IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22309, 25 January 1938, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK

(SPICIALLT WRXTTEH TO?. THE I’KISS.' [By \V. J. HUMMJ ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Lewis Pass Road writes as follows; •‘I am sending you in two Insects which I found In the bush here. I have not seen them before, and Jio person here knows what they ? r ®- The beetles sent in are what they call the elephant bettle. It doe* no special damage. It is often found on the West Coast. Beckenham writes. —"Why are the blooms falling off my begonia? I am enclosing an insect my cat caught m tne garden." Your begonia must be very dry at the root and should be given a good soaking. The insect is called the steel blue saw fly. The larva bores into old dead wood.

VEGETABLES All recent plots not required for crops at present should be dug o\er and sown down in Cape barley, blue lupin, mustard, or other green crop suitable for turning under for green manure. The effect of these green manures when dug in is to increase humus. Without humus no soil can be fully fertile. Mineral elements may be said to give the son body, but humus gives the soil its life, without humus bacterial activity cannot develop, and, therefore, the sou is not fully fertile. Stable and ether organic* manures may not contain mucn actual plant food, but when applied they increase the humus content and are more beneficial than any of the chemical manures. Infertile soil usually suffers more from lack of humus than from actual plant food. That is why application of chemical manures has little or no effect on worn-out soils. The same also applies when lime is used. The best results obtained from the use of chemical manures are when the soil is in its best tilth. Vegetables for winter and spring use, savoys, cabbage, broccoli, kale, and leeks, should be the first consideration. Winter cabbage is usually planted where the early potatoes grew and such land is usually fairly loose. Before planting see that the soil Is made firm, as none of the cabbage family do well w'hen planted in loose soil. Where the land is of a light nature early peas may still be sown. Yellow-fleshed peas give best results during hot weather. These may be sown now. Sow parsley, endive, lettuce. and radish. Silver beet is a good winter vegetable and if the seed is sown now it will come in when other vegetables are scarce. To grow this crop well the soil must be rich In plant food. Hungry soil will not grow this vegetable. When preparing for this crop dig in plenty of organic manure and deep cultivation is also necessary. Allow two feet between the rows and 18 inches between each plant. Young succulent carrots are always valued in the kitchen. Keep up a supply of these by sowing one of the shorthorn type now. Celery may also be planted for a late crop. The red stalk types are much hardier than the white-stalked types and they have a better flavour. Make a sowing of perpetual spinach. This vegetable should be grown quickly and does best when the soil is rich in plant food, but do not dig in fresh stable manure. Make the soil firm before sowing, and when the seedlings are large enough thin them out 12 inches apart. As spinach is a leaf vegetable, sulphate of ammonia in liquid form is most beneficial to it. Use at the rate of one ounce to a gallon of water and apply once a week. The best results are obtained if it is added when the plants are well established. Use a hoc regularly and do not allow weeds to compete with the crops. Best results can be obtained from vegetable growing when the soil is hoed so frequently that weeds have no chdnce to flourish.

FLOWERS Dahlias are shaping up to bloom, and well shaped blooms may be obtained by dusting and hoeing in a little superphosphate. Do not overwater dahlias because this causes sappy growth on which many illshaped flowers will form. Pompone dahlias are very popular. Do not cause the plants to grow coarse flowers by giving liquid manure. They do not need it. Small symmetrical flowers grown to about the size of a golf ball should bo the aim of those growing this type of dahlia. Azaleas and rhododendrons afe now maturing their next season’s flower crop. Should the weather be dry, water them If possible, and top-dress with well-decayed manure or lawn clippings. On no account disturb their roots, as any root interference while the flower buds are forming Will be boutld to have a detrimental effect oh next year’s flower crop. Delphinium seed should be ripe now. If young plants are needed get the seeds ih tight away. By atitumn the young plants should be large enough to plant in their flowering quarters. These young plants should bloom next season. If hollyhock seed is sown now the plants will bloom this time nekt season. Keep the sweet peas working by removing all faded flowers, because if they are allowed to develop seed pods the plants will soon tire and cease flowering. The old English marigold (Calendula) are well worth growing. If the seeds are sown now they should bloom during the winter and spring months. Few flowers are as easy to grbw as these. Give them a welldrained soil in a sunny position, and they will bloom to perfection. As cut flowers they last in a fresh condition for quite a time. The newer sorts have large, brightly-coloured flowers which are very effective when used as a cut flower during Winter. Tip Top, Golden King. Radio and Sunshine are quite distinct, and there are several of the older kinds well worth growing. Those who desire something outstanding in perennial lupins should try the Russell strain, which has caused quite a sensation in England. These lupins are distinctive in more ways than one, and it is the combined features, size, habit, spike formation and colour, that make them a strain to be desired from a colour range, commencing with white and lemon and going through yellows, pinks, apricots, reds, blues’, and numerous blehdlhgs Of these colours to purples and maroons. The florets are large with flat fan-like back standards, and. unlike other lupins, most of the spikes remin their florets throughout the whole period of development. So outstanding was this strain of lupin that it received the Royal Horticultural Society’s gold medal in June, 1937.

FRUIT As soon as the crop is gathered from the summer fruiting kinds ot raspberries, cut out the old canes and burn them. Spray the young canes, which are to bear next season s crop, with arsenate of lead, using It at J-he strength of one ounce to four gallons of water. Unless the canes are sprayed thoroughly the raspberry borer will eat out the eyes of the young canes and in consequence the canes will ndt bear fruit next season. Arsenate of lead used at the same strength as for raspberries will also destroy the black grubs which attack the cherry plum and pear leaves. Spray also for the Control of codlin moth grubs and fungoid diseases. Gooseberries may be pruned now. Autumn is the nefct time for planting strawberry plants, and it is advisable to dig the land itegPly now and lA " corporate somß”"W>**Mecayed manure.

SHftUBS At the present time no family of shrubs is more effective than Ceanothus. Many of the species flower early in the season, but those making a display during the summer and autumn months are of hybrid origin. The majority are blue flowering, and this gives them special garden value as tew hardwood shrubs bear flowers of this colour. All the forms are easy to manage. They do best in an open, sunny position where the soil is well drained. The early flowering kinds may be pruned as soon- as the flowering period is past. Those flowering now may be pruned in spring should they need it. Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles is one of the best, and at the present time is most effective with its multitudes of sky blue flowers. Gloire de plantieres. Arnoldi, and Indigo are very similar in habits, but their flowers are of a deeper colour. Ceanothus Burkwood is quite a firstrate plant. It is a compact grower and is most generous with its dark blue flowers. It has no idle moment from the time it begins to bloom in January until it goes oht of bloom m May. Ceanothus are not too easy to transplant, and, therefore, a person should not buy large plants. Small, well-rooted plants will give bcl':;- results. _ .