IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20862, 23 May 1933, Page 6

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK. (spEcuiii warrrEH ro* tine rs»ss.)

[By J. T. SINCLAIR.!

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. LHium. —It -will not harm your lilium auratum bulb to toko away the small bulbs. As the bulbs are beginning to become crov/ded it is the correct thins: to do. Beplant them at once, as lily bulbs do not like to be exposed to air. Avoa»ide.~^ , obaeco wash is a good insecticide against aphis. It is made by boiling lib strong tobacco and 21b soft soup in, two gallons of water for• about ' half an hour. This should then be 1 StrallWd, and for spraying purposes | should be mixed with 18 gallons clear water. Early in the season, when the leaves and growths are tender, it may be necessary to use more wuter. The leaves on your tobacco plants should be cut off and laid in a shed to dry when they have assumed a somewhat mottled appearance. When dry tie them in bundles and store. N.W. —(1) Portulaca seed should bo sown about the mMWBi 0* Jeptember, or plants can be planted out a month 'lite** (2) There are not a great; number «t shrubs that flower in summer ooinp**ed with .thole that flower in Mjft'mjc, .,. Yoti; could try Buddlela Variabilis Teitchjanus, Viburnun plicate (tbi» few beautifully tinted; folingfl in tie" autfanti). tow* of tfc*» I Tamarix; then, of course, there are the hydrangeas. These can be procured in many colours now. P.O. —It has long been a common practice to save soapsuds for the garden crops, bat It t*'< 4e open question whether those do not do more harm than good when applied liberally. Sometimes their application, would seem to increase the but often this jnay bo. ihvopffb- the little «xtr» moisture applied to 'the roots'. At utty rate, ' -there Is> Httlo or' n*~ value- in se*j>sud» ' as * manure, and there is often that . wnfeft will 4tf plants barm, at in, tbe case where t gods U u*B(!.' < Tine. —The mhtdlffof n«xi month ifoviie early enough to prune your grape* vine growing .> indoors. Th« hardy one Brewing, outdoors can be prunod as soon as the foliage ha» /alien. You can rah ihs 'loose bark off the indoor one .. •» «to*--**''lt i» pruned, but leave tbe ~. ' rough bark'Oß tbe outdoor one until the ' J ' ' »o# The bark is a. protect>onf(rem frost. Celery. — of celery being pithy is utnally put down to an exces of nitrogen in the soil. It is a pity you gave tbe artificial manure. Next season jive nothing but .humus, such as anijffal manure, leaf soil, or material from tbe garden refuse heap. One very light dressing of common salt is helpful, and one at two of superphosphates, >n« never *se any ether kind of inline manure.

CURRENT WORK. Autumn sown onions germinated well, and should come through the winter in good condition. It is well to keep the Dutch hoe stirring the soil between them on every favourable opportunity. Plants of endive, which have grown their full size, may be lifted and placed in a cold frame. These plants are easily blanched by covering the frame with old sacks or any other clean material, which will ensure perfect darkness. Plants in the open may be blanched by tying the dry foliage wth some soft material. The ground for new plantations of bush fruit should be deeply worked and well enriched if the land is in poor heart. These bushes are grown for many years in one position, and the land must, to get good results, • be thoroughly worked. When the ground settles, planting should be proceeded with as soon as it can be managed. Some of the regal pelargoniums will now be ready for potting on. Give plenty of drainage, and pot firmly. This, with plenty of ventilation, will make good shortjointed Stock, especially if the plants are not overcrowded. A good fumi-

gation should be given every fewweeks to keep down green fly, as these plants are very subject to this insect.

Any zonal pelargoniums or geraniums, as they are usually called, that are beginning to get shabby in the greenhouse or living-room should be cut hard back and placed in aj frame along with the bedding geran-; iums that have been cut back and boxed off, keeping close and withholding water until they break into growth. . Cuttings of pentstemons, violas, calceolarias, and other bedding subjects, which were inserted in March and later should be well rooted, and the first consideration now is to get them thoroughly hardened. Give them abundance of air during periods of mild weather, removing the lights altogether during, the day. Examine them occasionally, with a view to removing decaying foliage, and stir the soil with a pointed stick. Should aphis infect the plants, spray lightly with an insecticide.

