LEEKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 6 (Supplement)

LEEKS.

Make n furtlicr planting of leeks on Ihe Hut, iiciing a dibber for tile purpose. Give stimulants at regular intervals to locks that are intended for exhibition purposes. This crop slionld never be allowed to suffer from lack of moisture for, should this occur, growth will cease, after which watering will only tend to encourage the plants t.» "bulb" .it the bottom, split or run to seed.

The average palm is liar.ly enough to stand no end of neglect. Still, there is a. borderline over which it is not safe to go. Keep a palm in a closed mom for a Week and you tax it overmuch, l'alms are lovers of shade, with plenty of moisture and not over-much draught. The ordinary room i< not a suitable place for palms. '.And the hull, where s any of our best specimens catch cold and die. is even worse still. Xo less important is the matter of cleanliness. A plant laden with dust cannot thrive. Your geranium or palm or aspidistra breathes through its pores, Clog the pores and your plant dies of suffocation. It may take weeks to <lie. but it will go all the same. Xegleet to keep the leaves or fronds clean is fatal. (live your house plants a cleaning at least once a week. Lukewarm water and a little soap should be used on the palms and aspidistras. Lay the- pot* side down and lightly sponge or ml) over each frond. Do not entertain for one moment such things as milk for the leaves or cold tea. for the roots. Cleanliness, fresh air, liquid manure will keep a palm or fern in flood'health in a room for a lonu' time. A plant should he given a pot only sufficient for its needs, especially if growing under conditions suc-li as a "verandah or room. When the snil Incomes exhausted, shift the thinir into a. pot but one >ize larger. Scrape away a little of the top soil and also scratch oil' some from the sides. Then run new earth round to till up the space between the ball of earth and the sides of the pot. and by using a thin piece of wood this so ! l must be worked down between tl Id ball of soil and the pot. so that there is i avitv left. A little bonemeal should be added to all soil compost that is being used for pot-