GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9299, 27 December 1895, Page 3

GARDEN NOTES.

" Weekly Press and Referee." Cucumbers require abundance of water at the roots, also a liberal allowance of liquid manure. Marrows and Pumpkins should have their growing shoots regulated so as~to prevent and all dead leaves should be removed. Frame Cucumbers require plenty of air, even at night, in hot weather. As early Potatoes are removed some other crop should replace them. Look over Seakale intended for forcing, and remove superfluous growths. Ciw- Asparagus beds of weeds and stray ...ants. Remove surplus lateral shoots from Tomatoes, retaining only enough for fniitbearing, these as they flower should be stopped one joint above. When the fruit has set a portion of the foliage may be removed in order to give light and air. Currants and Gooseberries will well repay a little attention at this time in the way of pruning out lateral growth and giving the fruit and wood required for extension room to develop and harden. Currant bushes have this season, favoured by the continuous rains, made much side and lateral growth. Strong laterals from the main branches may be stopped at the sixth leaf—future growths should be stopped at the first leaf. The same process may be repeated among the Gooseberry bushes. Lighten the tree of superabundant wood and the fruit is much assisted. Young Currant and Gooseberry bushes may have the growth thinned to four or five of the strongest and best placed. Shoots springing from the base should be removed. It should be remembered that varieties of Broccoli, which heart late in the autumn are extremely useful as succession plants to Cauliflowers. This class of Broccoli will usefully occupy the ground cleared of Potatoes. As Broad Beans form their pods remove the tops of the stems. Mr A. W. Sutton, of Reading, last month delivered a lecture before the Royal Horticultural Society on Potatoes, in which he referred to some experiments made in grafting the Tomato and Potato. Mr Sutton, who illustrated his lecture most profusely with the aid of the lantern, said :—"Slide 46 represents the Tomato and Potato graft. One tuber was planted in each pot on March 22nd, and when about 4in to sin high the plant was cut off half an inch from the level of the soil, and a graft of a Tomato plant introduced on May Bth. The result of this has been that the Potato nourished by the Tomato plantabove-ground, has produced a crop of Potatoes in the pot, as will be seen in the picture; and also the Tomato plant above ground has produced a fairly good crop of Tomatoes, nourished by the Potato roots in the pot. Slide 47 is the same process reversed. The Tomato plant was cut off half an inch above the surface, and the Potato graft introduced. The Tomato roots have not, of course, produced Potatoes, but the Tomato plant above ground produced one truss of flowers and seven berries ; and in order to extend this somewhat interesting experiment, the Tomato flowers have been fertilised with Potato pollen, and the Potato flowers with Tomato pollen for further experiment next year. These photographs were taken on August 14th ; but on looking at the plants recently-, it was found that two of the Potatoes growing on Tomato stalks appeared suddenly to be aware of the fact that, although producing flowers and berries, they had not yet produced tubers, and it being ' never to late to mend, , they have, as you will see in slides 48 and 49, produced tubers from the axils of the leaves and stems." Most of the different kinds of winter flowering stove plants should be put into the -pots in which they are intended to bloom, as by potting at an early period the wood becomes perfectly matured before autumn arrives, and without which it is impossible for the plants to bloom satisfactorily. Guard against giving larger shifts than ars necessary to carry the plants well on to their flowering season, any assistance at the proper time can be afforded by the use of liquid manure. Avoid the application of manures, except to the gross-feeding plants before the soil has become full of roots and then a top-dressing only. According to the Garden the Fuchsias distributed during the past season, especially those by the well-known raiser, Mr Lye, are characterised by a great profusion of, in most cases, symmetrical shaped blossoms, but .the bulk of the novelties come from the Continent, and large blooms with, in many cases, an ungainly habit of growth form their most prominent features. Nearly all the new forms from the Continent are doubleflowered. The double-flowered varieties consist of in many cases a huge corolla and sepals far too short to form a proportionate flower, while they are often disposed in a horizontal manner instead of being reflexed, as in most of the old single varieties. As Fuchsias are so readily raised from seed, it is somewhat singular that they are not more often increased in this way, for with a little care in saving the seed some good flowers can be counted upon, while at times curious forms crop up, and a very desirable new variety may also appear. Plumbagos may be removed to the open. Give attention to the watering of Palms, especially when of large size. Tree Ferns in tubs or boxes also require large supplies of water. Start winter blooming Gesneras, two or three in a 4in pot, well drained in a soil composed of loam, peat and sand. Prick out Cinerarias and Primulas from the seed pans as soon as they are large enough, keeping them rather close until established. A commencement may be made of provision for winter display. Cuttings of Poinsettia and Euphorbia may be made for this purpose. Winter flowering Begonias should also receive attention.