Practical Gardening by Dianthus

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 72, 24 March 1923, Page 20

Practical Gardening by Dianthus

correspondents will greatly oblige by observing the following rules in sending questions for publication I" these columns:- - I. Letters should he addressed Harden Editor, '-Star" OlTlce, Auckland. ;. Write on one -id.- of the paper, and make all communications as con'dse us nosstbie. 3., Flowers, etc.. sent for naming must n» sent separately, and, if possible, pucked In i: liv or wo-.len box —cardboard bo\es are very liable to be broken in transit and Ihe. con.cuts damaged. 4. The lull name and uddi'-s or the sender must always be sent, but a nun lie, pi'.rnc'or initial may be given ior publication.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. | TINA (Tarlngiiniot:n writes: ill r.-nild wu tell mc tit.- way to se t seed from Double Stocks, ns I have s..nii> nnlier iil.p ones? il!i A nulek-itrowlng \w'ce for puinl'-p lnii'l. —11l 5=.-i .1 cnniiut 'if Mi*c'l from donlileflowereil St.. ks. It is naved frntn singletlnwerril plant*, which nre known to give a bin;e |<rupoitloii of ilotible llowor«. I><i not try to 5.v... your own Sturh seed; yui m.ij- linvf a little K-.i.-fiMH. but yen will I'llt.fsporiun "ornssiroMuni" "or" "liak'en sniignn. lire roo.l lie.lu-es. hut not caltleproor; f.,r :i small wnl.in they .ire 8 ,.0.1, as they are e.-isMy k»p! within bounds. W.H.K. (Pnnsonbyi write": I liav? a lemon ■ tree, lmuxht three μ-mts ;•;". It fruit,-.1 the tlr-t j-enr. l.nl the mill never rea.lie.T maturity, fallltm oiT when übc.it the slzu of mnrhles. I have spraycil wit Ii iicrtunn-Kiin.-lte of ,„•: ,sl,. :,No .ins:,. 1 will, wrunl looklnc Insc 's (!i the branches. The In-e seems h'-nlttiv. nn.l Is in.i'nlne » foil rte.-il of wooil. l-.-in v.-i |i|i-.i«p h.-l;. mc nn<l •Misgpst, n r< :ne.lj ■• 1 <lo not thin!: yon wnnt much of a remedy. Your tree is only rliinteil three years, is healthy, nti'l Is urowln- \v.:i. No dmilu the fniltin-i part will come nil rlalit. lint yon arii pxupcllnit too tnui-li to Ihinl; I hilt lemons will carry a crop directly after plnntlne. *nn.l waen <nily n year or .so nil Mulch v.ith .1.1 manure anrt keep tl,« centra r-lenr. anil I think ymi will tltnl Unit nil will he well Inistins with '.line will el-.in off Ho- Insects. "RIiEXnAM?" i>ri. AJbprtl. wrltri: I wish to Bather s ! from Asters of which I haw .-i tine varii iy of double I.looms ami would like nn nns'w.-r to til" followlng questions-:—111 Will the seed remain true to each variety: CJ) Is It any nilvnntnirp to say r.vhl from the ftT*i bloom or wmilil any do: 1:11 Do sce,l hay,- to be thoroughly ripe before helnit Knthereil: <-t> Uoes ques tlon 2 apply In Sweet Tens nnrl. ireneral'.y sppiiUhur. other flowers: i.'v Is there any nipthnO for an iirmiteiir t.. mlopi in nr.l.-r to keep (lowers such as Antirrhinums, etc.. for see.l to remain true to viiri.ty: (Oi Whnt is tlie name or the enclos.-.I s-e.l. which is prevalent in The lawn. tin.l the means ..f erndlention?- (11 Tt defends upon what you menu by •■variety." If you nipnn a particular colour of : rtain elnss of Aster, such as Victoria, T-aeony or whatever class to which it niny bclnnft. It can he Kept true If grown by Itself or protected from .toss fertilisation hy bees anil other means, in your case. I suppose you nre irrowinil them fur deeonitlve display nn.l hnvp sevprnl colours In elos" proximity to each other. In that case, if you save seed you will iret a certain proher nTVoKUes. 0 The"A-t'er IsSarcely self, fertlllseil. bill I hnvo ahvays fruiud that no matter how car-rul on- is roKues are mercially this Is how they are produced. (2) The'blooms which lire saved for see.l should be the best developed nnd most characteristic The tirsi lilootn often RP....1.' nnd will' often prod; the Inrapr flnwers'will pro.luce just as eood see.i, and more likely tr> he trie In character. The selection should \<" made niiimisut the plants, and a par! i.-iiliir nlniil which is nearer to the ideal should l.c chosen. When urrnwin:.' s 1 commercially nil plains not trii" t" character are removed, and In many cases this means destroying nearly r,n ..-r mil of Hi- crop. Sikli selei-tion in a small iranli-n plot is impossible, i."i Seeds fhii'iM be ihnmnehly de'velopeil and rii nmii-'li w»«to be pnlllPred ins: b.-r..r.- they sh.-.1. lli Yes! Hut Sweet ivas are se-f f.