Practical Gardening

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1923, Page 20

Practical Gardening

by Dianthus

Correspondents will greatly obllpe by observing tbe following rule's in sendln questions ror publication in these columns;— l. Letters should be in not liter 'han Tuesday, to Do answered tea same week— ar.Jressed to Harden Editor, " Star " Ofllce, Auckland. S. Wrlto on one side or the paper, ana make all communications as concise a posslole. 3 FloweTs. etc., sent for namlnfr must be sent separately, and. If possible parked In a tin or woodrn box—cardboard boxes are very liable to be broken li transit ana the contents damaged. i. Tne full name and address of the sender must always be sent, tm; a norn d plume or mliial may be given for publication. 3 THE WEEK'S WORK. I i I I THE FLOWER GARDEN. | Plant out hardy annuals. £ : Sj Dig over any beds or borders to get then-, ready for planting. U f Plant CladioH; keep the manure well down below the bulbs. jte 4jj Keep the ipent flowers cut off Anemone*. | Bulbs in flower should be gore over and "rogues" marked with sticks t£ M or lifted and thrown away. {■ i Stir the surface of beds, etc. In some cases it may be advantageous | J to lightly fork the ground. i 3] Now is the time to plant tender shrubs, such as PoinsettiaS, Lucullia*. | I Many of the winter flowering shrubs, such as Poinsettia, Lucullia, £ "?,i Bouvardia, can now be cut or pruned hard. L % Keep Carnation plants clear of ruety foliage. g |j Give Rose bedj a dressing of manure, and get everything in order | ?* for the present season. * |j Delphiniums are pushing through, and now* is the time to divide p. <jj the clumps. | 4 THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. | The soil should be prepared (or seed sowing. [;* ?i) Sow Peas to keep up a succession; sow rows of early and late '* varieties at the sane time. B ?ii Plant Potatoes according to room and requirements. j>; M Plant Jerusalem Artichokes. | 3 Lift and transplant the Mint bed. f. 4 Transplant Onions, or make a sowing. Firm ground is essential. j£ .Jj Small Onions for pickling should be sown now. Use hard, undug lJi ground, and sow rather thickly. L J Plant Cabbage in any vacant ground. | m Sow Lettuce and other salads. F: ~-a Sow Leeks and Brussel Sprouts. p I THE FRUIT GARDEN. | % If not already done, complete the pruning of Apples and Pears. fe 3 Any planting delayed owing to the wet weather should now be j! 3 completed. % % Plant Lemons and other citrus fruits. | Spray Apples and Pears for aphis and scale. | % Peaches and Nectarines are beginning to show flower buds. Spray fe for leaf curl, and again after fruit is set. t Plums should be sprayed for rust as the flower clusters begin to | igj break. S 3 Plant vines. Established ones should be sprayed at once. r

