IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 2 June 1925, Page 5

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. (SPECIALLY W2ITTZK FOB "THE PK2BS.") (BT J. T. SIXCLAEE.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 06nal.—The geraniums that hftve been making your greenhouse gay for some lime past, but have now finished flowering, should only be ■watered when water ia really necessary. Hore geraniums are killed during winter by over-watering than from any other cause. Ivy Leaf.—Burn the ivy and cabbage tree leaves, they then mrJke potash manure. Propagate the hydrangea from cuttings. .Azujens and rhododendrons can bo propagated by cuttings of firm shoots placed in sandv peat r.nd covered with a b«ll glass. They nra easiest and surest propagated by layering. . Chrysanthemum.—We shall deal with the treatment of chrysanthemum cuttings in this column in due coarse.

VEGETABLES. Seakale.—lf more stock is wanted next year novf is the time to prepare the cuttings or thongs. When crowns are lifted for blanching, the small roots should be trimmed off, and the crowns heeled in so that they can get a rest before being introduced into heat. Pieces of the young roots, about the thickness of the little finger, should be trimmed off abbtit six inches long, cutting the top straight across and the bottom slantwise. They can then be tied in bundles and laid in a cool corner till spring. The bundles should be completely covered over, so that the tops do not become unduly dry. By spring the tops will be calloused over and small roots will be emitted down tho cuttings. Lettuce.—A sowing to provide plants to set out in spring can be made in a frame'now. The soil should be made fine and moderately firm, and the sash can be kept closed until the seed-leaves appear, after which air can be admitted as often as possible to prevent the plants becoming weak and lanky. The seed can be sown in a box, if other subjects are frame. If a box is used, a sheet of glass can be laid over it, and removed when germination takes place.

Turnips.—The bulbs of late-sown turnips which have not developed very far can be covered over with lodse soli, so as to protect them during winter. A slight dusting of soot will do the plants good, and help to ward off inserts. Smother Fire. —t)ne of the safest and best forms of -potassic mdnure is vegetable ash. It "is said that from a ton of garden rubbish one may obtain ■enough to fertilise a quarter of an. acre plot intended for' potatoes. The moral is obvious. All garden waste, hedge trimmings, old pea sticks, and the like, are worth burning now, and the ash disposed as circumstances permit on any part of the garden, and especially' on next year's onion attd potato bods and pea plots, or around ffuit trees and bushes. In first starting the lire the aim should b6 to get a body of red-hot embers. Then, after adding other fuel, press it well down, and either give a coating of damp weeds of leaves. Many of the garden pefits have a nasty habit of hibernating in odd corners of the garden during winter,' and come forth again in spring. By burning rubbish, not only is a Valuable manure made, but many insects whieh have made tlieir nests therein are destroyed. Smother fires should always be prevented from flaring up by throwing earth ovef thetii, aild if the earth • be of a clayey nature the fire 'will make' it into a wore -workable condition.

FRUIT. The Aprigot.: —Wliert well grown, thifc 'is one of the most delicious of fruits, Which many amateurs delight in producj iug. It has a very capricious character, ill some districts thriving successfully, in others giving a good deal of trouble. It often dees well upon a limestone soil, i but grows well in other soils, but no doubt, a little lime is helpful, The principal difficulties to be avoided are cold, heavy fioils, unduly rich soils; planting too deeply in sunless spots, wounding the bark while working at the tree so as to cause gumming, and late frosts. One of the disadvantages of this fruit lies in the fact that it floworfl very early. It should be planted in a somewhat sheltered position, where some protection from frost can be afforded. When grown 011 walls or fences it is not a difficult matter to cover the trees while, /in flower with scrim or some such material. One of the most amazing troubles with the trees is the sudden dying of the branches in spring and summer—it may be a branch or two or half tree; old and ypung are subject to the fatality, and it is difficult to suggest a remedy, but this seldom occurs when the soil is well broken up at planting time. The apricot is mainly a spur bearer, and, when in bearing condition, needs little pruning unless growth is very vigorous. Most of the pruning should be done when the foliage is on, as there is less risk of gumming than at ally other timo. Strong growths not wanted for extension can be shortened back; the cuts should have a smdotli edge, s6 that they may heal over as soon aS possible.

Tho Peach. —Most of tlie trouble othef than aphis and fungus on the foliage arises from the trees being packed into a loose, hungry soil, which hhs had no proper preparation; on the other hand, there are some who think they are doing the correct thing by making the root run very rich. Now the loose soil hinders the fibrous roots fi'ofli acting, because of the sun and heat, Which draw out all the moisture at the season the trees' most need it. The ovor-stimulated soil produces a mass of strong growth which can never ripen properly in autumn, bnd, although blossoms may be produced in spring, they often drop off and leave nO healthy fruit. It fflusrt be admitted that in some springs, eVen although the wood is well ripened and the flowers numerous, a sharp frost will do damage no oho can prevent. This being so, the position chosen should have some degree of protection. The fruit is mostly produced on the shoots of the previous year's growth, so that the shoots produced the first year after planting will bear a number of flower bhds as well as buds from which the shoots grow. No fruit should be allowed the first season; a few can be left on the second season, more the third, and a full crop afterwards. Pruning consists in cutting out shoots that have borne fruit,' leaving a fair amount of young growth which Will bear fruit next season. When overcrowded, some of the young shoOts wili require thinning, either by cutting them out altogether Or shortening, them back to six inches. The Nectarine. —The cultivation that suits the peach suits the nectarine, which is really a smooth-skinned peach, and although we recognise the two fruits as distinct kinds, it is sometimes possible to obtain nectarines and peaches from one and the same tree. Further, tine may raise a peach from a nectarine stofir* « ■ S3? * i