IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17297, 8 November 1921, Page 5

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. 1 (tnOUIXT TTBITTIH TOR "iHI rMVB.") I (Bt J. T. SractAra.) ] ANSWEBS TO CORRESPONDENTS. ] Amateur.—Tour reference to brown Wight ' being on parsnips is not very clear. At J this season only the leaves could be aft fscted. If it is an aphis (greenfly) attack, j spray with any approved insecticide. It -j you refer to marks found on the roote when lifted in winter, this is caused by wir* worms, grass grubs, and other soil < pests. This can only be combated by us- 1 ing a soil fumigant, or by growing the 1 crop on fresh ground each season. t KJis-The blue colour of hydrangea bushes { is not constant, and plants that have j formerly produced blue flowers will sometimes subsequently only produce pink flowers when they arc transplanted to different soils. The presence of iron in the soil helps the blue colour, and a few pounds of iron filings worked into the soil will, therefore, be advisable. Water- < ing with sulphate of iron from now _ until the plant flowers will have much * the flame effect. - ' 1 G.F.—The summer treatment of plants in hang- 6 ing baskets is simple, and consjsta main- c ly in keeping them supplied with water. Being exposed to the air and wind on , all sides, evaporation is rapid. As ft « rule, it is best to take them down when I they want this attention, ea the splaaa r from the dropping water is considerable, q and not always convenient. If found to be distinctly dry, immersion in a tub * for twenty minutes is the best form of « watering* 5 VEGETABLES. I Maize (Indian. Corn).—Green corn is „ not generally cultivated in the South. Island as a vegetable, although it is r considered by many a great delicacy. It Jjj does not do well in cold ground, nor does g it produce many heads wfeen the soil is s over rich. Heat and moisture are necea- o sary to get good heads. A few seeds n can be planted two inches deep at two ° feet intervals, and when the plants or© w well up, the strongest can be left at g] each station. u Turnips. —Frequent sowing of tnrnips a; can be made in a partially shaded position during the next two months. The si sowings should be made, if possible, ci during showery weather. Snowball and " Early White Stone are two of the best g kinds for Bummer use. During hot, &

dry weather water in abundance must be given or the roots will be stringy and devoid of flavour. Mulching.—The application ol mulches of some kind or another "to the various kinds of vegetables is of the utmost importance, and wherever possible, their use should be largely extended. Mulches not only act as stimulants, but also conserve the moisture in the soil being equally beneficial on all kinds of soil. For strong-growing crops, suoh as peas and beans of various k'nds, Inalf-decayed stable manure, or even long litter, is perhaps preferable to anything else. General Remarks. —Attend to the staking of peas as soon as they are fit. Keep a sharp look-out on the broadbean crop for olack fly, spray with some insecticide, and pinch the points out of the stems. Give frequent dressings of soot to such crop&iaa carrots and onions, weed the latter between the plants before the weeds get large, as some of the tender roots of the onions get disturbed when removing large weds. Give a dusting of lime to all the cabbage family; also turnips--7LOWEBS. J>ahlias, —Plants raised from cuttings can now be put out, and should-be planted from three to four feet apart. They can be protected for a week or so yet by an inverted flower-pot placed over them at night. Carnations. —Hhe plants in the borders should he staked and tied when the growths are long enough. To promote growth the ground should be frequently stirred with the hoe, and to prevent greenfly the plants can be dusted occasionally witJh soot. Wirewonns can be trapped by inserting carrots a few inches below the surface. The carrots must be examined two or three) times a week. Mark their position by means of stakes. Window-boxes. —Last week a lady reader asked for details as regards window-box gardening. We give these now. People who have little or no garden will find a great deal of pleasure in growing a few plants in boxes on the window sills. The box must be made to fit the window sill, packing it on the underneath of the front side, so as to throw it level. It can be just as wide, and as long as the sill itself, but should not be more than nine or ten inches deep, or it will have a clumsy appearance. Several holes should be made in the bottom, about the size of a shilling, so tlhat the whole will bo efficiently drained. In the matter of painting it is bad policy to economise. Three good coats of paint should be given, finishing off with a glossy dark green.

it 'Now get some old mortar rubble. y broken stones, and broken flower-pots, and place a layer of these at the botif torn, flay, an inch thick. This drain--0 age material is just as important as e, the soil, although I am afraid man; i- may not thank so. After this put :- over the rubble soma stout pieces of i- turf, grass downwards. These prevent n the fine soil being washed down amongst II the rubble, and uhus choking t&e i, drainage. I mention these simple detj tails 'because they count in the end a. very decidedly. The box is now ready ■- for the general compost. Ordinary garden soil alone will not e do. What is needed is some nice i. fibrous loam, suob as turves, being . placed on top. of one another and af--9 lowed to Btand for several months. ,f gome such loam should be mixed with f I leaf-mould, with a very little welldecayed manure, and some sand. This 1 is a compost similar to that used for ; potting plants in, and will grow good !_ plants in boxes. Failing stocked 9 turves, one can get soil by paring off a the grass thinly from some fresh turves.- Immediately under this you will find a soil full of the fibres of the grass roots, and although this soil is not quite so good as decayed turf, it it much better than the effete garden 3 soil. By the way, some old mortar is a a very good thing to mix with the . general compost, especially with the r fresh soil mentioned. i After breaking the whole down fairly fine, and. mixing well together, you can fill your box, and it will be ready ". for planting. Artificial manures you 1 * do not need, nor a great deal „of farm- * J yard manure. Many people iuake pot- " | ting soil too rich, and their plants * sicken and die, the roots are, in fact, ' | poisoned. -Plain, wholesome soil is as 3 necessary to the young plant as plain, i wholesome food la necessary to the *' growing child, and I wish that amateur } gardeners would bear that in mind. ' j Geraniums and fuchsias are two of r j the best subjects for window garden- ' ing, but zinnias, heliotropes, phlox ■ drummondii, begonias, lobelias, petu- ' nias, and dwarf nasturtiums, are all > ; suitable kinds of plants for window- ' boxes. A box full of pink ivy-leaved 1 geraniums, with an odd fuchsia, has a ' splendid effect, and gives plenty of 1 flowers all the season. ' lam afraid, in planting, many peo- ' pie will have in mind the size of the plants at planting time, and will plant so that the box will not have a "thin" appearance. This is rather a mistake, however, and an eye should be kept on the future more, and planting done according to the size to which the plants will attain. "Window-boxes, as a rule, do not receive much benefit from rain, and for that reason must not be | neglected as regards water.