THE WEEK'S WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 78, 2 April 1927, Page 25

THE WEEK'S WORK.

D C d THE FLOWER GARDEN. £ O 1 tie present is a good time for moving evergreen tretM. The toil is ° O moist and warm, and transplanted now they get a good hold O 0 before cold weather comes. O D Cut down herbaceous plan's that have Bnished flowering. The early- ° ° flowering kinds can be divided and replanted. o o Dahlias will need the spent blooms cut off and the plants attended ° Q to if they are to carry on for a while. °. D Chrysanthemum buds are swelling fast, and some of the early sorts ° O are beginning to show colour. Stop all feeding once the buds o ° show colour. X 0 thrysanlhemumi grown for decorative purposes and flowered on ° O terminal buds should have some of the side buds removed, O o otherwise the flowers come deformed and small. Give each bud ° O room to develop into a flower. When two or more buds are ° g left on one stem let them be at about the same stage of develop- O O meat, so that they will open at or about the same time. ° O Plant out Border Carnation layers. Early planting means that the o o p.ants have a good hold of the soil before the winter comes. ° O P.ant on raised beds in open positions. Carnations will stand g g cold and exposure better than damp and stagnant soils or posi- O 0 tions. O O Prepare the ground for the planting cf Roses. The work can be done O o now and the ground will be ready for planting next mon'Ji. ° O Trench deep, and place any manure that is used below the o g rooU. Tne manure can be left out and supplied later on as a C Q top-dressing. D O A look round now will give you a chance to select good autumr.al o g varieties of Roses. There are many varieties of Roses worth ° i> ■ P '* Ce la * ny garden for thsir aucuznn flowering qualities. n a P!ant out seedlings of hardy annuals end perecnials. Plants put out O o . cow do much better than spring-planted ones At the same ? O time, watch must be kept and protection given against slugs. o o THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. % g Dig any Potatoes that are matured *nd still in »he ground. If left ° H the moist, warm ground will cause the tubers to sprout, and that o £> impairs their keeping qualities. £ o Sow Onion seed to provide plants for planting out in spring. & O Vacant plots should be cleaned over, and if there is no use for them q ° sow Oats. These can be dug in during the winter. Q 0 Crops of Winter Greens should have the soil stirred between the ° g plants. Any yellow or diseased leaves amongst Brass*-! Sprouts, O 0 etc., should be gathered up and burnt or deep]y buried. ° O Make a sowing of Broad Beans. These do well on heavy soiu and in ° j? cold positions. q Q Plantings of Cabbage and Cauliflowers can be made now. Seed can a O also be sown. ' j^ ° Sow Lettuce, Radish, Turnips, Shorthorn CarroU. Sow thinly and 3 O shallow. Slightly raised beds give the best results at this season. § O Prepare ground for planting fruit trees. Break up the ground deeply! Q o No stable manure should be added; if anything is required, a ° O little bonedust is sufficient. g Bush fruits, such as Red and Black Currants, Gooseberries. Rasp- O 6 berries. Loganberries, should be planted as early as possible. 2 O A little pruning done now to the Apple. Pear and Peach trees will O g allow the light to get to the fruit buds and ripen them properly. ° D Dead twig* and branches can be easily seen now, aad should O ° be carefully cut out, collected, and burst. O o Fruit should be gathered when ready, but not before. A good 2 g method of ascertaining whether it is ready or not is: Cut a fruit Q o open, and if the pips ar» brown it can be taken that the crop ° <f is ready. *; 6 g