TO CORRESPONDENTS. RUSTIC (rneroi) writes: Can you advise mo where the followlns books can be purchased: (1) A book nn landscape Rarrientnc (2) Hockery work and rock parilenln?. (3) Rustle "work for the garden. i4l Or a book comprislnc the above? I have nnd nse cnstuntly "Brett's Ga-rten-inn Guide," which 1 find very valuable.— (1) I cannot refer you to any book dealltu; exclusively with lnmls-npe gnrrt.'nlnfr. The following have references to the subjeel as It relates to small gardens: 11. Bailey> "Garden Making." 11. H. Thomas' "Idea ftnrrien," W. Robinson's "English Flowe Garden." Perhaps the bost Iβ -The Com plete Garden." by Alhert D. Taylor. Th's ls published in New York, price 26/. (-< 11. 11. Thomas' 'Rock Gardening for Amateurs," 'The Hoik Garden," by E. H. Jenkins, anil ■■The Story of My Rock Garden," by A. Reginald Mnlby. (3) I cannnt recommend :iny book entirely confined to this suhject; It is dealt with In some of the hooka mentioned above. CIVIL SERVANT iOnchunga) writes: I have a fair amount of pround around my house : what would you suggest, the growing of vegetables or flowers as a side line?-This is a difficult question to answer :i« so much depends uj>on the Individual: both lines can be successful. I should suggest you start with vegetables and then, if you tind you can miinasc It. cradually take nn Uowcrs. Flowers require more detail and careful bundling than vegetables. TEOO.MA CAI'KNSIS nsks for the following Information :—-(11 The season and correct method of taking cuttings from Tecoma and Buooyroous? (21 Fundamental principles governing the hulldlng and laying out of rockeries, tngctlicr with a list of suitable subjects for planting tlieri'lp?—(l> The cuttings should be planted In early autumn, about April !s a Rood time. Take short voting shoots, nbout four or five Inches long. riant In sandy, well-worked soil. (2( This Ir too larte a subject to he treated here, so will publish un article during next few WESTERN SPRINGS writes: I sowed two nieces of ground with Lucerne. The ground was well niTinured. tiut neither have grown well. The first lot came through and then died oiT. The second came through hut docs not seem to be zrowins. when is the best time to sow Lucerne?— The best time to sow Lucerne in your ground would he about Beptem.ber" Lucerne ls slow for a start, especially If ttie ground has not been inoculated. To inoculate the ground, procure a bag of soil from an old Lucerne paddock and sow it In the drills with the seed. Your pl.ints will come on with the better weath, r. ■ Hunter's lUver la R.S. (Arch II1U) asks: (1) When to sow l><?Roul:i seed In a grrevrihoiusc without heat, also Ls It necessary to place glass and paper over pan. ami Is the paper to. be under or over the glass? (2) should Lillum Auratum. Kegale. and other varieties be lifted und stored after loaves die I (Arbutus unedo; hear fruit. If so can the ' fruit be put to any domestic use? —(1) Sow Begonia seed in September. Place fle.ss on pan and then paper over glass. I his ls necessary to prevent undue drying of the surface. The seedlings are so | small that a few minutes sun would dry i them up. (2) Do not lift and si ore anj ' are much better left in' , he ground. (3") Arbutus nni'do, the 'r:i.vberrv tree, bears large crops of fruit, especially in some places. The fruit is no jjood for domestic purposes. It gets Its popular other resemblance to the strawberry. V. (Pukekohe) wrltM: I have planted Guavus 3ft Oin apart with the iuea that they will eventually grow together and make n hedge. If the plants are trimmed will it Interfere with fruiting. At what aae does the Guiivas fruit und <lo,s it j grow to a very large bush?— The Guav.is . should form a hedge all rU'ht. Very Hght ' pruning will cb necessary. Just sufficient to keep the plants well balanced. Do no; use clli.iiinp she: -s when trimming, us,, a pair ot s-ociii.-urs or ; knife. The pruning! or trimming should be done directly after' tie fruit is off. The hushes fruit when two or three years old. The Guava will i-row to eigllL feet uigti. TOM ARTO (Otahubu) asks the following questions: (I>—How much soot should 1 allow to a b'jrizme tin of wm.-r to make soot water? Wliat perennial ere. per or plant would toe suitable for an eiposcd Wil "e netting Would lloueysii. klo do? i.'!) The leavte of some cf my Anemo"ies turn brown nnd w'ther Mγ. erpecially those which are two yenrs oM and are close to the house. In removing faded Anemone should they be snapped off at the Kip or close dorm near the ground? (4) I have a Fuchsia, t.ie leaves of which .ire becoming yellow and gre.-n. A. pansy adopted .similar behaviour, whilst i thers dose to it wi-re quite green? Ui A handful of soot to ben.dne till of water would be euough; (J! Tile Honeysuckle would do nicely. (Si The Anemones jire attacked tvith the Anemone liust. 1 wo-jvar-old plants suffer much :r,ore thnn securing. Throw the old bulbs away -ma plant only one-year-old bulbs. I cannot say exactly what Hie eflect of just pulling off the heads of the spent blc*'it:s or cutting them oft lower dViwu would have on the bulbs. I thuukl Kay cut tnem oir low down ~nd never mini" the effeit on the 'imllKi. Anemones nre cheap an<l the bulbs are hardly worth saving vc:ir after year, especially if your plants" si'iff r from J: ;i st. ,4, It f* no'uansual ihlnz f'.r 3d occasiuua. plant lv <.u.i.u ni'.h ;,. '.> .v

