IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18463, 18 August 1925, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. ; , (SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR "THE PRESS.") ] (Br J. T. Sinclaib.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Clematis—Clematises are gross feeders, and it is necessary to provide them with rich soil when they are first planted. Tho ground ohou!d be deeply trenched, and, if noor, rich loamy soil should bo added with a. liitlo lime of mortar rubble. For the first year after planting water must bo givon frequently in dry weather. VEGETABLES. Beet.—A small sowing of a Globe variety can be put in. "VVliero the soil is heavy sowing can bo deferred for a few weeks, as the plants seldom do well early in the season in cold soil. Parsley.—This talccs a long time to germinate, and should be sown early in fairly firm soil. It makes a good edging along the side of a garden path. The drill should bo about an inch deep, and tho seeds thinly sown. As soon as tho plants are fit to handlo they should be thinned out at least six inches apart. Spinach.—The ground for this should bo well manured if poor. Sow tho seeds in drills an inch deep and one foot apart, and tho plants should bo thinned four to six inches apart when large enough. The hoe should be freely used between tho rows after tho plants appear. Later in tho season when tall peas aro sown, spinach can bo sown botwoen tho rows of peas. Tho shade afforded by tho latter is benelicial during hot. weather, and prevents the spinach from bolting to soed as readily as it does when sown in an open position. Copious waterings must be given when the soil becomes dry. Current Work. —Parsnips should be lifted and stored in somo out-of-the-way corner, putting straw or sacks over them to exclude air. Tomatoes can bo sown to provide plants for setting out about tho end of October. Mint can be propagated by division of the roots, discarding tho old pieces aud planting fresh, young ones in rows one foot ; apart. Ilorse-radish can be planted in deeply-dug soil. Pieces with or without the crowns may bo used; the rows should bo two feet apart and one foot from plant to plant. The crowns of seakalc are on tho move, and must be properly covered to ensure tho growths being properly blanched; if left uncovered much later the flavour will be bitter. Protection either in the way | of wire-netting or strands of cotton, must be afforded such seeds as cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, turnips, and peas, or birds will play havoc, as the plants appear through the ground. Hotbeds.—For the raising of tender annuals and the growing of cucumbers and melons, there aro few things which are better aids to the amateur than hotbeds. Fresh stable manure should be employed. The of leaves makes the heat more gentle and lasting. Tho material must b- turned over several times to prevent it from "firing," and also to allow some of (lie rank gases to escape. The bod should be built firmly and protrude a foot or more beyond the frame. The usual height for a bed made during winter is -ift, but as the season wears on a I less height will do. The l'raine should faco north, and tho Bash should be slightly tilted until the heat h;is sub- | sided to a temperature of SO degrees,

FRUIT. Small Fruit.—lf it can bo managed, give all small fruit bushos a liberal dressing of farmyard manure or decayed vegetable matter; tho latter is of special benefit to raspberries. Tailing manure, some good artificial fertiliser can bei given. Superphosphates and sulphate of potash, two parts of the former and one part of the lattor, well mixed together, and given at the rate of one and a half ounces to each square yard, can bo, applied, and should be lightly forked in. Nitrate of soda can bo given after the fruit has set. Stono Fruit.—Trees of this, especially chorrios and plums, are benefited by a dressing of lime over tho soil. It can be applied at the rate of Boz per square yard over an area equal to or slightly exceeding the spread of the branches.For trained trees it should be spread over tho ground four or five feet from tho trunk all round. It may be lightly forked in or left to sink naturally. Lack of limo at tho roots is often the cause of stone fruit falling prematurely. Black Aphis.—A sharp look-out must be kept for black aphis on peach and nectarine trees trained to walls and fences. The rapidity at which this pest multiplies is alarming, and if tho blossom is still unopen, spray thoroughly with some approved insecticide. FLOWERS. Carnations. —Those who have grown only the ordinary carnation may be inclined to doubt tho possibility of growing carnations in one season to bloom freely. Tho fact remains that this can be done with somo of the sorts now sent out, and although the individual flowers are not so fine as tlioso of the border carnations, they aro nevertheless very useful. Tho annual carnation is treated much in tho same way as any familiar half-hardy annual, sowing them under glass now for blooming in January and February. Tho blooms come in handily after the perennial sorts have finished, and tho colours are singularly rich and varied. Half-llardy Annuals.—Although it is a little early to sow asters, a start should be made with somo of the halfhardy annuals such as salvias. Boxes or pans may bo employed, using a fine, i sandy compost. Make the surface perfectly level, and sow tho seeds thinly; lay a sheet of glass over the box, and shade until the seedlings appear. Water must be given sparingly, or tho plants will damp off wholesale. Bedding Geraniums.—Those that were wintered in boxes can now be potted into small pots. The compost should contain a good proportion' of leaf soil and sand. Manure in any form should not be used, as a stocky rather than a strong growth, is desired. Begonias and Gloxinias.—ln warm greenhouses theso may be started in boxes of leaf soil or snndv loam, the tuliers being simply placed on the surface. They should be kept slightly moist, but not wet. When rooted they can be pot led singly inlo medium-size" pots. i'hysantheinums.—As snnn as tl; ■ cuttings show signs of being mote !. take them out <if the propagatin;, frames, standing the pots on a .she near the glass. When the roots roach th. side of 1 lie pots, put eac h cutting ;i; more than one cutting was put in' the rooting p"t, into a separate pot, select jpg u hOiall mze to start, with, anil u.sin; 'a similar compost to I hat recommends; for the cuttings. Shading should be afforded for a few days.