TO CORRESPONDENTS. j i XOVII K I Auckland! «ri!r'i: sow-j :11ir a .imn the s-cd was -fully twice as . :lii. k s it should have been. \\"j; 1 the' lit v\ u bo Are th-re artifi'ial i means nf fli«-Ir:lmjtinir the s.wl evenly?— I Th" i.iily trouble likely is that the co<t iif Tin- seed will |>e a little more tlinn .t ' iniirhr have been. Most lawns arc sown I too tliinly. with the result that weeds C»'t away more quickly than the crass A thick sowing means a pood sole of! crass quick, and weeds are choked out. j There are small hand broadcasting, machines on the market, hut with lawns | the best wny is to sow by hand A very' cood method is to divide the seed into | four lots, and then to sow each lot in a j different direction. It means a little j more work, but ensures a more even dis-1 tribtition If the plot is large measure off a certain distance. say six feet, stretch a line down the lawn, and when sowing keep within the line and on th" piece marked tiff, then measure off another section and so on until the plot is sown. By this means there can be no places miss"d. R>l (Manukau Heads > sends a specimen •if a weed which is growing all over a vectable garden?— There is only one means of controlling it. and that is by discing it out. Hoeing must also be carried out regularly to kiil the young seedlings. There is such a lot of seed in the ground that for a time hoeing ami cultivation appear to have no effect upon the weed. If continued, however, it wi'l be found that the weed will diminish.! Never allow any flowers or sc. ds to appear SUBSCRIBER (Mount Albert* writes:—j 1 hare a Lemon tree which lias been . attacked by an aphis, and is covered With a kind of sooty growth. The leaves of a Plum tree are being eaten by a| small green slug?— Spray the Umon i tree with red oil. This can be procured from a si-ed store. Vse as directed on tii" container. Spray the Plum tree with arsenate of lead, one ounce to two gallons of water. A teasponnful to nbo;it three parts of a kerosene tin of water is; about right. j MOTHER EARTH (Takapunn* sends some I specimens for identification ?—i c, > Celosia cristata. (7i Salvia splendens. <** > Salvia rutilans. (9) Malva. iH> i too small. (11l Eriostemon rerifolium. J.F. (Remuera) sends some Apples for inspection, and says the tree appears quite healthy, but all tlie fruit goes similar to the specimens sent?-—The trouble is the disease known as Apple scab. Gather all fruit and fallen leaves, and either bury deeply or burn them. Ihiring winter prune carefully, cutting out all deau twigs, carefully collecting and burning all prunings. Spray with a winter strength, spraying mixture, caustic soda. Bordeaux, or lime sulphur solution can be used. Next season when the fruit have set spray with lime sulphur solution (summer strength). During the summer three or four sprayings should be given at intervals of about three weeks. KOREA O (Ellerslie) writes:—l would he obliged if you would give me the following information re a Walnut (Japanese Mammoth i. described in Brett's Garden ing Guide? (1) Where are the nuts pr.> curable? (2) When should they be planted? (3) How far apart should the trees be spaced? (4i Are they subie. • to bliglit ? (5) Is this tree identical with .luglans Lieboldii? — The word "Japanese is a mistake, and the variety referred to is usually listed by nursery men as "French Mammoth." (1> I can not say where the nuts are procurable but trees are listed by Auckland nurserymen under the name of "Mammoth" or "French Mammoth. (2) As soon as ripe, that is during autumn. (3> Thirty feet (4) They are just as liable as other varieties. ("it No. It is not Jtiglans Lieboldiana. This variety is also wrongly known as J. ailantifolia. CUTTING HEDGES. When pruning any hedge plant, use as sharp a pair of secateurs, or hedge shears, as you can get. Blunt cutters do a lot of injury by leaving ragged ends, which take some lime to heal over. A .lean cut puts the plant to no trouble, hut on.- which tears the wood makes a wound which is difficult to heal. A small piece of oilstone should he kept for rubbing up the cutting faces of the secateurs. Give the edges a touch up every hour, and in this way keep them clean and keen.