foliage, especially In spring. The plants eventually assume a green colour, tho yellow appearance being only temporary. It ls due to a weakness In the plant's constitution. RECENTLY PLANTED ROSES. Newly-planted bush Roses should be made firm by pressing the heel into the soil on either side of the plant, and if not pruned they should have the growths removed to about two or three eyes from the base. This applies to bush Roses; Climbers and Ramblers should be cut back to about 2ft from the base, ROSES DIFFICULT TO PRUNE. |P While the pruning of Roses is, on the whole, a simple enough 'matter, there are some varieties, especially among the Teas, Which call for something more than tho application of general principles. One of them is Miss Alice ac ■Rjothschild. A plant which has 'been growing in ft bed for a few years will have several slender stems, whicti branch a good deal. If the gardoner looks for a strong, undeveloped bud to cut back, he will probably not find one. He may not find a bud of any sort on the stems, and if in despair he cuts back to a fork where one or two weak buds can be seen, the result will be some twiggy growth, and poor flowers. Either he moist be content with this, or he must cut down the plant almost to the ground every year. There are, ot course, other varieties of similar habit which require the same treatment. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. You can increase your stock ol Chrysanthemums quite easily now. 'Select vigorous suckers or offsets whicn are coming up around the old stem. Scrape away the soil so as to expose the roots and cut the sucker off with a few roots attached. They can be inserted in boxes or pots or in the open gr und. The principle thing is to use a light sandy soil. If the suckers are rather large, shade for the first few days. ROOT CUTTINGS. Many herbaceous perennials can be propagated easily by means of root cuttings. Most of the plants which lend themselves to this means of increase have rather fleshy roots: the blue alkanet (anchusa) for example. Often this plant dies right away during winter, but if some of the roots survive, growth will renppear the following year. The same thing- happens :f, when the plant is dug rut, part of the :r.ots are left in tho so:I, buds form on tliesc roots and rti- !- rnately appear above ground. Spnng and autumn are the best times to propagate plants by means of root cuttings. It is not necessary to dig the plant out. By forking away enough soil to expose the rocts pieces can be cut off. There U no need to have these pieces longer than three inches: less will do if nocof- rv. A frame or greenhouse is the bes< place to start the cuttings into growth, although in sandy soil one will do well outside. Pots, pans, or boxes may bo used so long as they are sufficiently deep. Drain them well and till them with a very sandy compost. Dibble the roots in so that the upper ends are iust beneath the surface. Very little water will be needed until growth commences Some gardeners cover the pots, etc., with