-riilis-d. and Hint is Hie reason why il is one of the tliiii).-s Hint .-mi be s:iv,.,l true In r.iime in the ordinary -in.-II minl-ii. Cv Autlrrhiniinis are aim.-si entireh- fertili-e.l by Inspets. and ii is almost itnpoxKllili for the nmnteiir In -aye sec! true I loit. In fact it i" hard lo β-ivp them true l.r tvi.e. The only poKKll.le method for Hi" nmniwir would be In c.ivcr I'-e nliini iv'l'i u'n"7.i> to kl-op away in-e.-ts and 1,. hand fertilise tlie (lowers. lilhe:- (Ills or itr.i»- e.,.-h colour in isolaie.l i»at<-hcs. ,r.. Trlfoliuni Minus. It i-iinlil !••• s.-n-icheil out with the rake. Hut why tronble: il is not a bad weed. r; II iHpn<Ypr«nnl wr>cs: m Herewith find n few i;..oseberry leiiv.-s. IMpiikp stnti- if the remedy nnd how m niipiy. i-p I have n iiuuilii-r "f i:.-itiim.-iili «'■■■•«« «'' i'"' h hlch. Should th.y be ~■„,-•. anted before putting IllP'U i-lM Serin Illly. and will l,py bloom I His -a-':-' tl, Hie e-iv-s nr p alTe.ted villi i:.: -.s-berry mil.lew. The remedy is |.. si-ray wiih lime sulpjinr solution 1 part. »:,ter inn parts. Sprny two or three time- al inter ids ot l»« m«- ---' iiftfr" fniit' 5 is wiiSlppml rl< The Uniiun.-nll should n.wer tl is s-visoii. Transplant dir-.i into mc "'"^j"^' I "^' sihlc. ! GARDEN RUBBISHI j Never bother -torina garden rubbish from oney.NU- to another. Burn it. and save yours.-lf the trollMP .li lightlUS I fun-iis anil other »hi-h are J kept whores .-r --a.-ks of lea\es. pruning s I and other rubbish arc allowed to remain I The ashes fr mi the tires can be tl-eri . profitably either in the flower garden kitchen patch, or the on-hard. Dis tribute ashes lightly on a quiet ilnv.

CARNATION NOTES Put out any plants you can get holdj of. Kow that the early autumn is with us, we are in the very best Carnationshifting time. One can do almost anything at this time of the year. Try lifting and shifting any plants! that have not done over well during the dry summer. The Carnations will appreciate a. move. Short, tufty cuttings, taken from| about the base of the stalks, strike very: readily from this out. .If a bollglass is used, and sand is Ihe medium chosen, the rooting will be done quicker. Most of the American varieties are excellent winter flowers. See that the | plants get every attention. Keep the; | surface of the soil open. Scatter round j la little limedust or special chemical fer-j tiliser. A mere peppering of the soil is] all that is necessary. If neither material is available, try well rotted stable | litter as a light mulch. Carnations are good feeders. They like plenty of plant food. Tho light soils in which the plants do so well stand a lot more manuro than can be taken by heavier material. Lime is one of the best friends of the Carnation grower. Beds should be ! dusted at least once a month. Land so i treated will produce good quality flowers. PLANTING ROSES. Where Roses are to be planted in -.he border o r beds the ground should be prepared early so that there is sufficient , time for the soil to settle and for the manure to become incorporated with it. Where the position is available, it will be wise to go on with it now. as it will ■ facilitate early planting, which will be ', of great advantage for successful results next season. The soil should be turned over at least two feet deep, and some good rotted manure well mixed i n the bottom layer of soil. Xone should cc:nc In contact with the roots when planting. If the soil is heavy rotted stable manure is the best to v^ 1 . Where the soil is sandy or light, cow manure will be found more retentive of moisture, \nd for that reason is to be preferred. For planting a single plant the hole should be a* least IS inches square, but where a group is to be planted, a sufficient space should be worked to contaiir the whole group nf plants. An excessive quantity of manure will tend to promote rank growth at the first, and unless the plant, is of a very ronust constitution an unhealthy aftergrowth. Rather than usv an excessive quantity of stable or farm manure, it will be much more satisfactory to work in a handful of bonedtist. When thp subsoil is porous, drainage will look after it=elf. but when; ! the subsoil is clay, it will be worse than iiselcs.3 to dig holes in it tinle-s ample I drainage is afforded, so that stagnant water may not l>e retained about the roo-s. ll is also better t,, prepare the ground while the ground is on the dry sid<\ a~ if will get hetttr aerated, and will mellow nnd break down bett-r when ■ rain comes. Roses are in (he besf eonI liiiinn for plan-ing ns soon as growth is ■complete, and I h< , shoots ma I lire. If the I work is done while then- is -til! warmth in the soil, they will pst.-blish qnicklv. A very pren" advanfng" of nutiwnn I planting is that where Rnwj have to i lie got from tlie nurseri-s the eariv cv*- ! tomers ge* the best plant-; direct from I the row wiiere they have been grown.

