IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22907, 2 January 1940, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK (SPECIALLY WRITTEN TON THE PRESS.) [By W. J. HUMMJ VEGETABLES There is much to be done in the vegetable garden at present, if a succession of vegetables is to be maintained. January is considered to be the off month in other departments of the garden, but when a supply of useful vegetables has to be kept up throughout the year, there is no off period. As soon as one crop is finished preparations should be made for the one to take its place. At present attention should be given to the crops that are to supply the needs, of the household during autumn and winter. Many people are quite successful in growing spring and summer vegetables, but find it difficult in keeping up a supply during winter. In many cases the cause of this can be traced to late planting. Winter vegetables must be given time to develop before the growing period is over. It is from now until frost makes its appearance that most of the growth is made. So lay the foundation for winter supplies, plant as soon as possible savoys, kale, broccoli, and cabbage. Although this family likes rich soil, manure 'must not be over done, as an overabundance of organic manure will cause rank growth, and when this happens cabbages and savoys will not heart well. All the cabbage family is fond of lime. Hortnap, too, is splendid to sweeten the soil and drive away plant pests both above and in the soil. , When keeping up a supply of broccoli, remember that there are three distinct divisions of these, early medium and late kinds for autumn. Veitch’s self-protecting is a reliable kind. Buttons winter mammoth is useable in mid-winter. Winter white comes in later, and Buttons late green is ready for spring use. Savoys are represented by many kinds, _ but the variety known as drumhead is one of the best. Among cabbages Star winter use, Blairs phenomenal and Swedish giants are fairly blight-resistant, and both are robust growers. Salads will be in demand from now on. So keep up a supply by making frequent sowings. Prepare the ground thoroughly and when doing so dig in plenty of well decayed manure. Most of the vegetables grown for salad purposes ane leaf-vegetables, and should be grown quickly. Tough, stringy, halfnourished plants are of little use for salad purposes. Grow salad vegetables quickly and they will be succulent and palatable. Sow silver-beet. These will come in for winter Sow a line of short-horn carrots. These will develop quickly and may be used when quite young. This will conserve the mam crop which will come in for winter use. Sow prickly seeded spinach, parsley, and yellow fleshed turnips. Sow an early variety of peas, and make the last sowing of french beans. ■ Get celery and leeks on the way as soon as* possible now. Marrows, pumpkins, and cucumbers set fruit more freely if the soil contains potash. If the fruits are not setting well, give each plant 6ne teaspoon of sulphate of potash and water in. Keep the garden sanitary by promptly burning all diseased foliage and rubbish. Rubbish harbours harmful insects and fungus pests. If diseased foliage is put on the refuse heap to rot down, this does not destroy the disease. When the contents of the refuse heap are dug in, the disease will again appear, and attack the plants. The best place for diseased foliage is the fire, and as soon as possible. Keep the refuse heap sanitary by dusting hortnap freely after each lot of rubbish is added. Hortnap not only destroys disease but prevents it from beginning. FLOWERS Keep the garden tidy by tying up all plants that need it. Weeds are exceptionally active this season and unless the hoe is used frequently they will soon take command. Remove all seed pods' from sweet peas, lupins, perennial poppies and delphiniums, Cuphia. agathias, and fibrous begonias may still be planted; sow seed of Sweet William and Canterbury bells now to make a display this time, next year. Sow pyrethrums, Iceland poppies, Brompton and Beauty of Nice stocks also hollyhocks. Encourage pansies and violas to keep active by removing all seed pods. Sow wallflower seed now to make a display next spring. The season for planting spring flowering pulps has arrived and no time should be lost in getting the early flowering kinds planted, such as daffodils, crocuses, and grape-hyacinths. Dahlias should be kept hoed. Thin out spindly growths and keep them well tied up. Keep seed pods from forming on roses, and hoe the beds frequently. FRUIT Spray for the control of pear and cherry slug by using arsenate of lead at the rate pf loz to four gallons of water. ' Both raspberries and loganberries are subject to attacks of grubs which attack the buds on both the young and old canes. In the early part of the season the grubs confine their activities to the mature canes. If these old canes are cut out and burned as soon as the fruit is gathered most of the grubs will be destroyed. To prevent the grubs from doing damage to the buds on the young canes that are to bear next season’s crop give several sprayings of arsenate of lead at the rate of loz to -four gallons.' Be sure and force the spray fluid well in and round each hud. T)o the work thoroughly if you wish to control these pests. Black currants may be pruned as soon as the fruit is gathered. Cut out much of the old wood arid encourage the plant to develop new growths on which will be borne next season’s crop. . , .... Red and white currants are best left unpruned until winter. They have a much different system of fruiting. They produce their fruit on short laterals, which develop on the mature woodSHRUBS Indigoferas are a family of plants well worth attention. They flower at a time when few shrubs are effective. All lose their leaves in winter, and therefore should be given a sunny position. They have pea-shaped flowers which are of a pinkish purple shade. A well-drained soil suits them best and being deep-rooted they stand drought and exposure well. They are all free flowering, and cut this time of the year they are most effective. Indigofera gerardiana is a tall-growing Indian species, suitable for large, gardens, and will grow and flower to perfection where most plants would fail. Indigofera dousa seldom grows more than four to five feet in height. This is a plant suitable for growing m a windswept position. Indigofera decora, the pigmy of he family, is suitable for small gardens or the rock garden. This charming little shrub is at-present in full bloom and will remain so for some time yet. Its home is China. If this- shrub is planted where it can get all the sun possible it will bloom to perfection each year. . Indigoferas seldom need pruning, but should they outgrow their position they may be pruned hard back during winter. ■■ ’ •