IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17728, 3 April 1923, Page 5

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK (sfzcullt -WBirrzir job "tub pbess.")

(Bl J. T. SINCLAIB.)

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. K.M.D.—Your treatment of the palm is i° general correct, but from now tul August soaiungs or watering may bo ie<w frequent, but much neoe?aiiiily depends on the temperature of the room; fire heat and gaa dry tho soil very much. lepid water is correct. Snft-soip 13 caustic, and rather dangerous for plant sponging; ordinary yellow i3 preferable. The browning may be due to mechanical damage when sponging, to the use of B»ft-3oap, or to co:d draughts, but with the best of caro it ja not always possible to avoid them in the. case of plants whose leaves rcinnin tho length of time tlioso of palms do. Scotch Thistle.—You can sew the aster seed in spring and sat tho plants out as soon as tt; they need no spouial treatment except lining and dividing every second year. Cydtetnen should be rested after flowering, and potted afresh ever)- year. Liquid manure twice weakly is suiEeient. There are not many peicnni.il spring flowering border plants, polyanthuses, arauis, and a few others are often grown. Violas and wallflowers are usually grown instead. Agapanthus need no special treatment other than mulching and copious supplies of water during summer. Rhubarb need not be lifted and eaposed to frost unless going to be forced. Early Albert is about the best early. Arum roots can bo divided now. Iris Krompfcri can be planted now or in spring. The mulch was quite good. ' ft— VEGETABLES.

Marrows and Pumpkins —The foliage of these is very tender, and does not offer any protection to the fruit from frost; this being so, the ripe fruit cm be cut off and stored. Any that are unripe can Be used up first, aa they will not keep. Cabbage and Cauliflower—The latter part of this month is the best time for setting out plants of these to cut early next season. The ground should be prepared as soon as possible, so that it can settle a little before the plants are set out. The necessity of allowing the soil to consolidate after it is dry cannot be too strongly emphasised. The ground which has been occupied by onions forms an ideal spot for cabbage and cauliflowers, and should be deeply dug and well enriched with farmyard manure. Should the ground be a little crop-sick, give ground lime at the rate of 201b to the perch. There is nothing better than lime whon soil is a little sour. Tomatoes.—Unless some protection, is afforded, it stff e to leave any fruit approaching ripeness or turning colour. The fruit will ripen quite well if taken from the plants and stored in some airy place. Garden Refuse—At this season of the year all refuse that will ferment, sueh as leaves, pea and bean haulms, old flower plants, and soon 4 makes valuable manure if thrown nnto a heap and turned now and again. There is a considerable falling off in the supply of farmyard manure, but garden refuse makes a splendid substitute, as it supplies humus as well as plant food. Stumps of the cabbage family should be burnt, as they .often are harbours for inseet pests. Lettuces —Continue to plant out young plants, as they attain the required size for handling, to procure a long and continuous supply during a time when such things are apt to be scarce. The transplanted plants will come in later than those left in the seed-bed. Late lettuces grow verywell by the base of a. wooden fence facing north, if the surface of the soil is stirred up with the digging fork, adding at the same time some fresh material, such as wood ashes mixed with a'few spadefuls of soil from some of the garden plots, so long as it is fresh to the young lettuce plants.

FRUIT. Fruit Gathering—This as an important item in this month's work, and the gathering at the right time is also a very important matter. It is not wise to gather all the fruit off one tree'at one time, unless all are ready, as many fruits set later than others. on the same tree. Fruit should never be forcibly pulled away from the tree. When gathered too early, apples in particular shrivel badly. A good test of proper maturity for harvesting is the raising of a specimen from the perpendicular to the horizontal position; if it readily parts from the branch, the fruit is fit to gather. The requirements for the proper storage of apples and pears are not the same. Apples require to be kept cool, and a slightly moist atmosphere does no harm if there is enough ventilation to prevent saturation. Pears need dry surroundings, but even under the most favourable' conditions they will not keep long. Apples sweat immediately they are stored, and continuo to do so for some time. When this is taking place it is well to have" a current of air round them, which should not be too dry, or they will begin to shrivel.

FLOWERS., Pampas Grass—This has long been a great favourite with'amateur garden .rs, as it haa such a beautiful eflcct when planted either inTTie flower birder or as a specimen in the middle of grass pint. It associates excedinJy well with large-floworing herbaceous plants in borders of a large size, or it can be planted amongst shrubs, and in either p,-sition it always seams to be perfectly in keeping. It does not come into bloom until late in the season, but, nevertheless, its long, thin kavi's have a very pleasing effect, and n<l«i lightness to the surroundings in which they grow. Hci- t its great value, even although it dees nut flower until (ate in the season. When the silver plumes of its feathery flower-heads come in full glory, it then certainly becomes a very prominent feature in one's garden. Provided the flower-heads are cut early_ enough in the season, it is quit© possible to keep them as decorative objects for a long time throughout the winter and spring. Care, however, lv.is to lie taken to cut these before they become ripe, otherwise they will soon fall to pieces and make considerable meis about the rooms where they are used. If cut within a week or so after they are oome full out they are then likely to remain in a go<:d condition, if pi :ood in a dry room, throughout the winter. * . Gloxinias. —Whin these plants 6how signs of maturing, water at* the roots must be gradually withheld, and in a while the. pots may be turned on thoir sides. "When thoroughly dried off, thd tubers may be removed and stored in a dry «.nd cosy place till spring. Begonias.—Bsfore long those plants will show signs of becoming dormant, and when this takes place it is a mistake to water fre.-ly. When too much water ia given as the foliage is turning yellow, the tubers will probably decay after they are stored for the winter. Plants bedded out nesd not be interfered with until the tops are damaged by frcst, after which they must ba lifted! with Sjißjei soil about the roots and placed in a "warm, airv shed to dry off. Very little water need be given. When the sterns part easily from the tubers, the latter should be cleaned and stored in boxes of dry sand. Thj> sand, of com-sp, must be kept dry all winter. Bedding P':ants.— geraniums that, were struck in the open border should now Jv boxed up, first taking off any flower spikes showing and all decayed cr yellow leaves, and then plrcod under cover. Tender subjects, such as

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heliotrope, that were inserted for stock must be made s.vfo from frost. ?*o tender things axe safe out of dcors after 1 ihis date. ' Canterbury Bells.—These should be planted in their flowering position without further delay. IHg the ground well, and plant fairly firm. Whether p'anted in beds or singly or in groups thev alwavs look effective If planted in rows, make the rows eighteen inches apart and one foot between the plants. Antirrhinum;.—When sown from seed these sometimes vary in odour, but any choice varietv ean bo propagated from cuttings now. The best cuttings are those from the Vise of the plr.nts. Insert thorn in shallow boxes tilled with, sandy soil, and shade from bright sunshine. Fe sure each cutting is made firm lit the base. Stand the boxes in a cdlc! frame. After roots have been emitted ventilation must be given on every favourable opportunity./