IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 7

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK lßy W. J. HUMM.I ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT rG Southbrook. —The disease on the *'■ geranium is mealy-bug. After cold weather is over cut the plant back and spray with Black Leaf 40, using It at the strength of the one teaspoon to the gallon of soapy water. VEGETABLES 'g is the seed-sowing season, and 'it the weather is good no time should. 'be lost in get!ins crops on their way. Continue to plant asparagus, cabbage, an d cauliflower. Lettuce, too, transplants well. glow onions, parsnips, stump-rootpd carrots, mid turnips, arid make frequent sowings of. peas, early and medium kinds. A few rows cf early potatoes may bo put in where the soil is warm. gpinach should be sown a little at a lime and often. Tin's crop should be well thinned if good leaves are expected. Sow silver beet and the useful spinach beet. Parsley will germinate well if sown now. Sow leeks and celery. They must be sown thinly, or papr-quality plants will result. Sow seeds of cabbage, broccoli, savoys, cauliflower, red cabbage, and brussels sprouts to supply seedlings for planting out later for autumn and winter crops. I FLOWERS The time f" r planting ornamental trees and shrubs is fast slipping away. Those who intend to plant thla season should get the work in hana\ as soon as possible now. Firm planting is always necessary, but extra care in this W ay should be taken in spring. No plant will thrive until it feels itself firrnly anchored. Moreover, the high winds usual this month penetrate the soil to the depth of many inches, and if the plants are not firm in the soil they Will not make headway. Qpptinue to sow hardy (lower seeds in the open borders, and complete* the dividing up and replanting of all perennials. Plant antirrhinums, stocks, pansies, and violas. Hollyhocks and lupins arc effective garden plants, and should also be planted now. Sow sweet peas for blopmiflg late at this time, and also p)ant a batch of gladioli. out now chrysanthemums. SHRUBS rorsythias, known as the golden bell shrub, are making a splendid display at present. Few flowering plants are more effective and bloom with such freedom as these. There are only a few kinds in cultivation. They all bear yellow (lowers, are deciduous, and in autumn the foliage takes on bright autumn tints. No special cultivation is required, beyond giving them an open, sunny position. They never ! flower well if planted in the shade. v Any pruning may be done as soon as ' ♦ , .e flowering period is over. Remove all ojd and exhausted growths and shorten those growths which have grown too long. Pruning will keep the plants shapely, and from where they are cut new growths will develop, on which will be boi-ne the next crop of flowers. Forsythia suspensa, a free-blooming kind with pendulous branches, is most accommodating. It may be trained as a creeper on a fence, over arches or pergolas, and is useful for covering banks. Forsythia veridissund is an upright grower, and its foliage in autumn is very effective. Forsythia intermedia is a hybrid well worth growing. Its growth is semi-pendulous and it is most generous with its flowers. Forr sythia fortuner is similar in growth and flowers. Forsythia intermedia, variety spectablis, is a newcomer, and is certainly an outstanding shrub. It is «i husky grower, its flowers are much larger than those of the other kinds, ancj each season the plant is clothed with rna'sses of rich golden yellow Dtasuorn, j n 1935 this variety was awarded a first-class certificate by the Hoyal Horticultural Society of England. Qsrnanthus Delavayi is also a newcomer and like many of our best shrubs it comer, from China. At present it is very effective. Its small, sweetly-scented blooms are borne in clusters along the whole length of its oranenes. It is evergreen, with ™all, rigid, leathery leaves. When Juuy grown, it reaches a height of about six feet. This neat-growing evergreen is an acquisition. THE GLASSHOUSE As the sun gams strength, it will be necessary to give more ventilation. Always open the lights away from the {"no, and during this month close the noujte early in the afternoon. Many ptants, such as cinerarias, fuchsias, World calceolarias, and primulas do better if the glass above them is shaded. Whiting and skim milk well mixed and applied on the inside surface of the glass answers well. ouch plants as a *l onSi heaths, pelargonium, and gerj™Urns, should be given direct light, ■niberous begonias should now be on tnetr way. Fuchsias that were cut back m ay now be repotted. Pelargoniums ana geraniums should have their .main powths stopped. This will cause them w grow stocky. Cucumber and celery seeds should oe sown now. Hanging baskets are W effective. Any required should De made up as soon as possible now. Asparagus ferns and palms that are established may be given sulphate of joitopnia once a week. Use one ounce to oae gallon oi' water. Never give any of pot plant i.quid manure until }{|ey ave Well rooted. It is only when W have filled their pots with roots wiat they need stimulants. Giving newly-ported plants liqu.d manure «uses the soil to become sour. This "oesjnore ha.m than good. Uo not neglect to prick out annuals W soon as they are lit. They must be **|M on tne move Sow seeds of SrH?* B obconica and sincusis. ChryIf.'Wkemums required for exhibition ••■list be kept growing. As soon as the £°ung plants have filled their pots ™hU roots they must be potted on at :° c \« they will be checked in their ffowth. Another batcH of cuttings may, u necessary, be inserted now.