COMMON GARDENING TERMS EXPLAINED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

COMMON GARDENING TERMS EXPLAINED.

The various terms used amongst gardeners often prove bewildering the amateur, and these notes are written - with the view of elucidating the meanings of-some of the commonest. Ball. —Plants are always lifted if possible'with a good "ball,""which, means with sufficient soil adhering to the roots to prevent undue check. - . Bleeding.—As a rule this refers to the flow of sap following the cutting-of shoots at the wrong seaspn, though some plants will "bleed" at almost , any time if cut; the Indiarubber plant for example. Break. —-A shoot is said to break when it makes visible growth after it ha? been "pinched" ow "stopped. A "natural break" occurs when fresh growth is produced in a iiatural mannerwithout pinching. , w Callus.—This is a ring of tissue that forms at the base of a cutting, usually in a few weeks after'it is inseited, subsequently roots issue from the, callus. - Compost. —A "compost"- is a mixture of soils made for the purpose of,potting Pl CloVe.—A "close" atmosphere is oftenadvised for the rooting of certain cut. tings, or to encourage the quick recovery of newly potted plants. It means a warm, moist atmosphere, without ventilation. Clump.—A clump indicates a gowlsized root of herbaceous plant, such as i'hlox, Michaelmas Daisy, etc. * • Crown. —This means a growth possessing a bud, usually near-or in the-soil, from which growth springs annually. Crown-bud. —In reference to chrysanthemums, the crown-bud is the flower bud produced at the end of the first growth made direct from the cutting. ° Damping Down. —This is carried out in greenhouse? by syringing the and other vacant spaces.. The object is to keep, the atmosphere sufficiently moist for lie needs of the plants, and it is essential chiefly in bright, sunny weather. V Damping Off— Seedlings "damp off" when they are kept in a close atmosphere and are over-watered, especially if they are growing thickly, together. Under such conditions they are attacked by a fungus, as indicated by the stems turning black and decaying at the_ soil level. Drawn. — 'Plants are said to be "drawn" when the growth has become elongated, owing to insufficient light, or owing to their being placed too far from the grass. A ' Dress.—To. "dress" ground is to apply manure or any other substance, such applications being termed "dressings." Dusting. — The application of lime, eoot, and similar materials to soil or plants, as'a protection against or remedy for insect attacks.

Forcing. —This term explains the pro* cess of bringing plants to, maturity out of their, natural season by means of a heated glasshouse; ; '

Flag—Plants "flag" when their' leaves lose their stiffness and.droop, usually caused by drynessat the roots.

Harden Off. raised in a warm temperature" require to W inured to cooler condition? gradually if. they are to be planted outside process the gardener terms "hardening them off," or sometimes merely "hardening,"

Hotbed. —A hotbed is a, large bulk of

fresh manure—often withjeaves added — made into a square" or oblong bed, for the purpose of providing "bottom heat"

'or the cultivation of various plants,

Leggy. —Synonymous, with "drawn," already explained; but also; used occasionally to describe plants of which the: stems have become bare owing .to the loss of the lower leaves.. ■-

Leafmould. —This useful ingredient of most potting soils is formed by.'placing a quantity of leaves in a'heap to decay, a. process which takes 12 > months.

Pinch. —A plant is. said to be; "pinched" when the growing, points'are removed, to induce the formation of -"side shoots."

Piping.—Pinks are often* propagated by "pipings," these being made by pulling out the tops of the shoots.

■ Plunge.—Plants In pots are "plunged" when placed, just as they are, in ashes, soil, or other material; bulbs when potted for indoor flowering are "plunged" in ashes; and pots, of cuttings, etc., .are sometimes "plunged" in coconut fibre. Potting On.—This work consists of repotting /.plants in larger pots than those previously occupied. Potting •" Off. —Cuttings or seedlings growing several in a pot or box are said to be "potted off" when each is given a small separate pot.

Prick Out.—Seedlings are "pricked out" by transplanting -so that they may have more room for development. Propagator. : — A "propagator" is a name often given to a propagating case, which is a box-like contrivance with a glass cover and.heated from underneath;' it is used for the propagation, of cuttings which need a close atmosphere to ensure the formation.of roots.

Repot.—When a plant is repotted it is tipped out of its pot, and after some of the old soil Ijas been removed, it is repotted in another and usually a larger pot. '

Rose. —An appliance for placing on the spout of a watering can to- ensure a spray of water, instead of. one heavy stream, as would be the case otherwise.

Sappy.—"Sappy" growths are soft and' flabby, and are usually caused by excessive manuring or by soil not sufficiently firm.

Set.—This term indicates the formation of fruit after the flowers have faded. Side-shoots.—Growths that ' develop from buds situated in the axils of the leaves on a main growth are termed "side-shoots."

Spraying.—This is another word for syringing, the water being emitted in the form of a spray; or, more correctly, it lias reference to the use .of a sprayinsr machine.

Start.—Plants are "started" into growth by heir-; placed in a warmer temperature and given more water than hitherto.

. Stock.—This word has a double meaning for gardeners. It may be used to indicate a number of plants, often of one kind, and it is also the name given to a plant upon which another is biidded or grafted. •

( Stop.—The growth of plants * is "stopped" temporarily by "pinching."

. Strike—A •cutting is"saft> when it forms 'roots. • T^ k , ing , ) Bu( i s '~ A chr y s anthemum W • is "taken" when it is left! It is reaVi! ' "secured" by removing all the mZ buds on the same growth, 1 • Topdressirig.—This indicates an ami; cation of soil—usually rich manure on other substance over the roots of nW and is generally given when th/rS " appear through the surface of the «n;i Wall-Trees. - Fruit trees trainedl" trees 3 F ° tectioQ are term ed waULEAVES. . j Fallen leaves will soon he.makino 01 „ garden? untidy, and preparations shoi be made so: that they can be raked i and stored Vto provide leaf-soil. dL hole in some out-of-the-way corner !„? deposit all the leaves in it as Vou \£ them up. & Sprinkle salt or li me ov ! ejich layer as it is added to the hole A. soon as aU' the leaves have fallen cover the hole with a layer of earth, and hZ it till next/autumn. You will then di» out a, nice supply of leaf-mould, and th» same hole may be used for the freshlv fallen leaves the next season.