IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK (BPICXALLI WRITTEN TOR THE rRBSa.I [By W. J. HUMM.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Linwood East. —Do not cut out your Burbank plum. Possibly it was the severe late frost last spring that was responsible for the light crop. At present give a surface dressing of blood and one meal at the rate of 4oz to the square yard. Next autumn top-dress the soil with lime, using not less than Boz to the square yard. As soon as the leaves have fallen in autumn, the tree may be pruned. It is quite a good plan when trees are growing vigorously and not fruiting well to root prune early in autumn. Gardener, Rotherham.—You should have no difficulty to keep the petunias in full bloom until the winter. Petunias are perennial flowering. Keep all seed Sods off, and if you wish exhibition looms reduce the number of blooms on each plant.

VEGETABLES Most of the principal .sowings are now well advanced, but further sowings of various crops will be necessary if a long succession is to be mainstained. From now until the middle of January many crops may be sown to keep up a succession. Care, however, is necessary in the choice of varieties. It is too late in the season now to sow those varieties which are late in coming to maturity. Just as in early spring we sow quick-maturing varieties, so at present we should select those types which will grow quickly and come in before the cold autumn weather arrives.

One of the most important of this type of crop is the pea, and for present sowings choose dwarf early maturing sorts. The next crop to consider is the carrot, and here, again, choose an early stump-rooted variety. Sand that has been cropped this season with peas would grow good carrots, and remember when clearing away spent crops of peas not to dig the roots out and discard them. Cut the tops off level with the ground. The roots of peas and beans contain much valuable plant food, and if they are dug in the.y will have a marked influence on the crop which is to follow. The maintenance of a supply of young, succulent turnips is to be considered. The white-fleshed turnips will not stand the heat of summer as well as the yellow-fleshed types. The main crop of beetroot is growing well, but the early crop is about finished. This should be replaced by another turnip-rooted sort, which can be used in autumn and will conserve the main crop of long-rooted variety for winter use. . . J Make a successional sowing of french beans; Canadian Wonder is a trustworthy type to sow now. Plant out celery in prepared trenches. Sow;

a line of parsley for winter use. Leeks form one of the best winter vegetables and should be got in now. They may be planted in trenches as with celery, or they may be planted in deep holes a foot apart. Make the holes with a blunt dibber about six inches deep and place one leek in each hole. Covering the roots is not necessary. After the plants are in the holes give them water, which will settle enough soil about the roots to start them off. In time the holes will gradually All. As growth proceeds, a little moulding may also be done to cause the leeks to become well blanched. Plant cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and savoys. Make a sowing of New Zealand spinach.

FLOWERS If they need it, daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, and any other spring flowering bulbs may now be lifted and stored. Keep dahlias well staked, and where many growths are developing on the old clumps remove all but four or five of the strongest. Thin and stake all herbaceous plants making too many growths. Keep the surface soil frequently cultivated; this not only keeps down weeds, but it also keeps the plants thriving. Carnations are shaping up to bloom. Keep the flower stems well staked, for these flowers are not effective if they are not staked. If superior flowers are desired, much disbudding will have to be done.

It is quite a good time to sow seeds of many of the perennial plants. Lupins have flowered quite well this season. • Many of them are now past their best, and unless seeds are required all seed stems should be removed, for they give the garden a very untidy appearance.' At present the Iris Kempferi family of plants is very effective. These irises are known as the Japanese water iris and certainly they look at home when planted in bold clumps by the sides of ponds and streams; but such positions are not absolutely necessary. They may be grown quite successfully as border plants, provided they are not deprived of water during their growing period. In such position, the flowers are greatly improved if liquid manure is given them just before the flowers open. A position in full sun suits them best.

This family of irises is quite distinct from other forms of the iris in both the form of the flowers and the habit of growth. They make strong vigorous growth, forming handsome clumps of broad and elegant foliage from two to three feet long. Flower stems develop to about three to four feet in height, and support several flowers resembling those of a clematis. "There are single and double kinds in many shades of colour. When fully opened they are from 10 to 12 inches across. Amongst*them are to be found some of the loveliest colourings in mauves, lilacs, lavenders, blues, purples and wine shades. Japanese irises have a good constitution and in no way are they difficult to grow. When once established, they will continue to give an effect each year without replanting.

FRUIT Many persons are complaining that their fruit trees are looking distressed and casting their fruit and leaves. The excessive wet last winter was the

cause of this. Many trees growing in land which is not well drained have suffered badly. In many gardens, the roots of the trees were under water for the greater part of the winter. This not only injures the roots, but it causes the soil to run together and become insanitary. Excessive water also does much harm to the physical properties of the soil: it locks out nitrogen and the bacteria which give the soil its fertility are destroyed. "When the soil gets into a hard cake it is not possible for sufficient air to reach the roots to enable them to function properly, and consequently both leaves and fruit are affected. To counteract these ill effects cultivate the surface soil frequently and dust under the trees 6oz of lime to the square yard. Black currants may be pruned immediately after the fruit has been gathered. Remove some of the old wood each year to encourage new growths from the base, which will carry the fruit next season. Unless wanted for making new plantations, all runners should be removed from the strawberry plants. Runners for planting out should be selected only from those plants which produced high-class fruits. The runners retained should be encouraged to form a good root system by mulching the plant with wellrotted manure. It is not too early to start preparing the land for planting out the young plants in autumn. The more the soil is worked this summer the more fertile it will be. Work the land well. Plant out early in autumn well-rooted plants and there is no reason why the strawberries should not be a success.

It is necessary to spray four or five times during the summer, to control completely the grub of the eodlin moth.

SHRUBS There are to be found in the Ceanothus family many useful and beautiful flowering plants. Most of them have blue flowers, a few have pale pink flowers, and some are white. Their home is in North America, where they are known as the tea plant. This name is said to have arisen from the leaves being used as a substitute for tea, especially during the American War of Independence. From October until late autumn, members of this family may be planted so as to be effective during these months. Ceanothus, like many other flowering shrubs, have not been overlooked by plant breeders, and many hybrids are now in cultivation. Perhaps one of the best of these hybrids is that known as Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles. At present this .plant is clothed with clusters of large, rich blue flowers. A succession of these will be produced until well into the autumn, thereby filling an interval when good flowering shrubs are scarce.