PLANTING ANNUALS. When planting annuals of any kind place the seedlings close enough together to hide the ground when the plants are flowering. liig patches of soil between the plants look out of place. Ihe correct plan is to mass your subjects to get the best possible effect. PROPAGATING ANCHUSA ITALICA. The varieties of Anehusa italica are easily propagated at the present time by cutting the fleshy roots into short pieces, and placing them in boxes of soil in cold frames. ARTIFICIAL MANURE FOR HERBACEOUS BORDERS. \s a substitute for stable manure on an J-lerbaeeuus or mixed border the best pos-ibie dressing would be basic slag at the rate of 71b, per square rod, applied in the autumn or early winter. In early r-piiug guano, tish guano or a mixture of 1 part sulphate of ammonia, ■ > parts of superphosphate and 1 part kainil may be lightly pointed in at the rate of 4to 01b per square rod. It should not be used over foliage. A good general fertiliser is made by mixing together li parts (or 3 parts where stable manure is not used) of superphosphate and 1 part each of sulphate of ammonia and muriate of potash, applying ■ill. of llie mixture per square rod in the late winter or early spring for summer [lowering plants, or for spring blooming plant* in the autumn. GENBRAL WORK. The recent showers have assisted garden operations; certainly, more rain would not have done any harm, but what we have had has made the ground worka.ilc. The digging of empty patches should be done, nothing equals plenty of working, even if a piece of ground is "dug twice without cropping nothing is lost. If there arc any vacant spaces that will not be required for a month or so. sow a crop of oats or mustard and dig it in when about, a foot high, Orcen manuring supplies the want of manure; poor soils 1 can be made better by green manuring. jA crop that has come before the public notice of late is Blue Lupins. Tiiese are very good as a green manure, especially on sandy soils. With all crops for green manuring, they should be dug in before the stems get hard, or they set seed. Sow a few turnips, cabbages and cauliflowers; they will escape the "fly" and will be ready for planting out before spring, and should be ready for use before November. Onion seed should be sown now for planting in spring. Many people I prefer to buy the plants in spring, and where the seedlings are likely to be neglected in regard to wooding, etc., during the winter, it is a much better plan. (The price at which onion plants are sold is so nominal that it is cheaper to buy plants than sow seed. The same applies to cabbage and cauliflower plants. One •suegestion which the growers might take into consideration, and which would be !of advantage to the amateur gardener, |is that the particular variety of cabba;e jor cauliflower be mentioned, so that one . can tell if he is buying early or late j maturing varieties. A row of Golden Ball turnips, and also a few Shorthorn car|rots should be sown as soon as possible. I These, will supply nice young roots for winter use. Lettuces can also be sown I now. Sowings at this time of the year can be larger than those earlier, as the plants will stand for much longer periods. A good sowing made now- will keep supplies going right through the winter. jOood soil is necessary for lettuce growing: the erispness. etc.. depends entirely upon the quickness with which the plant matures. Certainly, during the wet weather the conditions are such that poorer soils will produce tender lettuces. but the rich, well-manured soil will always produce the best. In the flower garden, the autumn effect will be showing, and there will be a certain amount of untidiness. Keep the borders as tidy as possible by clearing away any snent plants. Once a plant has done its beat, remove it, and let something else have its room. Seed pods should be prevented from forming unless -seed is required. Seed-saving