BUDDED ROSES. The procedure after budding is ver; simple. It consists in locking o\er tli I plants a; frequent intervals and looser. ' iig the :i«~. a> it i> seen ihe buds ha* . '.akeii an<! are beginning ;<. swell. A

| the -auie time Ihe shoot:- of tlx- i-tock i can be shortened back to six or eight inches from the bud as shown at A. Later on after the bud starts fairly into growth, the tie can be removed altogether. At the present time when strong winds may be expected, the young shoots of tlie scion require supporting, otherwise tliev may be blown r.ght out. and all the labour of budding will l>e lost. This support may be provided by means of a thin but fairly strong stick, which is first secured to the stock, and then to the new shoot of the scion as at B. The final operation "ill be to cut back the stock quite clcc to the bud. but this can be done later in the autumn. CHIVES. This herb is a native of Britain, and was formerly grown extensively in every cottasre garden. It is a relative of t: •• onion, and its >hoot« are used on account of their mildne>s. tor flavouring soups. alads. etc. Propagation i« by division of roots in early October or March. They should be plat,ted six inches apart, w.th a foot aetween the rows. Top-dress with rotten manure as soon as they are planted, fork this in next spring, and keep the surface free from weeds. Old beds should be treated absolutely the sam but they must be renewed every third year. Tlii. plant is not at nil particular of soil, and the j>ositior. is quite immaterial. Thus it is often grown in odd corn rs. whereby room in the garden is saved. When gathering the shoots should be cut off close to the crown of the plant a> m-quircd for use. PREPARATION FOR FRUTT TREES. Make out a list of fruit tree* and bu.-hes for planting about the end o; April and gne the order to a reliable nurseryman. In the meantime trench th< ground two feet deep. No manure suoulc be applied for fruit trees, but bushes suci ae Gooseberries. Currants and Basp berries, win be benefited by it.

STORDfG ONIOXS. • are p-own in e»try pardva. ana i-it-ry ax;-::.;.; :* r ..;.. {~ t<-t-. ->,-:. thn-uphout •:)•■ v. .:.:■.-. un::l ;':.•.• r. ■» toj. l- ready. Srldnni i» tbf ::.«-.i-u-. ad<-pt<x] Mi'fwful, hut the l.u]»i- c..u'J U- kcj.l :i:-joh it j-rr-"au:,< ;:* w -r, ;.ik<-:; -.. :> ia T •;<. t >; ;>~. n( . r( . carftiliy )iar.H]<Nl ,t:i 1 n , re r • hrn—l o:

in *ny «..\ i; ; ,- i. ; -: ru-:li..J of i.torin« is i u y\ni; ihe in -.. :i r«ijK>. ur i!« in Irjr.dic*: tlu4<? t-h'«:d t-e liunc in a r>...]. dr\". »v!!-i fc !wJ. Th'.- illustration sbow«,: m Hw t" -lart ji <4 u;:;,.!is. the •.(•jt. :.;..- I'iaiu-d in with the siring. >bi >ht»v.« tlie rxiiuinentftiienl oi tl:e pla;linr. I • !]'•: n.ake the "rope" t<«c> «'r t-xi lit-avy. At (di i ? s-hown a small -bun-li" pi t'!!!«in« ready jur up. <»r*'i'the liilits t(.i a* to kec-j' a* near oho fiae a« j>os-?-ibie to each bundle <<r Top?." Stna.i tn i:i«iiiiin-«!Z'»d. firm bulbs kr<belter :Lar. thv large wiarH? v:.-.-. ROOT-PEtTNDfG FRUIT THEES. Young Apple ami P,?.r trees. like«i>e P]'.!ni-. frwjuently make remarkably fine frrowth. but produce le-.v or no !.J->-m----or fruit. A eor..mon mi--;ako r.a :•.- with "--.irh :rc(-* to urune them --•verclv in winter or parly »prir?. Tbe re*uh i* that ir.p pronth" e.on more vjp'.rotie ;he following s«-a-on. c-iii the o]<l pardenln™ ni'«:to. •■<:rcu-.h folKwc the knife." Tb.- real reii.i-dv i* ;•• vtvm —no; ;l.e ;.-.sn=. ).r. i.ip roo:-. By !*e\erinj: ">iic thick fl<-»!:\ root*, tbc formation of fibrou* ro";? i> encourage.l. It ha? found by t -.\- pe—enre that trees plenty oi fibrou« rcot« l.oar well. alwav~ pr\'Vide.i the lilo««<jras are fertilised." Another j reason for root-prnninp i? ;ha; i: ><-'me;iniei happens, with older trees psjiecially. that the tap root Las cone down dt-eply i!::o tho ?uh*tiil. niiich may !>e a rold. heavy <-y. ot a h;;ngrV

