IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16310, 6 September 1918, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

(srzciAixT TrsmxN job "tub pkxss.") (Bt J. T. Sincuub.) WORK FOR THE WEEK. Sow.—Leaks, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, onions, turmprootod beet, lettuce, parsley, radish, spinach, tomatoes, parsnips, and lialfhardy bedding plants. Plant. —Cabbage, cauliflower, chives, seakale, potatoes, asparagus, artichokes, ana onions, also tomatoes under glass. VEGETABLES. Asparagus.—Edible asparagus is the produce of asparagus officinalis, a seaside plant belonging to the Liliaceous family. The wild plant produces only slender stems, and the thicker ones common in gardens are from special varieties raised by careful selection, and the effect upon them of special cultivation. The two varieties commonly cultivated are Connover's Colossal and Early Argonteuil. The plants are raised from seeds, which ripen freely on all cultivated plants, and take the form of small, round, red berries. For sowing seed at the present time the surface of the ground, prepared some time ago, must bo broken up with care before the seed is put in. As wo pointed out some time ago, very heavy or clayey land is not specially suitable for the crop, and if it is useel it necessitates considerable work in the adding of materials to ensure great porosity and aoration than is usual in soils of that nature. A sandy loam of considerable depth that is fairly rich may be said to be ideally suitable. Except in very cold, retentive soil, the old custom of forming narrow, raised beds is not to be recommonded. Five feet beds aro usnally preferred, as thoy areeasy of access; if two beds are t*> lie I set out side by side a two-foot alley should be loft between them. The line at sowing time should be stretched 1 foot from the edge of the beds, after having procured a fine and even surface with the raka. Dibble the seeds in three inches deep, allowing two or three to a hole, but remembering always tliat vigorous thinning must be practised as soon as the young "grass" is well up, leaving ono plant only in each of the holes, which will bo set eighteen inches apart all over the bed. The thinning out to ono strong plant only is sometimes apt to be overlooked at the proper moment, with disastrous results. . The putting in of asparagus plants, of course, ensures a quicker crop for cutting, as this cannot bo done from seed sown before tho lapse of three years. An expert method of planting the beds consists in leaving the prepared ground with two ridges for the roots, and a Bpace of eighteen inches between these, laying the plants out so that half the roots fall on either side of the ridges. The tops of the ridges should be about five inches below the ordinary level of tho soil of tho °ed» and when planting has been effected quickly and skilfully—for asparagus plants will neither bear rough treatment nor afford to be loft about in the Bunshino, nor exposed to drying winds —their crowns should stand four inches at least below the surface when this has been filled in. Tho native habits of asparagus give the clue both to its liking for sandy soil and its demand for salt, hut during the first year of cultivation the latter is usuallv best omitted. Now that the season of cutting will soon be here, we may add that the growths nesd to be cut with caution, for thrusting the knife below the surface of the 6011 may be found to have injured shoots not yet above —There is usually very little difficulty in growing leeks, provided the ground gets proper treatment, and tho seed sown some time early in September. Special attention should be taken in preparing the seed bedj and the seod sown thinly in shallow drills. FRUIT. Grafting Fruit Trees.—Fruit trees can now he bought so cheaply that crafting is rarely practisedby amateurs, but as it is sometimes desirable to convert a variety into another and bettor one, they ought to know how to do it. There are different methods, but the principle is the same. The "crown"

grafting is the simplest and best method tor the necessities of amateurs, and is the method often used by professionals when they have headed baclc trees with fairly thick stems. The stents to be grafted should be cut clean and pared! smooth. The scions should be about six inches long, and the middle of shoot is the best for the purpose. The upper part should have two or three eyes, and the lower part is cut with a sloping cut? about a couple of inches long. A longitudinal cut is made in the bark of the stock, and the cut part of the %cion is inserted close to the inner bark of th.6 stock. Some grafters insert a knife between the outer and inner bark of the stock and slip the graft therein; this does away with tho longitudinal cut, but unless done with tare, the tissues or the inner bark are damaged. ' If the stock is thick, several grafts may be put on. It is usual to do this iu case some fail to grow. Tho operation is very simplo, but quick and true eyesight is needed. The grafter must bear in mind that the liber or inner bark of both stock und scion must touch each other or there is no chance of a union taking placo. The liber is formed of the vessels which convey the sap upwards to heal and unite tho several tissues; without the flow of sap no healing or union of the several parts of scion and stock can take place. Every operation should be performed as quickly as possible to prevent exposure or tho wounds t-o the air. Thero must be no delav in tying them and covering them with grafting wax. The wax ia much moro plastic if kept warm, and is then more easily applied.

FLOWERS

Cactuses. —With, the rising temperature, cactuses and other succulents will require a littlo more water, but for the present it should only be a little. If they need repotting, this may be dono now.

Roses.—Complete the pruning of all varieties of roses without delay. Afterwards lightly fork over tho beds to tho depth of a few inches, and burr any animal manure that can be spaied. If well-decayed manure is lacking, use on© or other of tho many artificial fertilisers that are on the market. A hoine-madn preparation may be made of bone meal threa parts) and sulphate of potash fono part), applied at the rate of i ■ablesjjoonfiil to each tree.

Gladioli.— By planting the corms of gladioli from September till the end of November m monthly instalments, it is quite possible to extend the flowering season of this much-admired flower. The corms for the later plantings must be kept in a very cool, dry place, excluded from air in dry sand. Treated thus they remain dormant and loso none of thoir vitality. . If there is any sign of disease, rub sulphur over the corms. Lawns from Seed.—There is no doubt that many gardens oivo much of their charm to. their well-kept lawn. A good lawn is always a pleasure. Bacon said : "Nothing is more pleasing to the eye than green grasses finely shorn." From his day till now few things hare played a more important part in the garden than tho lawn. The first thing to do after the ground has been dug is to get it level, and this is a thing that reouires skill and experience. Tho next thing is to tread it'firmly all over and Take it smooth: this done it is ready for the 6eed. The seed bwng light, a calm day should be chosen for sowing it or the sward will be patchy. The being sown, the soil should* he carefully raked over and lightly rolled, after which no further attention is needed until the grass is several inches long. One pound of seed will sow from sisteen to twenty 6quaro yards.