IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21988, 12 January 1937, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK (SFZCIiI.LT WBITTKX FOB TBB FRZSa.I [By W. J. HUMM.I FLOWERS Because of the moistness of the soil the perennial plants in most gardens are making rapid growth, and will require staking and tying up. When doing this work, place the stakes from view as much as possible. Quite often the effect of a garden is spoilt by the prominence of over-large stakes. Tying up should be done as growth proceeds; do not neglect this important work until the growths are bent down and twisted. When this happens they can never be brought back to their natural contour. Do not- tie the growths in too tightly, but leave enough room for them to develop naturally. Leave enough room for light and air to penetrate to the centre of eaoh clump. Weeds are exceptionally active this season, and unless the hoe is kept going on all suitable occasions the weeds yrill take command. Dahlias are growing fast this season. Keep the soil well worked about the plants, and keep the growths tied in. If showery weather continues, do not be in a hurry to give dahlias liquid manure, or rank, sappy growth will result. It is the short-jointed, wellmatured growth thqt produces flowers of quality. Too much food and water will cause malformed blooms to develop. Remove all spent flowers, seed pods, and withered stems. Continue to lift spring-flowering bulbs. Many of them, such as daffodils, grape hyacinths, English and Spanish irises, and crocuses should be planted as soon as possible. Grape hyacinths will give a wonderful display when planted at the foot of such plants as magnolia stellata,. cherry, Mount Fuji, or pyrus parkmahii. Many of the daffodils may be used in the same way. Gladioli are now sending up their flower spikes. Stake those spikes required foi exhibition. The spike with the fewest defects wins the prize. Twisted spikes are always frowned on by the judge., • Carnations may be layered as-soon as they go out of flower. Many defer this work until much later, which is a mistake, as the layers must have time to grow a good root system before being planted out. Begin by cutting out all spent flowering growths. Leave six or eight of the strongest -rowths on the plant to be treated; each growth should be stripped of the lower leaves to within six inches of the top. Then make an incision with a sharp knife, beginning two or three inches from the base, according to the strength of the growth- Cut straight in below a joint, and continue the cut upwards for at least one and a half inches. Have some wire pins ready, and peg the layers into the soil. When doing so. keep the cut open by packing sand into the incision. Work some fine mould and sand firmly round the layers after they have been pegged down. Keep the layers moist during dry weather. They should be rooted in time to plant out in April.

HEDGES Because of the . continued wet weather, hedges are growing rapidly. Those requiring trimming may be attended to at any time now. Do not trim those grown for their berry effect

VEGETABLES The aim of the gardener should be to have a supply of usable vegetables all the year round. Many people are quite successful in producing spring, summer, and autumn vegetables, but are unable to keep up a succession during the winter. Quite often they fail to produce winter crops simply because they do not plant them in time for the vegetables to become established before winter is on them. For winter use vegetables must be planted at once. Remember that it is from now until the frost arrives that most of the growth takes place. Lay the. foundation for winter supplies by planting out winter greens, such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, and savoys. Salads will be in demand from how on. All vegetables grown for this purpose should be grown quickly. Tough, stringy, half-nourished plants are of little use. When preparing the ground, dig in plenty of well-rotted animal manure to form humus, which is essential for the production of succulent growth. Should the weather be dry, do not neglect to give the plants water. ■ Continue to sow silver beet, carrots, endive, yellow-fleshed turnip, lettuce, parsley, perpetual spinach, radish, mustard and cress. Plant out celery and leeks. The pink kinds of celery will stand more exposure than the white kinds. A sowing of peas and dwarf beans may also be mad§. Lift shallots as soon as growth is matured. Much mildew is appearing in the onion crops this year. As soon as this is noticed, spray with colloidal sulphur before the mildew gets a hold. Use it at the rate of two ounces to six gallons of water. The weather lately has been bad for potato growers, and unless the weather becomes finer there will be much potato blight among the crops this season. The fungus known as phytophthora infectans thrives when the soil is wet and the atmosphere is humid, by reason of the heat and excessive moisture. Should, this fungus appear, spray the crop as soon as possible with Bordeaux mixture at the rate prescribed.

Herbs such as thyme and sage should be trimmed over. This will remove the seeds and encourage the plants to make growth. SHRUBS At present several species of Buddleias are making their display. This family supplies us with several useful garden plants, which have a wide distribution. They are found in South America, South Africa, India, Asia, and China. They are known as the “butterfly bush,” as when any one of this family is in bloom it attracts butterflies. Members of this family bloom at different periods throughout the year, beginning in winter with the South African species, B. Salvifolia and ending with the Chinese species, fallowiana in autumn. ,

Buddieia variabilis var magniflca, a species from Central China? is now making, its display. The flowers are produced in panicles from six to 12 inches in length. Their colour is lilacpurple and they are slightly fragrant. The plant makes vigorous growth. It carries the flowers on the ends of the growth it made this season. Should this plant outgrow its position it may be cut hard back each winter. It will then make new growth, and on these growths will be borne the season’s flowers.

Buddlela variabilis var hanhoensis, a dwarf variety, is also in bloom. The flowers are of the same colour but are much smaller in size. It grows from fl ve to seven feet in height. These shrubs, when planted close together, form quite an ornamental hedge. They stand pruning well arid will grow in exposed positions.