IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20366, 13 October 1931, Page 5

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOB THE WEEK. (SPICIALWr WRITTEN JOB, THE fKESS.) (.By J'. T. SixcLAin. | ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. It.G.W. —The best thing you can do is to apply to some society which grows pmo trees, such as the Selwyn Plantation Board. Most of, the nurserymen grow young pine trees. You can approach them also. Wannate —To get your broccoli to come to anything they -will have to be grown Without a check. Broccoli seed can be gown now, and the plants Will bo ready to set out by Ghristhiftß. Your last sowing must have befeh made while tho soil was dry, that would account for the seed taking so long to germinate. Set the plants out 1 now, two feet Asunder, nnd do ndt allow theni to suffer for the want oi water, or the rcgilKs will not be good. ' VEGETABLES. Broccoli. —This should be recognised as a Very important crop, and, owing tu the fact that improvements have resulted in tho production of admirable strains, a clop should always bo provided for. The hardiness of the broccoli constitution, which in tlio past was associated witli a plant of coarser habit, has now been combined with the delicacy of cauliflowers. r Wie selfprotectiug character of the ioliage, induced by careful and patient work in developing the strains. haß done liiucli. of course, in securing this tenderness and delicacy. A small sowing can be made now, and other at the eild t>i ilie month Savoys.—l'hose who value-large savoys must bo careful to give them a long season of growth so seeds should be put in now to supply plants for cutting in tho autumn. A further sowing can be made next month ,to provide plants for winter Use, and a succes■siohal sowing Can be put in in December, which Will give plants that will come in useful next spring. Potatoes—Some of the early planted potatoes will soon be breaking through, and c.aro must bo taken to guard Against possible clam ago by frost. Sdme brushwood, litter, branches of evergreens, or old sacks should b«i held in readiness and Used as a protective covering whenever thel'e is a possibility of frost. Potatoes are more susceptible to frost than most vegetables. Runner Beans. —It is not exaggeration to say that no vegetable is more toiofitable to grow thali the runner i>ean, and few. if any, will produce a larger amount of food on 'a given space of ground. Of course to get the plants to do so, they must be well treated. It is Wfcll knoWn that the riihner bean is not hardy, and does not germinate t»ell in a cold soil. Thiti being so, the time for sowing the seed nittst, to a great extent, depend upOh the locality attd situation of the garden. The plant a native of a warm climate, and the growths are blackened by a sliglvtfrost, jKet in mild winters the Yoots will remain quite fresh in light loam, and Ibi'eak forth afresh in warm weather, the bfesfc time for Sowing, according tfa locality, is from the middle of October to the end of November. To get the best results, it is ncceswtry that the ground should be liberally treated and broken up at least tWo. feet deep. In rich soil the seeds heed not be set. closer than six inches, tf set in double rows tbgethei', have the rows a foot apart, and the seeds at least nine inches apart. If possible, tlte piece of ground selected for this tifop should be handy to an abundant Phpply of water, as riothirlg causes the flbwers to drop off so much as drought at the roots.

Stout supports must- be yncii as eooil afe the plants assume the climbing attitude. It can be readily understood that plants of this description, WhS|n bearing A heavy otop of pods, Will need a _ strong support, otherwise wet and wind will play, havoc. When growth has reached the desired height, the points of the shoots can. be pinched out. All pods that are ready should be gathered .Severn] times a week. and liberal supplies of water and liquid manure given to keep the plants in good health and bearing condition > When the surface of the drills is kepf, a little lower tlurfi the surrounding level, Water is easily i\pphVrl. FIIUIT. Codlin Moth.—-As soon as the petals fall from apple and pear trees, the small fruit should be coatetf with (some arsenical spray.. The usual solution is arsfeilate of lead; this can bp combined With either Bordeaux mixture or to combat black spot. Several other sprayings intervals of about three Weeks ate necessary to keep the fl'iiit free ffoftl codlin moth. The grub often enters the fruit at the calyx. and for that reason the spray Should be' forced into the 'eye of the fruits. If spraying is delayed tbo long, the lobes close over the hollow ana the poisiM cannot enter, and tiny Stubs from eggs deposited there come to no hftrfn from the spray. FLOWERS. Chrysanthemums.—During the next week or two the plantß in seven-inch pots should be i'eady foi'' a shift into the six-inch size. The coiftpost for this potting cab be made Up *of two-thirds loam (not broken up too fine), onethird leafsoil and well-lotted stable manure, one sixth part sand and wood ashes, and a dusting of soot and bonedust. The pots should be cleah, particularly inside. Give at least half an inch of drainage. Oyer the drainage place a layer of turfy loam and put a handful Of fihet soil over thiß for the roots to rest upon. Pot firmly and keep the old ball an inch below the rim of the pot. Put hall 1 an inch of the new soil over the bid ball to allow the Water to soak equally through. If the old ball is kept too high, it is liable to get too dry, as water passes more readily through hew soil. If the plants were watered an hour or bo before pdtting they Will not require liiol'e water for a few days, but Will .be all the better if given a sprinkling overhead about twice a day, stand them back in the cold frame and give a Stake m soon as one is needed, when frost has gone, place the plants ill a sUnny position and do not allow them to become too dty; at the same time be Sure they are" not oVer-watered bi' the soil will become sOUr and growth lie checked. Violets.—The flowering season is about over once more and planting time has come. When the borders have been planted three years it is best to lift and replant. Old plants should be done away with, as they do hot flower as well as young stock, If runners have hot already been secured) take from the old plants all the best of the youjig rooted runners. If planting is to take place ih the same plot, trench it at least two feet deep. If the sufrdoil is not good enough to bring to the surface, break it up well and leave it m the same place. Work into the soil, if it bo light, any well-rotted manure Or decayed vegetable rubbish that is at hand. A dressing of .bouemea! is helpful, as, it is slow-acting and, long-last-ing. Tread the soil well doWn and f&kfe it tidy. If soot can be obtained* a ? ood gating and hoe it in. PiaM firmly, and if dry weather comes Befdre tne # roots have a go6d grip df the sou gtw tlu bordor i of

clear Mater now and again. l?lants that are not going to be dug up this seasofl should, nave all the old leaves and useless suckers cut away. Some bonemeal can be worked into the soil by me&tts of the hoe. To prevent the attack of red spider tile foliage ca)i be sprayed several times during the season with lime-sulphur or atomised sttlphur solution* Throughout the summer keep the plants clean and well wateted, a? that is the period whefi their eofi&tJfcttfcidi i& improved or topaired. •