WHY MOSS FLOtTRISHXS. J! - '.':'.:--: ■'' ': • -» iz. a . ri"s ;; rrsv '<? '• '.;••.- - : . -;. c- : ' ■ I' ■•"• •. " * c '. "J , * -<■;] >• :«•-;. a;~ -.:■ <v<n:iT..-E<«t cauve. " >* .. a ■•>•-. k i ;• : » ■. •. i." :.:,: oi '•'••-■ ;•'-'. ■'• J'.--- .- > .:". fi'-'M '■■ '■■ r" - "-." ■ 1 :.;._ :•.)•. -: .:.-.a:.3 ;; T ;} c • ; :■'■-- :■■'■■ '::-'■■■-. (.:■•..y. AA '.e ■ a;i: : ••«,; v :.;,:: :.:.- port to iLe firo"lk, cr.'U? ! ?.r.i :r I:.-.-: soii;." . ■" * •- "• :•.;..:•> i: ]r. iLe>e c;ro;ii.--'■a: ■<- :: :' :.c*. -\:~; r<*.->z ti.a; ;i.e ■''•:.->-T and :.r.t-r *■-;■;.<-* c .-aj-pear. acd ".:-.•-•. •-.•:. ihe f::,-rp r : arc cviar«-cr tri-■::.-'.kt- -. <r;> i.::> <n« »-.;.. TLj« t-^ v 5 "•-•*" "•<■"■* i".» :;tc:;r::} »h;»h .: is do: -:■■••» :•■ :?.,.:. Iγ i'.l such cases a ;' r; '- v " ':.(.. ».'.! kil' iLe n.cff a: d '-■] ::.<• i".'i-- : ct it «■;;■ iK-r.t:.". •":.? ::.a:.< : '. rure i» •H^, - .;-.;.. srj.; is >::■. r. (.::Ti<-.!; anc s--:ij,;;::.. « .rr:-a«-.-::■]<-. r.u;. •(-<-. :<X'. :>:;.;.-f-rf a:-.- n«*fn]. r_r :h{-ir rear- ;?- -~« ,- s - ;,, ?M n( ; o 'f WITCH KAZEI.S. :3»i ;•:• >■ .:::■»..: ■■;. ...>.; wa i c-cr:a.:.'r : :.<• :::-; : ■ :■■■ •_; a .i- 2.»aj.]:ar - v. a* ;.v ;a '-'- : a: 'J »*•*: -'ho*?- clear l- uIU :: ' ; "- *™ ™.:a i« addj-.ioaal j <n ~; ;«-jj;e fraerani ]• .■;:-. ; .! tK .ni dunse Ju.y wben flower* :•: ;..e ~:*n art- v«-rr f v V. 7Le 1 ■<•"•<- fa:; i.n aj-.amn. Tbe ? JS <■; :ho <-a-:v-: ruliiva-.ios is £r v good, ■■?.. ■::.,.-. t<l .c,]. »ad m A-.i;uinn «;j< j, •;]<- :., a v« faJ!. n-jil of lea j tuooni :iia: j.rovided flower bud? !"<•*■<» j- -. tiie previous auxumn. lx is |«<-li cio;bed_ u.tb larpF ]< aref . Eol U2 . j .:ke tisoM- o: ;.i<- <-..33:;.0n Ilaxel :a sumiijer. «n<i i: nc: o: iH-rwi-e a::ract:%e then ;• :^; ; . n "f ;:<- .•: n ;' ,:e aruends in Ju]v. • ' .1 Cf.- i .. j- eaj, - >; . re j. Jpf .j j n *:» ijiiN!:■:*> .: ha* dow- flowering. -.•.■■l- -rr.a.l i.u*h«-* fi..a<-r frw\r. EZGOIfIAS I w j u - ij, ' iJK-ra M>me bouid I food a: |ea* t once a trerk. Never aIW the pr.i* 1... pr-t anything like dry <, r ; tee largesi c .; th{- flowers tril] drop of.

