IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16506, 25 April 1919, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN.

(SPECIALLY WRITTEN* FOE ''TEH FHESS.") (Br J. T. Sinclair.) WORK FOR THE WEEK Plant. —Cabbage and cauliflower. VEGETABLES. Cabbage.—Plants of this reared in Fc-biuary should bo flamed out whon largo enougn. Set luem aOout a foot or i<3 incites apart in the rows; the latter can be about -! feet ariart; the iu-toi-modiato p.aius can bo cut to use beio;o they aie luil-hearted, leaving tho others ample space in which to complete their growth later. It' a sowing was made in a cold frame in .March plenty of air must be given the plants irom now onwards, or tuev will beoomo spindly. Cauliflower. —These must bo sot out the lull distance at the start, and a space of from twenty to twenty-four inches each way is necessary. Plants in a frame from a_ later sowing must, like cabbage, be given ample ventilation. During winter the soil between the rows should be well stirred up with the Dutch hoe as often as is possible, when the weather and the ground are favouiable. " Endive. —blanching tho earliest batch of this can now be undertaken. Unless well blanched this salad is useless, owing to its bitter flavour. The lieacls can either be tied with raffia, or have beards placed over theui. The latter, as well as being easy, has tho advantage of throwing rain oil tho hearts.

FItUIT. Tho Raspberry.—While no fruit pays boi'-cr ioi- t,L>ou euiuvauun vuaii tuO l*«.ui*C IS liO UOUul tu«t tiilb xiUii/ Li.iV ue ue.i ill aiiiiust any Uiiitl 01 soil, proviuc-a uuipits jiioibLuro is aiiujUOii 111 not weaxiitsr. lue lull" i'ehUiLi yiuutii-vu by aa amateur or utv a ie.w oia slouis or rows at jiis couunuiid sixow uiati it is eiisuy grown. 'Juie u.ty ilie soil is ivoiaoJ colore plaining tukss piaco lias a iofc to tio witn continued success. Irenehlng at least two loet uccn suould take p.aeo some time pievioUoiy, and, Lt' tlie soii is 011 trio lijjut side, a good quantity of manure can be worked in. I'vopagauon is clone uy suckers, and those unit spring up some distance from tiie older slews are the most easily detached, and best for planting, and __ the salost time lor work is in ine autumn, while there is plenty of warmth in the soil, and yot little fear of long-con-tinued drought. At one time raspberry plants were nearly always set out in clumps abouf tour or live feet apart, and four' or live canes were tied to a stake. A better method, and one giving less trouble, is to have a wire about 3 feet from the ground, the cane being planted a foot or eighteen inches apart, and tied to the wire. But where the canes grow rampant, or where much exposed, two wires are best, one at two, feet from the ground, tho other at 4 feet, this steadying the canes, the tops of which may be allowed to run a good deal higher than the wires. If more than one row is planted, at least 5 feet should be allowed between the rows. If tho soil is naturally light, a partially shaded position can be used to advantage. The depth at which the roots are set depends a great deal on the nature of the soil, but shallow rather than planting should be the rule. This because the raspberry plant roots deeply with the lower tiers of roots, and seems, by the nature of the upper, moro fibrous parts to delight in running just under the surface. The long thong-like roots steady the plant in position, while those nearer the surface collect food and moisture. For this reason they should be kept up, well spread out, and as far as possible kept always moist.

As before mentioned, the raspberry pays for good and a liberal dressing of the surface annually is well repaid by the improved yield of fruit. The mulch need not necessarily be all farm-yard manure. Well decayed vegetable matter from the refuse heap makes a splendid dressing. Failing any of the above, some slow-acting phosphatic and potash manures, such as basic slag and kainit, can be scattered on during winter. Tt should be mentioned that deep digging about the roots should be avoided. FLOWERS, Tender Bedding Plants. —Geranium cuttings and similar plants will not be safe out of doors any longer; indeed, all tender plants in pots, boxes, and tubs that are not already under cover should be given attention at once, as otherwise one severe frost might have the effect of injuring valuable specimens.

As soon as the foliage of begonias used for bedding is frosted, the tubers should be lifted and placocl in a greenhouse or shed to dry. The whole of the spil need not be removed from the roots, as it acts as a preservative until the tubers arc sufficiently dry to bo placed in a cool store. Tritonia (syn. Monbretia). —This in all its forms is one of the best autumn flowers for town gardens. During February and March its elegant spikes or flowers, rising gracefully from among its equally elegant leaves, are charming. It is attractive wherever it is grown, but unlike many otlier beautiful things, which refuse to live in city gardens, this thrives in defiance of impure air. if the soil and treatment it requires are provided for it. It must have ,sandy, well-drained soil, but rich in humus. For the cultivation of these flowers there does not seem to be any established method. /Some growers leave the plants in the ground until they cease to flower: others wait until the foliage turns colour and. then lift and dry the corms; others, again, transfer them to a position while growth is active. It "does best when transplanted every second year. The corni, or bulb-like roots, increase rapidly, and overcrowd each other rjnicklv if breaking up and dividing thom is- not attended to. "When this is neglected growth dwindles, and flower spikes diminish in size and beauty. In making a new plantation the ground should be well prepared by deep dieting and moderate manuring . with old. well-de-eomposcd dung, burying the latter seven or eight inches deep, so that the corms may not be in touch with it when planted. Set the corms 4-oin deep and twice or thrice their individual diameter apart from each other. In order to have a "clump or bed uniformly furnished the first season from planting it, the corms should be of the same size. All varieties are more or .ess hardy.

Schiyostylis Coccinea.—This plant is often called the autumn ixia, and, iike the tritonia, always rives the best result when lifted and divided every second year. Early" Chrysanthemums.—lf von 'nave nn-r special plants of early flowering chrysanthemums and wish to keep these for stock, it is a good plan to lift the roots and plant them in a cold frame. A very little protection is needed daring winter, but it is not safe to leave them in the borders, as many of them decay during a spell of cold. Viet weather.