hand lights, but this is not essential. When tho plants begin to grow freely, remove them to a frame if they have been started in a greenhouse. The best plan is to pot them separately at this time. They will then become nice plants to put out" in October or November. Among j plants which are thus increased arc: — I Oriental poppies, alkantt, day lily, 'Japanese Anemone, Paeony, Califorian poppy (romneya), incaroillea, and burning bush v'dirtamnus). I TRANSPLANTING ONIONS. I To save time in all garden work-in ' spring is essential, and the following method is very useful in transplaating autumn-sown Onion? from seed boxes. ' Draw drills as you would sow the seed. Take the seedlings from the box, part them and lay the roots along the bottom of the drill. Fill in a little soil and tread down on the roots lightly foot by foot. Then level back the remainder of the soil and proceed to plant in the next drill. SEED GERMINATION. Often in the spring cold snaps are experienced, and although all have not the convenience of unlimited glass under which to raise seedlings, we like to have things as early as possible. The grower can hasten matters by obtaining some pieces of wood about three inches wide and half or three-quarters of an inch thick, cut into suitable lengths, and with bricks or boards on the outside edge of the bed to keep them about three inches above the bed they should be put across. Then by covering with pieces of glass, or even racking or scrub, it is surprising what a difference it makes. Of course, as soon as the seed shows through these protections must be gradually removed. HOEIHG. This is a work that is chiefly needed during the season of growth. The common idea is that the hoe is valuable chiefly as a weed killer, but in gardens where the time and labour are sufficient, and the season is not exceptionally wet there should be no weeds to kill. Apart, however, from its use as a killer, it is the means of producing and maini taining a mulch of loose soil on the surface, and this acts as an excellent check to evaporation. The retention of moisture during hot, dry weather is most important. It also permits air to penetrate to the roots, which is also very necessary. It is only by repeated hoeings in spring, whilst the ground is moist, that this layer of fine soil can be produced. THE POTATOE CROP. The time of the year is with us when planting potatoes is claiming attention. Much of the success of a potato crop depends upon the preparations. One of the foremost considerations should be to have the sets in proper condition at the ' time of planting; they should be furnished -with short green shoots. To secure this, the sets should have been placed in boxes and exposed to the light. The j ground should be well manured and , worked previously. Potatoes require a well-worked soil, free from lumps. The best way of planting is to dravr drills four ir.ches deep, with a hoe; as to the distance apart this varies somewhat according to circumstances, but early varieties should have thirty inches and late varieties thirty-six inches. The sets should be placed about a foot apart. Many people dig and plant at the same time; this is very well if the ground is in good condition, and was dug during the previous autumn, and has only got a little weedy. A dressing of wood ashes and bonedust should be given at the time of planting by scattering it in the drills previous to planting the sets. After planting pull fine soil over the sets by means of the hoe. Be careful that in covering all lumps are broken and nothing but fine soil is used for covering. TTSEFOX TO GROWERS OF CAULIFLOWERS. Those who have Cauliflowers turning in all at once can prolong the supply by pulling some of them up ;before they open, and hanging them up by the roots in a cool dark place. l>o not remove any of the outer leaves. To produce pure ivliite .heads of Cauliflowers the 'best plan is to draw the outer leaves close t-ojret.her over the head and tie with raffia. This prevents the head from opening =o soon as when a leaf is broken over it, and also inakea it much whiter. TO GROW CARROTS IN HEAVY SOU.. The best way to grow Carrots in heavy or shallow soils is to grow them on ridges. The ground should be forked over early in spring, and made as friable as possible. Then set out a line, and. with a draw hoe pull the soil up into a mound about nine inches high and a foot at the base. Make it straight and even, then holding The hoe horizontally press the handle into the top of the ridge to the depth of an inch, thus forming a drill. Sprinkle the seed in thinly and cover lightly by drawing over the edges of the drill. When the Carrots are about an inch high, thin them, and keep down weeds by hoeing. HINTS. Liquid manure should not he given to pot plants when fhe soil is very dry. Rambler Roses bloom best "when trained horizontally or on the slant. . rather than upright. If the Tops of Peas are pinched off when the plants are well in bloom, tie vigour will be thrown into the pods and : tile crop hastened considerably. The grasping end of an old epade handle sharpened makes a splendid dibbler for planting. In order to prevent Pea* from rotting ■ii t.'ie ground, cover with sawdust or J tin.- ;isiu-s. Ihese absorb superfluous , nioi-- , .nre an j allow r. >re air to reaen tile ?eed. A thin sprinkling of soil ! should be laid over the ashes or sawdust.

TO GKOW RADISHES AJTD SAVE GS.OXJND. When sowing Carrot seed sow a little Kadish seed h. the same drills. When they are larpe enough to pull the/ will leave the Carrots nicely thinned out, instead of wasting the Carrots in thinning. Two g-ood crop.= arc ;rot from tbe sp.me ground.