pravcl. In both cases the tree brcojr.eless fruitful and i> more prone to disease. When the tap root i> severed this condition is altered and the tree !ia* a further chance. Koot pruning is :>est done in April or May when the soil !-* ill retains much of the warmth of «umraer. The tree then start? making Iresh recti a t onoe. and before fr.'-t----*-et in w:ll have made pood progress. I he actual iime i= a matter of locality. j ith trr-e= that have l>een t-lar.". ci] only two or three year*. replant ir.rr i> equivalent to root-pruninc. The tree is taken up. roots bruised or damaged in the !>roce>*. are cut a«av smoothly, arid the ;he replanted on the wnio s : to. Older tree? are treatoJ differently. In tlr* case a trench i = taken out all round. The width of The circle depend? upon the tree itself. If it ha? a wide ft read, three feet from ;)ie trunk ■niii not :k----too much, and it may oe nei-essarr to ■r.ake it wilier. Oβ the other hand with I hushes and i>vratnid« two fee" r ny iie l-uflinent. \Vith .1.1 ctaUi-he i tre<-* lit is advisable t" d" tii* work in iwn ! seasons, taking out a half circle ore year, and the other half the n?xt year. Thi? is shown in the illustration, which ;i]-o indicates how the trench is The Ptronp. thick roots should Xα. Oit tiirouph with n saw on the side of trench nearer the trunk, and afterward* smoothed with a sharp knife. Thf trench is then filled in with ::ood 'we-.* soil, which is pressed firmly with th* feet. To pet at the tap root of ar. old j tree a deep hole must be du2 rijht nndoi it and the root severed with the spadv. SHRUBS FROM SEED. In very few pardens i= any attempt j made to rrow shrubs from seed, ye: it is \ery interesting work, ar.d though it I often requires considerable patier.ee'. the reward in some cafes i= not lonp delayed. The Brooms, for instarce ■ frequently begin to flower in theii (second year and even the Laburnum j whirh belong? to the same family, bui more of a tree reaches the flowerinj stable in a few years. The sbrubbi Spiraeas are quick prowers and th< i Berl>erises. ihouch rather s] O w at first i afterwards spun ahead, and s-oon makt useful little bushes If a corner can U vou-d to the propagation of seedlin; shrubs it will give an additional interes to the garden. PROPAGATING EVERGREENS Cutting-s of Lavender. Laurustiva! Choisya, and other evergreens max ': taken with a heel and inserted in t' open border, or in cold frames, to r.>. during autumn and winter. Lighten :'. >o\\ with sand and leaf mould. Make t cuttings about six inches lonp and bur them ir.ore than half their length in ~. which should he trodden firmly. BRIER CUTTINGS Insert cuttings of Prier t"> :-ovi ; stocks on which to bud P.o«-«. T.ik" r.: ■ I nood a:>o::t nine inche- Inn™, tvitii '[without a he<l. and re:no\e all l< , :: t: ■ j top two to five lea\e s . 'i It is important to rut away t:.- ha.' i to prevent the formation ■! sucker ■ Use sand ar.d leaf-mould, anl sink thci [ six indies ia the aoil.