i the addition of a little leaf mould and i sand. Before turning the plants out of ; the pot« prior to repotting give them a r i good soaking of water, so that the old * ball is thoroughly soaked. After potting - do not over-water; only give sufficient ;I to keep the new soil moist until the i- plants commence to show signs of rooti ing into the new soil. * STORING TURF FOR POTTING I PURPOSES. Good potting compost is essential to . l sucessful culture. and there is nothing so essential for that purpose as rotted ' turf. The turves should be cut about six inches thick and stacked with grass , side down. ?ome. stable or cow manure, c . '• seaweed, wood ashes, poultry manure or i oven green vegetable rubbish that will rot , racily should be added to it. The method v " of adding these latter is to keep adding layers as the turves are stacked. The stack should be built up square and the top finished off to a point like the roof of a house. This throws off excessive wet. When using cut it down the face, * not in layers as it was built. It should cj be ready after being* stacked four or c . five months. d '_ VEGETABLE COMPOSTS. a SUBSTITUTES FOR MANURE. v Iv thes r days of manure shortage and > increased cultivation it has become j necessary for the gardner to employ as ' far as possible substitutes for the ordinary fertiliser. A good method is as follows: During the summer and autumn collect all weeds, leave.-., lawn mowings, and grass, in fact, anything that will j decay. These are thrown, as gathered. , into a shallow pit. As the pile grows it is sprinkled occasionally with salt, and if any soot is available, this is used iv a c similar manner. Both these accelerate d ;decomposition. They also help to eradidcate insects ami other pests. Fowl c 'manure can also be added. The old prac i- It ice of using lime with vegetable matter .v ;hns one great objection, it causes a loss e| of nitrogen ami destroys humus. It is 'desirable to trend the compost from time ■to time, and if turvies are available it , >himlil be distributed as evenly as pos- |] I sible through the heap. Seaweed can t | also be added, it is a good decomposer ~ i-.f vegetable matter, but if seaweed is a j ii«ed it is not desirable to add salt or i- lime. When the benp has grown to a s convenient height, the top is worked into •• v ridge an.l a few shovelfuls of soil 1. ; thrown over it. The soil is patted down i. : lirmly. and it is found that there is a ■ I very sinail waste of fertilising elements .-. owing tr. vain. A second heap should be y i started ,is soon as one is ready so that l-i there is always one bean being formed whilst one is being use.l.

other varieties, nevertheless the plants are much improved by tying up the leaves. A much better blanched heart ajid more tender leaves aro obtainedWhen tying use some material such as thin pieces of flax or raffia. Do not tie tightly, just sufficient to pull the leaves neatly together, and put the band about three" parts of the way up. The plants should be quite dry when the tying is done. PARSNIPS AND CARROTS. The ground for these crops should he prepared as soon as possible. They do best on land heavily manured last year for some crop. They do well following potatoes, celery, or any member of the cabbage tribe, provided the ground "was well treated for these crops. When farmyard manure is dug into the ground just previous to these long-rooted crops being sown, there always Tcsults a large percentage of forked roots. A method of growing extra long roots for exhibition is worth mentioning here. A good piece of ground is chosen, the surface is levelled but not dug. Holes are made with a crowbar about three feet deep and about twelve inches apart. These holes are filled with a good rich sandy or light soil, two or thTee seeds are sown on the top, in the centre. When the seeds have germinated the plants arc thinned to one in each place. In this way some beautiful specimens are . grown. I CABBAGE. ' Where a sowing -was made in autumn f for planting out in spring this planting ' f.houid now be carried out.. Those who ' purchase plants should procure some * now. Ground can scarcely be too rich ; for Cabbapes. Fowl manure fa very valuable, because it supplies nitrogen, which has a stimulating effect.