IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. (sPKcuiiT ynaass »B,"na ***»•"> (Bi J. T. Sinciaib.) ANSWERS TO OORRESPONDENTa ■Roa^or—The solid centres to celery 1b ittchecks to growth into early stages. It m«y be the see* K»« setting, dry end flagging, once _or tS£ whileTn boxes or bein* overcrowd \r ed wid exhausting.the soil before being pricked off. Your course of .treatment > seems correct, and it must be in some little detail as above where the shp was made, or perhaps you sowed the ee*d, too eax'y. The beginning of September is soon enough. VEGETABLES. Cauliflowers. —Autumn cauliflowers are not always entirely satisfactory. Sometimes an early frost will destroy many of. the "flowers," just as they become ready," and sometimes a few days' rain will ruin the same. Again, often a lot of the plants "turn in" at the same time, and they cannot be used before they spoil. If we can overcome these difficulties we can prolong the supply for a few days, and often until another, batch is ready. As soon as the plants commence to "heart up" or "flower" turn one of the larger leaves right aver this "flower," not close down just partly break it, and it will turn off the rains and frosts. Another method is to take up a whole piant as it approaches maturity. Dig it up by the roots carefully, carry into a dark shed, and hang from the ceiling,-root upward and the head hanging down. •°- e . re very little further growth wul take place, and the "flowers" will keep in iresh condition for days. FETJIT. Strawberries.—The soil between the plants should be occasionally disturbed with the hoe; at the same time remove all runners. Old plantations may bo improved by watering with diluted liquid manure. Should there be drv weather of any considerable time young plantations must be watered occasionally. So far this season has been verv favourable. Runners intended to be planted this autumn should, if they have made sufficient roots, be severed from the parent plant. This prevents a severe check when they are lifted. FLOWERS. Bedding Plants.—As frosts sufficiently severe to injure and destroy the beauty of the tender plants used in the summer's embellishment of beds and borc& <?rs may be expected at any time, preparations should be made for the lifting and storing of those it is intended to winter either for producing spring stock or for planting out again another season by getting ready a general compost of a fairly light nature, placing it under cover, and halving boxes or pots in readiness. Geraniums should be cut back, stripped of most of their leaves, and boxed up thickly. They wiU supply a quantity of spring cuttings,, and old plants usually bloom more ireely in the early part of the summer than either autumn or spring stock cuttings. It will be useless to lift and pot up tender soft-. wooded plants such as heliotropes, iresines and similar things, if sufficient cuttings were : inserted and rooted as suggested several weeks ago, but should the probability of a shortage occur, make sure of ample stock by carefully lilting and potting up strong healthy plants or whatever there is a doubt about. Spring Flowers.—When summer bedding plants continue to. present, a bright appearance there is a temptation to allow them to remain in the beds for an indefinite period, but it uifust -be rememberei that unless spring flowering plants are put into the beds, sufficiently early to become well established before severe frosts occur, there is great danger of a large percentage of them dying. Therefore it is imperative to make a start with spring bedding at once. If circumstances permit let the beds be manured liberally when digging them, as this will save the need for applying manure in tho summer, when -work is more pressing. Plants which may be put out now include wallflowers (this needs lime only), forgetmenots, polyanthus, aubrietia, double and singe arabis, alyssum, Canterbury bells, violas, and pansies. It is important that the ground be in a proper condition for planting, to allow the plants to bo set firmly as a protection against wind and frost. Mixed beds and borders are popular nowadays, and there is nothing more suitable this system of planting than spring flowers. Salvia Fateus—This species with its pretty blue colour, is one of the choicer of the bedding salvias: but, unfortunately, many of the plants die during the winter. The tubers,.which are not unlike those of the dahlia, should be lifted and placed together closely in ' boxes filled with sifted soil. The soil should be made fairly firm, and shouldbe neither wet nor dry. Place the boxes in a frost-proof shed for the winter, and keep them quite dry. Sweet Peas—lf flowers are wanted about the end of November, seeds should be sown now. A trench about eighteen inches wide, and about the 6ame in depth, can be taken out. A good layar of cow or sheep manure should be placed in the bottom.. This will provide ample food for the plants when they most require it. The best top soil should then be put in, and the whole made moderately firm by treading. Some wood ashes mixed with the top soil are helpful. Sow thinly, and cover with fine soil. Slugs are, a source of trouble during winter, And ■for this reason some growers rely to a great extent upon plants sown in pota or boxes, and wintered in a cold frame. If sown this month the plants make root enough to ensure them growing steadily through the winter, whidb. is essential,

as it is not the first shoot tU.* that is relied upon to jS! bloom, but rather the jw growths, which should brealr« about ground level. The ]jJr of all are obtained by, sowing seeds in three- inch, pcV yffijS* * stood closely together, t&OMfcllJ air and light must reach t&3 Plenty of fresh air at aUtigSjj! tial, and proteotioa must b»4 for against severe frosts ,JJ rains. When the trail of »W3 the- insects niust be huhteM caught, as they can d 0 a mj? damage in a comparatively aJ Calceolarias—Tho i& still one of our most dmg plants, both the yeUotS brown varieties being very lis ployed. Although early -iwjj from cuttings is not dewnUj case of calceolarias, no timejS be lost in getting as manyvg required. The reasoa"J«B early propagation is noils is because plants re&oltu! early inserted become too large 'tbiPS spring before it is possibles them out of doors. Sturdy sW, which have not borne Howatai best for propagating purpose cuttings may be either or in a bod made up in a co!ji The -soil must be made firm tt| of each. Water well in, and'A light over the framntbis M close and ..shaded. When ft» fresh appearance admit air. until they have emitted rootjf the soil moist, and when grtrrf mences to be freely made, pi the tops to promote bushine*