appeals to the average amateur as a means of getting cheap supplies for another season. There are some who take up a particular flower, and who save seed and make a good thing of it. but the average amateur-saved seed is ol little value. Usually, they try and save too much, and too many varieties, with the result that the whole lot is a "lorious mixture. Seed-saving is, or ought to be, tho work of a specialist, and the most any amateur can expect to be able to do properly is to save one, or at most two varieties of seed. The planting oi Anemones and Ranunculi should be pushed on with speed just now. The soi' is in g-.od condition, and the sooner the bulbs are in and gTO-.ving the better Kerbs that are vacant should be dug over and tilled with stocks. Myosotis, Verbenas, Netnesias I Phlox llrnmmondi. Tansies, Violas, Aqi.i le-jios. Sweet Williams, Canterbury Bells |et.-. The planting of bulbs should not |be delayed. Narcissi, Hyacinths ant: j Tulips arc si ill offered for sale, nnd thosf j who contemplate planting should not de I lav in getting them in the ground , 1 ledges should be trimmed, so As to 1„ I tidy for the winter. Dahlias and C'hry I santhemum.-: should receive attention tr Itht-ir supports and ties, a!-., t„ disbud I (!ir_ r . etc. Daily attention is needed t. Ibese plants -caterpillars, aphis, ,-,,-f broken ties. etc.. all need watching care I fully, or a sea-son's labour is soon lost jTln.se who are thinking of laying dour |or n>novatins lawns should start about '.lie work at once. The preparatron o the ground is more import ant than any tliinj- else, and now is the time to <!• . the work.

DAHLIA AND CKRYSANTHEMTT&, SHOWS. The autumn shows will ?non he hers and Dahlja ami Chrysanthemum growers will need to be watchful if they are to be successful. The .Auckland' Society is holding its show on April 12th and nth m the L'own Hall Concert Chamber Dahlias will need f.ime liquid manure', but do not give nit nit,- of soda or sulphate of ammonia except in very small doses, in fact it. is Letter uithhe'ld altogether just now. The Chrysanthemum will a!-o need a lot of attention. The buds must be carefully tied and supported. A slr i ( . t v , at , h ..,. p! {or catw _ pillars, etc As the flowers open reduce the manure. To f I too lavishly after tho buds arc fully developed and to open is to cause mildew and to spoil the I'.orets If the substance U not in the bud before it opens no feeding afterwards will make up for it. SPRING FLOWERING BTTLBS. The season has arrived whe n attention should be paid to the planting of a suitable selection of hardy flowering bulbs. There c.re many purposes to which these charming subjects can be put in the adornment of the garden In ; order to make a prolonged display the j planting should be done at intervals. I This applies only where there is room. jln small gardens where there are only j a few of each sort planted it is best to : make a good show at one time, rather than attempting p.icce«>ional plantings. As a rule. DafTodiß Freesias, Alliums, lxias, etc., that have been left in the ground start into growth early in this month, this being the best 'practical guide for planting those that have been stored away during their seasou of rest. However, much depend? upon the weather and the state of the soil. This season conditions have started them earlier than usual. Anemones. Ranunculi, Tulips, and Hyacinths require to be replanted annually, and not left in the ground for a second season. The majority .of bulbs may be taken up I during their dormant season, but if not replanted at the proper time they are likely to wither and become exhausted. I Many failures result from keeping them I out of the ground too long. The roots lof some are always more or less in j action. All varieties ot bulbs are gen- : eral favourites when in bloom. So garden is complete without a fair representation of the most popular. Although our northern climate is unfit to grow many of the early spring favourites of the Old Country, such as Snowdrops, Crociisses, and others that are often seen to perfection amidst frost ami snow, we are more than eompen- | saUsd by the innumerable species rei quL-li.fr a milder climate thaj can be I grovsr. and thrive with the greatest ease land perfection. The different vendors offer many varieties, nnd it only needs a reminder to intending planters to procure their supplies as soon as possible.