IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22245, 9 November 1937, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK

(gPZCIAIXY WBITTE* JOB THE PBBSS.) IBy W. J. HUMM.J

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Cherry.—lt is difficult to offer a reason why the cherry tree is not prolific. There are many factors which affect the regular fruiting of trees. Frost, bad drainage, wrong stock, lack of lime in the soil, or planting too deeply would cause poor crops. Inquirer.—The grub that is attacking the plum tree Is the leaf-roller. Spray the tree with arsenate of lead. Use this at the rate of loz to four gallons of water; also spray with cosan colloidal sulphur, loz to three gallons of water. This should be repeated several times at three-week intervals until the fruit is gathered. Anxious.—The Japanese plum is attacked by a fungus disease known as plum pocket (Exoascus Pruni). Spray the tree now with Shlrlaw A.G. In winter spray the tree with lime sulphur at the strength of one part lime sulphur to 10 parts of water. Dust lime under the tree and gather and burn all diseased fruits. The disease on the peach leaf is the leaf-curl fungus (Exoascus deformans). Spray with Shirlaw A.G. Gather and burn all fallen leaves.

VEGETABLES Where the soil is of a light nature, it will be necessary, if dry weather continues, to give the vegetables a good watering. When this is carried out, be sure to give a good soaking. Merely sprinkling the surface will do more harm than good—this will cause the roots to come to the surface, where they will perish should they become dry. Each watering should be followed by a good hoeing as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. Continue to plant main crop potatoes. Those coming through the soil should be well hoed before moulding them up; give each plant a teaspoon of sulphate of ammonia. Scatter this lightly around each plant and hoe in. Carrots for the main crop should be sown now. The soil for these should be deeply worked. The long and intermediate varieties are those sown for the main crop. James’ intermediate and Webb’s prize-winner are reliable kinds. Far pulling when quite young, continue to sow the stumprooted kinds. These will be useable long before the main crop. Lumpy, hard soil will not produce first-rate carrots. Lime, soot, and wood ash worked into the soil will have a most beneficial effect on this crop. _ Sow main crop beet. Dell s Crimson and non-bleeding are excellent sorts. English fish manure used at the rate of Uoz to the square yard will Improve the quality of the crop. Sow marrows, pumpkins, and ridge cucumbers. An open and sunny posiRunner, french, and butter beans may be sown. Sow cabbages, cauliflowers, savoy, kale, and broccoli to produce plants for autumn and winter crops. Make sowings of aU salad crops. Prepare the ground for planting out the early celery plants. „ Keep up supplies of peas, lettuce, turnips, radish, and spinach by frequent sowings. In dry positions, sow the yellow-fleshed turnips in place of the white-fleshed ones. . Plant out tomatoes in well-drained, sunny positions. , . . Those who require maize should prepare the soil at once. The secret for growing this crop is deep cultivation, and a warm, well-drained soil. Too much manure will cause rank growth at the expense of the cobs. When sowing make the drills two inches deep and the rows three feet apart. Clipnps of seed may be placed 15 inches apart in the drills, -and when the young plants are well up, thin out, leaving only the strongest plant in each clump. FLOWERS The more tender bedding plants, such as dahlias, salvias, zinnias, fuchsias, tuberous and fibrous rooted begonias, and heliotropes may be planted out with safety now. Mulch rhododendrons, azaleas, and kalmlas, with lawn-clippings, leaf mould or well-rotted manure. Also, as soon as their flowers are past remove all seeds Remove all dead branches from any of the flowering shrubs or trees and burn them. They may be diseased. Polyanthus, auriculas, and primroses may now be lifted, divided up, and planted in a shaded position and kept well watered. Those who intend raising a batch of polyanthus from seed should plant the seed at once. The young plants should by autumn be large enough to plant out in their flowering quarters. Anemones. too, may be sown now. As soon as the wallflowers and forget-me-nots go out of bloom, they should be lifted and discarded. Plants raised - from seed each year give best results. Complete the planting of all annuals as soon as possible. Cut back aubrletia, cerastium, and arabis as soon as the flowers are past. Flower beds and borders should be kept free from weeds by frequent hoeing. Watering may be necessary if this dry weather continues. Disbud roses if special blooms are needed. THE GLASSHOUSE Continue to pot chrysanthemums into five-inch pots, and stand them in an Open, sunny position. Pot up tuberous begonias. Continue to feed astilbier and hydrangeas. Keep the house damped down several times a day during hot weather. If cineraria seed is sown now. the plants should bloom early next winter. Pot up fuchsias and keep them growing by syringing overhead frequently. Pay attention to shading. It is too hot under glass now for such subjects as fuchsias, palms, ferns, asparagus, astilbier, and hydrangeas. Primula malacoides make quite a good show during the winter months Sow the seed now. FRUIT Spray for, the control of the codlln moth grub. Use arsenate of lead, loz to four gallons of water. Spray each plant thoroughly. Force the spray fluid Into each fruit cluster, as it is there the female moth lays her eggs. Cut out and burn all dead and withered branches. They may be affected by fireblighfc Spray now for the control of leaf-curl. Lime-sulphur, colloidal sulphur, and shirlaw A.G., will control this disease. SHRUBS One of the most outstanding shrubs In flower at the present time is the kolkwitzia axnablis. It Is a native of China and was introduced here only a few years ago. It is perfectly hardy, and when given an open, sunny position la most liberal with its flowers. The growth is pendulous and when this shrub is in full bloom it presents a most charming effect. The flowers are like those of a weigelia, but more refined. The colour ia a pleasant shade of pink.