IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16268, 19 July 1918, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

(SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOE "THE PRESS. ) (By J. T. Sinclair ) answers to correspondents. Amateur.—lt is just possible that your Belladonna lilies require a, change of position more then a change of coil. To get tern to flower well they should be planted where the sun will shin* on the soil all dav Ions; shelter , from cold winds should also be given. If your soil is heavy add eome sand. Linwood.—Plant your raspberry canes at once on good, deeply-worked land, land v. huh has been, heavily manured. If going to be trained to a trellis allow eighteen inches between the stools, and f four or five feet between the rows. If planted in clumps allow four or five feet cacti way. Next month cut the canes down to within a foot of the ground. In thus sacrificing fruit the first you will be well repaid m the future, for I Llie plants will get a good hold of their no., surroundings, and will continue to do well for years, with timely top-dressings.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. VEGETABLES. Onions.—lt is a good plan to sow a box of onion seed wider gloss at this time of the year, even if the object m view is not large bulbs for exhibition, especially if the seed sown in tho usual way in tho open in the autumn has not been entirely successful.^ Shallots.—At oue time it was thought that the best time to plant this vegetable was about the shortest day. This j theory is now exploded, but all tho same,' planting is best done early, so that the can bo dou£ .n January, or early m February. All tho onion kind like a rich, light boil. A warm, sandy loam. that has been well manured for a previous crop is ideal for shallots. Such a soil only requires W be well dug, but a generous spnnUmg of soot and a little salt is helpful, it is nice and friable, mako it firm, and press in each bulb to about half its own depth, allowing nine inches between each in rows one foot apart. As the shallot makes root it will probably require treading in from time to time. Potatoes.— Sprouting these for early crops can now take place. The es sized tubers are about the size of an ecu. Put them in shallow boxes; set them closely together with tho end with tho buds uppermost. They can 'then bo placed in some light position where they will bo frco from frost.

FRUIT. Planting young vines.—'July i?.g ene ' rally considered the fittest mouth in the year for .planting-the .grape vine. The plant is then, at rest, and therefore not liable to injury- from any cause u. tne work is properly done. ; 'j ho vine is worth, -very special care m the preparathe soil in whicfi it' is planted; The most important point in preparing for it is perfect drainage. In open, gravelly subsoils there is no. dimcultj in regard to this, if there is a good natural outfall for any superfluous water that may accumulate m the soil. But in clayey and other imporvioub subsoils special' pains must be taken to ensure free outlet of water frotn the bottom of the border. The vine is very greedv of moisture, in tho soil during the growing time, but it must be fresh and permeate all parts .of the border, and be stagnant in none. If the border has to be made where the subsoil is retentive, the best of the surface soil should first be dug out and laid aside to be mixed with other ingredients in making up the border finally, when the drainage is put m its place. Then the bad subsoil should be excavated, to the depth of a foot at least, giving the floor of the excavation a slight incline towards the outfall drain. If the bordor is at all wide, which is not at all necessary—it need not exceed the dimensions of the house —there will be no need for laying dram tiles in the bottom if the; floor is provided with a sufficient incline. All that is necessary is to fill up six inches deep of this space with clean rubble, placing the roughest and largest pieces in the bottom and finishing with a firm layer on : the top. On this bed of rubble lay, grass-side downwards, freshly cut turf to prevent the finer parts of the bordor material mixing therewith. Not many amateurs are in a position, perhaps, to get sufficient turf to make tho entire border; this is the most favourite material with expert grape-growers for the purpose, but excellent grapes are grown

without. Any good loam, rather heavy than light in texture, will do for the bulk -of the border, to which may do added such enriching substances as may be considered necessary. The dug out surface soil can _be used as far as it will go in the making, and similar, if no better soil is available, can- be. added to make up the quantity required to complete the border. Crushed bones, wood-ashes, old mortar rubbish, and. well decayed manure can bo mixed with, the staple. When made as late in the season as this tho compost must be made firm as tho filling up proceeds to that the soil may be fairly well solidified. If young vines are obtained n pots from the growers when to be planted turn them out of the pots ana immerse the roots in a tub of water, in which move them about with the hands till the soil is all washed away. This will save the smaller roots from injury, and enable the planter to spread them out in the soil safely and properly. This precaution is also advisable when the plants are lifted from nursery rows. If any cutting back is to bo done it should be done at once, and some painters' knotting rubbed on the wounds. Gtafts.—lf anyone is contemplating grafting fruit trees in the spring, get the grafts together now. Cut the voung growths close back to the older wood, tie them in small bundles, label them, and lay in a trench on the south side of a wall or fence, where they will be as cold as possible, so that growth will bo kept dormant as long as possiblo into the spring.

FLOWERS. Lobelia and Ten-week Stocks. —An eariy start with the seed of many of , the choicest. of summer Mowers is nalr , the battle, especially so with, the two subjects mentioned above, it is neces- , sary, however, to warn tho beginner in gardening that no attempt should be mad© to sow the seeds ot any subject unless the greenhouse can be kopt at a "temperature which does not tail below 40deg. In the case of amateurs who possess unheated greenhouses and frames, it is better to wait at least until the middle of August befor o attempting *the germination of seeds of tender flowering plants. Tho seeds should be sown sparingly in pots or pans that have previously been nearly filled with, fine sandy soil. Tress the soil lightly and perfectly level. Cover tho socd lightlv with" soil, smooth the surface, and make it fairly firm by pressing t down with the flat bottom of a small flower pot; cover the P«ts with sheets of glass and brown paper, and then plaeo them in a cosy place on the greenhouse bench. . . ~ Bulbs and Roots m Store.—lt is well to turn over the stock of dahlias, gladioli, and begonia bulbs in store, for often serious disease can b 0 checked,

whereas to leavo unexamined may mean tho loss of much stock. If there has been a drip coming through to the stock from the roof, or .from the stages, guard against this in future, for damp is responsible for much disease and loss. Thon, if a diseased portion is found, cut such out with a sharp knife. If -the cut surface :s dusted over with flowers of sulphur much will have been done to prevent a recurrence of the trouble. Edgings—Tho repairing or construction of new permanent edgings to beds and borders is a task that may be undertaken at this season of the year. Many gardeners depond upon what are known as' "dead" edgings, and by these aro meant those that are constructed of wood, bricks, stones,, and such like. These' aro moro utilitarian than picturesque. They certainly bear no comparison with -'live" edgings mado of some dwarf-growing plant or shrub. Among the latter box stands pre-emi-nent, and it is rather expensivo. Other useful edgings arc cuonymus, heaths (in pea'tv soil), ivy. and thrift. For a flowering edge few things can excel ,11 beauty and effect one made of pinks, and the old variety, Mrs Sinkins, is excellent for the purpose. In the caso of box plants not. moro than three inohes of foliage should be allowed to appear above the surface after the sou has been filled in. In planting an cd ,v in <r of this kind it is especially necessarv to ensure that a perfectly straight lino is maintained if the edging be boside a long, straight border. The use of a taut garden line is therefore essential.