IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16959, 7 October 1920, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. (speclu.it wt.itten Km "ths tress.") (Bt J. T. Sinclair.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J.C.—Tho tomato succeeds admirably in a cold frame. i£ trained on bamboo or any • other kind' of rod parallel with tho jr'aas, a. toot underneath it, from back to front. A sis-fooHwo sash frame will accomTnodate twelve plants, sis at back and six at front, »nd wiL produc* a profit- , able crop. Of course, all the laterals •must be" rubbed off oo je usually done when the plants uto grown in. a- .e Te ? Rhouse, also -watering and ventilating mu9t be seen, to. VEGETABIJ3S. Peas.—The season of the year has arrived when there is no further need for sowing peas in a sheltered position, as tho main crop varieties arc all the better for having an open part of tho garden set aside for them to grow in. As in the usual course of things dry ■weather is to he expected at the time when these aro filling tJheir pods, the site on which they are grown ought to be one which has been deeply trenched and well manured; if this was done some time ago, so much tSio better. The deeper the roots can run, the less likely are the plants to suffer for the want of moisture. No delay should take place in making a fairly tree sow- | ing to come in in succession to those just showing through the ground. j Carrots. —The preparation of the ground is perhaps the most important detail in relation to successful culture of the carrot. The site should bo on open one, and if the plot has not been too heavily manured tno past year, and especially with farmyard manure, there is a good chance to get clean and evert roots of tiho highest quality; Trenching shoiild always be done for a vegetable of this description, taking special care not to bring up any crude subsoil to the surface. If the surface is »t ail moist and lumpy, it should be forked over a day or so prior to raking down for sowing the seed. Shallow drills should be drawn, at least a foot apart, and ■ tho seed scattered thinly along these. As soon as it is safe to do so, tho seedlings should be thinned out in the drills, leaving them sufficiently close to allow for the young roots to bo pulled as required. The hoe should be constantly used, and soot frequently applied; the latter will act as a fertiliser, and at the same time keep greenfly off.

Brussels Sprouts.—Allowing due modification for various soils and situations, it may be pointed out that Brussels sprouts need a long time for growing if tho best type of buttons arc to bo seen, in their season. Scrymger's, Dalkeith, .and Matchless aro tho three sorts which aro suro to bo in demand. Where a nice clear border is available, a sowing may be made this week. With this vegetable in particular, the seed should be distributed thinly, as when once tlho plants have induced a lanky habit through overcrowding they seldom grow sturdily, even with tho best soil and attention. If the seedlings come up thickly, it is wise tp thin them out generously while they are still small. FRUIT. Vines.—Tho young shoots are growing fast, and when the bunch shows plainly, pinch the point out of tho shoots flhrco leaves beyond it. Leavo only one shoot to each spur, and one. bunch to each shoot. When tying tfco shoots down to.the wires, tho greatest care must be taken not to pull them down far at one time, or many of • tlhem will break off where they issue, from the spur. The safest plan is to draw them down a. little at a time every other day, or at least twice a week. When the growths get tougher, they can be tied in any position. FLOWERS. Annuals for Vases.— There arc many annuals which, while being fine for decorating the garden, aro of special service in a cut state for vases. The coreopsis is a beautiful annual for decoration, being particularly pleasing whoa arrayed with grasses, and is pretty when grouped by itself. Alonsoa Warscewiczi Compacta is another useful annual for cutting. The Itodanthe, in variety, is another instance. This, although often classed as a tender annual, may bo raised and flowered on a warni border, being serviceable whilo in a fresh state, also later on, when dried, as everlastings. The cornflowers aro' well known, being obtainable in a cut state with a good length of footstalk, and lasting long in a fresh condition. Another fine

annua? is the Sweet Sultan; the yellow form is most grown, but the white and purple kinds are- also very useful, and all.of them may be used in combination. Bartonia aurea has elegant foliage, as well as beautiful flowers, which last fresh * a long time. Tho white spiral candytuft is very pure in colour, being excellent for arranging with flowors which afford a contrast. The swtKt peas arc the most largely grown of all tho annuals, aud provide the most ex-' cellent material for vases; there are many shades of colour, and these flowers look well arranged with their own foliage, or with gypscphiia. There is an annual form of the ' last-named plant, which is useful in many ways. The varieties of chrysanthemum tri-colour are very effective, and although they look rather heavy upon tho plants, the individual flowers are exceedingly pretty. Nemophila insignis is beautiful for decoration, especially when arranged with grasses. Sweet scabious, phlox drummondi, zinnias, and asters aro all use-

ful in their season, and do net require any reconimendatfcn. The perfume from marigolds and stocks is rather against their being used much in a cut state.

Dahlias.—lt is -now time the tubers were out, for they suftVr and shrivel more and more as the season advances

if they are not put out in the garden. Moreover, they do not commence to I grow, at least, do not show.much above tho ground, until after frost has gone. If they do, it is an easy matter to place an inverted flower-pot over thc-ru , on cnld nights, thus preserving them from harm. I daresay the reason why so many dahlias are .used to fill up gai>s is liecause of their easy culture", and perhaps there are few things which would answer the purpose so well. In utilising the dahlias thus, however, we do not get the best out of the plants, and some are consequently apt to think thehi but -poor things. ( Few grow tbem to tho fullest advantage, and the wonder is that they have become so popular. I expect one reason is because they do "fill up gaps," and another, because the flowers come in useful, especially for decorative purposes, both indoors and out. ' The ne"eds of the plants are summed up in a few words. They love a deep and rich soil, and, being "gross feeders, plenty of manure should be incorporated with the soil. Having, selected the site, dig out a hole, a foot deep, afld two feet wide, forking up the bottom soil deeply, and then mixing with it plenty of well-decayed stable manure. Make firm, and add a little moro soil, so that when the tuber is placed thereon, and covered with about two inches of soil, the depression is "some two inches below the level of tho surrounding ground. Thus is provided ample food, a free rooty area, and also provision for convenience of watering during hot weather, an important item in dahlia culture. It is best to drive a stout stake deeply into the ground near the centre of the hole before the tuber is placed in position. If this is done, there will bo no danger of damage being caused by* driving in a stake after i tho tuber is planted, A