FRUIT. and white varieties will do -well in almdat any Kind of soil, while black currants delight in a good loamy, medium, and do best when a cool root-run. The presenilis *',|ftofetimc for preparing the soil, and'this work should fee done without delay. Trenching is advisable, and unless the ground is already * well enriched, a good dressing of well-decayed manure can be incorporated with the bottom spit. Ground thus prepared must be allowed a few weeks to Settle before planting. Bed and white sorts are usually grown cupshaped. Each bush should have a number of upright main rods, and all laterals .should, be spurred back annually. ■Blackcurrants-'-are best grown as bushes, and the pruning of these is quite different to the system adopted for red arid white varieties. Black currants fruit almost exclusively on the wood of the previous season's growth, hence pruning will consist of the entire removal of old currant growths as soon as the fruit is gathered. ! During the growing season currants of all kinds appreciate soakings with clear water and weak liquid manure, and a mulching of short decayed manure oyer the roots during hot weather is of the greatest value. Propagating Bush Fruits—The propagation of all types of currants and gooseberries is easily effected by means of cuttings taken during the winter months. These must be made from shoots of the previous summer's growth, those the same thickness of a lead pencil being the best. They must be firm and well ripened, and when the cuttings are made each should be about 12 or 14 inches long. It is best to cut close beneath a joint at the base, and the soft top of the shoot must be removed 1 close to a bud. In the case of red and white varieties and gooseberries, all the. buds, with the exception of four or five at the top, should be removed, as this will ensure a clean stem for the future bush. - Black currants are best when growths are pushed from the base, consequently all the buds are left intact on the cuttings of these. Cuttings of all types should be planted as soon as made in well-drained, rather light soil, in rows 18 inches apart, and the cuttings nine inches asunder" in the rows. The following winter the best of the resulting plants may be placed in their permanent quarters, or better still, all can be set out more thinly in nursery quarters until they are two or even three years old. During that time water in abundance must be given when that is required, and the plants kept free from weeds, otherwise they will be stunted in growth, and be more liable to the attack of pests than they would be when well grown.

FLOWERS. Christmas Roses.—The flowers of these are useful for decoration, and, in order to keep the blooms in good condition, a glass covered box should be placed over the plants now. this will not only keep the flowers pure in colour, but also increases the length of the stem, makMg tham more valuable for decorative purposes. Before placing the box In position, remove any dead foliage, and prick up the soil with a fork. The box may be kept quite close till the flowers are fully exPC Japanese . Irises.—These plants prefer ground that is on,,the damp

side. Where the ground suits them as to moisture they increase quickly, necessitating dividing and replanting when they get at all crowded. The present would be a good time to do this, or to start the cultivation of the plant. They are good plants for the water side. They look well in groups, also in good large beds which make a wonderful sightf when in flower. They need plenty of sun, and if planted in the herbaceous border or in front of shrubs they will need plenty of water, if it is tik all dry. The flowering season is from December to January. Plants for Forcing.—Perhaps the best plants for potting for greenhouse and living room decoration in early spring are the spiraeas. Good, strong clumps should be purchased now or potted up from the garden. Plants forced one year are not suitable for forcing the following year. When the clumps have been lifted the soil should be carefully scratched away from the roots with a pointed stick, and potted in a mixture of loam and well rotted manure, with some sand or grit added. They should then be placed in a cold frame and covered with leaves. They will not require any water unless the soil is very dry. In a month's time those that show signs of growth should be removed to the greenhouse and placed in a cool part of the house. Afterwards they can be put in a warmer temperature, but it should not exceed 55 degrees or the growth will be weakly. While growing freely they must never be allowed to be short of water, and the pots should be stood in saucers which are kept full. Spiraeas can be had in bloom from August onwards, the last plants coming into flower naturally without being forced at all. The lovely crimson spiraea pajmata and its white variety can be used in this way, as they do not stand being forced. Spiraea astilboides, .iaponica, and iloribunda are the best kinds for early flowers. Many other hardy plants can be similarly treated, and provide a succession of bloom in the months before the herbaceous border is beginning to flower again. Bleeding heart, or dielytra, is a most decorative pink flpwer, with beautiful foliage. It requires rather large pots, as the roots are long and brittle. There is also a white variety. Columbines make elegant plants in small pots in a cold house. Solomon's seal can be forced into bloom, or, if placed in a cold house now, will flower some weeks before those in an open border. Where room can be found for them shrubs such as prunus triloba, forsythias, and deutzias all flower well, and make a grand display.. ,