IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15917, 2 June 1917, Page 6

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK -FOR THE WEEK.

tßr J. T. Sinclair.)

CrECLU-i-v wnriTtx ion "the i'KESS.")

VEGETABLES

Current Work.— Examino the store of roots, such as beetroot, carrots, anil so forth, from time to time, removing ihose which show signs of decay. This timely overhaul may save great- loss. In very severe weather, in damp situations, throw some rough stable litter on the celery rid:;-*. This will turn much water, and prevent lro>t banning the plants. During a spell ol' wild weather take oft the litter, and replace it before hard irosts occur. Hoc between young cabbages frequently. They arc easily loosened by froet and wind, and a timely hoeing may save great, loss. Poultry Manure. —Headers who keep a few fowls may not know that, apart from egg production and ehickcn-read-ing, these creatures cau be made profitable to the garden. The manure of fowls is a rich fertiliser, and when applied intelligently to the soil, it has a highly beneocial etl'ee- upon plant growth. It is s»id to contain 1.00 per cent, of ammonia, and P cr of phosphates. This being so, it- cannot fail to be proiitable to the person who cultivates cither "vegetables or flowers. To preserve it* natural elßeicncy it must be kept fairly dry. If thrown out into a heap in the garden, the rain washes through it, and carries away a good dea| of its virtue. .Moreover, in a wet and t'.'osty condition, it is not easily distributed the soil, and, lining vciy rich, it. should 1> C put on the soil in small <|uantitics only. The manure hiiould be cleaned out of the fowlhon.-cs once a week, and stored in a dry pi.vce. If a. good quantity of soot is mixed with the manure* it wili help to keep de,wn vermin. This heap wil] e\o.ntually prove one of the, finest manurial assets a garden can have, and, whether it is dug into the. ground during winter, or used as a top-dressing f-prin;: and summer, it wil] wel] r f, pay any little extra trouble its collection causes. Lettuce. —A sowing to provide plants for setting out, early in spring can bo sown, cither in soil in a cold frame, or in hexes, the latter to he put into ,i. cold frame. The foij should not, bo made too firm, and shonM be moderat.elv moist.. The sash can lit- left, on until the seedlin.es show, alter which air must be admitted on every favourable occasion. Weak, lanky plants in the seedling stage rarely develop good hearts, and for I bat re::.son the seed should not be thickly sown. Turnips.—The "buihs'' of late sown turn ins which have not developed very far should be covered over with loose soil, so as to pr;>tec; them during winter. Tf this is done, it will he found that the roots will, be sweetcj- and palatable. Tilling Vacant Ground.—The person who peglccts his garden in tho autumn and winter can never make up the loss in the spring and summer months, no matter how hard iic tries. This is the. season for tilling operations, and they' should he carried out on all land that is not now covered with "useful crops. The portions already vacant would h<- treated as a matter of course, hut besides these there are sometimes certain parts of the garden occupied merely with the remnants of .previous crops, and each of these should bo looked at in order to see whether the remnants cannot bo utilised and the ground be. made ready for tilling. Thero are two reasons why good gardeners strive to get this groundwork well forward, the first being that the soil can then be more easily worked in spring and mado suitable for the reception of seeds, and the second is that it lessens • the work needing attention after July, when days are*none too long for carrying out the many garden operations that, are then urgent. Tho only exception to tho rule is in the case of very light soil, which is sometimes left later, from the well-based fear that the fertilising ingredients of any animal manures that arc applied may bo washed too deeply into the ground with heavy rains. Tho gardener must take into consideration what tilling operations have been done in previous years, and treat the various plots according to the conditions they may bo expected to bo in after the last cropping. If only part of the ground can be'trenched this year, it. should be, reserved for parsnips and car rein and beetroot, which have long tan roots which penetrate deeply into the soil. But theso are by no means the only crops that arc benefited by deep cultivation ; indeed, it may be said that, in almost all cases where the «-oil is broken up two spits deep, the weight and quality of the produce is increased, moreover, in a season of excessive .drought the plants stand much better in deeplymoved soil than when the surface only is-disturbed. With deep cultivation t.ho soil is rendered more porous, water, a.ir and sun heat can permeate the soil, thus, coming into direct relation with its particlcs. The roots and minute threads or root, hairs which furnish the chief means by which the plants absorb watery nutriment from the soil arc enabled to penetrate between tho particles of the soil, «nd to suck up the moisture there to be found. At, this season the surface should be left rough so that the action of frost wilt pulverise and sweeten the soil, and if the ground . be heavy it can be thrown up in ridge, which leaves a larger face or .surface for the frost to act upon. FLOWEHS. | Frcesias.—Those in pots or Ikisos j should be placed in some position where frost cannot reach them. Keep the. | surface soil well stirred, and do not allow it t.) U-roin.; dry. When the tlowcr spikes show, apply some liquid manure. Potted F'.ulbs.-- Potto,l hyacinths, tuiips, and narcissi :u- present in the I,'lunge should be cN'.imined to see if any are sufficiently forward for placing in the cold frame preparatory to being moved into a warmer position, be if, living-room or giceuhotise. AVhen firstbrought nut of the plunging material

the direct rays of tho sun must not be allowed to fall upon new growths, as it is essential they shqt'ld be exposed gradually lo the light. As soon as' tl,ey begin to turn gicen the. bulbs may be. moved to where they arc to flower. Tito temperature should not bo higher than Oodeg. Fakr., otherwise the flower f-tj:iiis will be weak and the blooms poor in quality.

S.'iow Pelargoniums intended for flowering in the preen house in early summer should now bo'sufficiently-for-; ward to bo tit for being transferred to their flowering pots. The soil used for potting these plants should consist of good rich loam, with a quantity of coarse sand, leaf-mould, and dried cowdung, in addition to which a.Tittle bone: dust and soot may be added. After the ; first watering, great care should be; taken not to ovenvator during the dull!season. • i : Christmas Roses.—Tho .-flowcr-bnds. ; arc now to be seen on many of the plants, and it wil] pay in most gardens! to provide some temporary protection against frequent rains and smuts, which would otherwise fail upon the opening, petals. A handlight or a bos with the bottom knocked out and a sheet of,, glass laid over the box will ensure that; tho blooms when they open will be white, and of fresh appearance. Keep: a sharp lonk-out for slugs and snails,: or thej- will probably disfigure the! flowers. " : Wallflowers.—Tho beds of wallflowers! which were planted out rcccntly should; be carefully looked over after i'rbst,' and the loosened ones made firm, otherwise the leaves will be apt to fall . off, and the plants Lecomo unsightly. The Greenhouse. —As foggy weather in towns is rather apt to make the roofglass of greenhouses dirty aiid grimy, thereby robbing tho plants of their fairamount of light, it is usual to waste and scrub down the glass with longhandled brushes two or three times during tho winter. 4 The present is a good time to take this work iu hand, and also a fine opportunity to make the inside of the house tidy and clean. It is also a good time to wash all empty flower-pots, so that they will be rcadyfor use. when required.