IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17740, 17 April 1923, Page 6

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

(SPECIALLI WBITTEH FOB "THI PRESS.")

(Bt J. T. Sinclair.)

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS . A.S.—Gooseberry cuttings should be twelve to fourteen inches long - , and have the thorns and buds removed, except three or four at the tip. Open jl trench six inches deep, placo cuttings sis inches apart along it in an upright position, return soil, and tread firmly. Hie cutting's should be cut off close to a joint. Insert next month, and leave until next year before removing. Suckera are the result of leaving tho lower buds on the cuttings. VEGETABLES. Celery.—At tho time celery usually makes most of its growth, there is an absence! of moisture; the con.seq-uencs of this is that in many gardens tho promise of good sticks is far from rosy. AVhero tho plants have not made as much headway as was exprcted, I advisj readers not to bo in too great a hurry to give their rows the final caithing-up, for after the soil is added, very little further growth need be- looked for. If tho rows aro kept open and well supplied with manure water for another tlirea weeks, much growth will ho made, and ample time still remains to ensure perfectly blanched heads by midwinter. Vacant Ground.—Whore the soil is light, any vacant ground, not going to bo used before spring, should lie thickly sown with turnips or mustard. This can bo chopped up and dug in during spring. Tlio soil will he greatly unproved where this is done. This is called "green" manuring. FLOWERS. Cinerarias.—For the final potting of these, make the compost of three-parts loam, one part leaf-soil, -one part welldecayed manure, and' sufficient sand to keep the whole open. Use six-inch pots unless extra large sp cimnis -are desired when sonic time later tliev will nerd another shift into a size or two larger. Place a, l'ranio in some position where tho sun will not reach it, put some sifted ashes in it, place tho plants in it, arid keep closo for a lew days. Afterwards, admit- air on( all favourable occasions, and protectffrom frost. At tho approach of very severe weather remove to greenhouse. hen tho flower steins show, give liquid manure about every third watering. Carnations.—Hi border carnations were layered as was advised in this column some time- back, they should now bo ready to be severed lrom the parent plant, and in the course of a week or so may be planted where they are to flower. Tho carnation is perfectly hardy, and, given early planting so that roots may, be formed before winter sets in, outdoor treatment all round is bcs.t, as tho plants are hardier and carry more and better flowers. In cold, wet, low-lying situations, tho. young plants can be planted' in nursery rows in' a- raised bea; they can then be planted in their flowering quarters in spring. A raised bed allows more heat to be retained, and lets all unnecessary water get away. A grodbodied soil seems to suit them bo-.t, but lovers of the flower need not hesitate to plant some roots even in inferior soil. Light land can bo improved by being deeply dug and enriched with well-rotted manure. Heavy soil can be improved by tho addition of coarse, saiid and limo rubble. The bed should be in an open position, arid tho plants set a. foot apart, planting them firmly, but not deeply. Care must be taken not to break any more roots than is possible.

Polyanthuses.—The way to get the best results with polyanthus is to plant now in deeply-worked, well-manured soil. Failing manure, add plenty of leaf-soil to! the surface and fork it in. Remember that these plants require moist soil to grow and flower freely. Make the ground moderately firm. Partial shade is wh'at the polyanthus likes. The same treatment suits its near relative the primrose. . ■ Bedding Calceolarias.—The propagation of thes& plants is quite simple, <md is within the resourcos of every amateur. A cold frame is best, if one is available, but a box that can be covered with a sheet of glass will answer equally well. The glass need only bo kept on till roots Are formed and during wet weather. The cuttings should be three or four inches long, cut just below a pair of leaves; the latter and tlie next pair remove, and insert the cuttings in sandy sail, two inches apart all ways. Another way to make the cuttings is to pull them off with ti "heel" attached. All the making they need is the lower leaves removed and the base of the cuttings trimmed. Water well as soon as inserted. As soon as the cuttings prick up, give more ventilation, and afterwards remove th? sash or glass whenever the weather will allow.

Delphiniums; —These are best planted in the autumn, except in low-lying, wet districts, where planting can be deferred until spring. The division of large clumps is also, best performed in spring, when new growths have started, but seedling or year-old plants can now be planted in their permanent quarters. Auriculas. —Plants that were put into nursery rows after they had finished flowering can now bo put where they are to flower. Give the ground a good dressing with rotten cow manure and leaf-mould, and incorporate "them well with the soil. Malce them fairly firm, and give a good watering to settle the soil about the roots. Wallflowers.—Plant these into their flowering position, which should get little wind, but all the winter and spring sun. Make the soil rather firm, and, as the wallflower is a. lime-loving plant, fork in some lime a few days before planting. It does not really matter whether the soil is good or not, as long as it gets lime. No fresh manure of any kind should bo added. Lime and a. favourable position are the two main items. Be careful and lift as much, soil as possible with the plants, and if the bed they are in is dry, give it a soaking the evening beforo moving them, and the soil will have a better chance to .adhere to the roots Fibrous-rooted) Begonias.—Now is the time to put in cuttings for bedding stock. Nice, sturdy side-shoots should bo chosen, and if inserted fairly close together in boxes of light, sandy soil, they will strike very readily in a greenhouse. If so desired',, a few of the best old plants may now be lifted from the beds to flower during winter under glass. Annuals. —Those that were sown last month should be carefully thinned out as soon as they can be handled conveniently. It is not necessary to be severe in the thing, as the weather is sure to thin them more or less during winter. In spring, when they are beginning to grow freely, they can be thinned the proper distance apart. Strck Plants.—When no geranium cuttings were struck, the lifting of geraniums from beds and borders will bo a very necessary duty now. The tops can be cut back fairly hard, and the stoois set closely together in boxes. These can be stood in a greenhouse, frame, or airy shed, where they can Iva protected from frost and wet during winter. The plants must nit get tu-j much water till spring. During winter, sufficient moisture to keep them from flagging is Jill they require.