IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23131, 21 September 1940, Page 2

IN THE GARDEN

* WORK FOR THE WEEK

(SPECIALLY WHITTEN FOB THE PBESS.I [By W. J. HUM Ml ANSWERS to correspondents Rex—Your plum tree will retain the fruii next year. Young plum trees often behave as yours has done. When they are making a lot of wood growth they often cast (heir fruit. Greengages start to bear fruit from five to seven years after planting, according lo the age 'when planted and the class of .soil that they are growing in.

E.M.B.— (a) Yes. Lonicera nitida will make a presentable sbrub. (b) It would make thick growth, (c) The following will thrive on light soil;— Cistus purpurea, veronica cupressolder, ceanothus Gloire de Versailles, olearia nummularifolia, senecio crustiie, cytisus praecox, euonymus argentea, prostranthera, ercallonia langleyeusis, erica pyramidalis, cotoneaster franchetii, cistus sunset, and spartium junciun. Harcwood Road—Yes. If early, medium, and late peas are planted at the same time they should come in in succession. William Hurst (early). Defiance (medium), and Autocrat (late).

Vegetables

In many loc-;»**-g; the soil conditions are not favourable for planting or sowing and much delay has been caused. As soon as the soil becomes fit to work no time should be lost in getting on with the work. Do not put seeds or plants into wet soil; seeds, will not germinate or plants root if the soil is cold and wet.

Lightly fork over the soil. A little extra cultivation now will make all the difference to the crops. Work the soil into good tilth; crops put in now may overtake those sown some time ago.

Where the soil is congenial plant cabbage and cauliflowers.

A few early potatoes may be planted where the soil is well drained and warm.

Parsnips are an important crop; where the soil is workable get these on the way. The student and hollow-crown are two reliable varieties. Procure fresh seed as old seed will not germinate freely and sow the seeds in drills half an inch deep and 15 inches apart. When the young plants are large enough to handle, thin out to eight inches apart. Sow second early peas. Greenfeast and Defiance are two reliable croppers.

Sow onions, beet-root, carrots, early turnips, and parsley. Sow broad beans, lettuce, also summer spinach. Prepare now for autumn and winter crops by sowing brussels sprouts, savoys, winter cabbage, broccoli, and red cabbage. Sow mustard, cress, and radish for salads.

Plant artichokes and rhubarb, thyme and sage. There is still plenty of lime to plant asparagus: two-year plants give best results. There is always a demand for wellgrown parsley. Seed may now be sown in drills. Make these a quarter of an inch deep. One ounce of seed should sow a row of 100 feet. Autumn-sown onions should be thinned out. Dust a little superphosphate along the rows and hoe in. Hoe vegetables frequently if you wish them to thrive. Sow celery and leek seeds to provide plants for autumn and winter use. Fruit Got the planting of fruit trees completed as soon as possible now. Small fruits such as raspberries, currants, gooseberries, and loganberries should be given a light surface cultivation. Do not dig deeply round the plant as the roots are now active, and if the roots gre disturbed it will have a detrimental effect on the crop. The grafting of fruit trees may now be done. Keep the surface soil stirred undei fruit trees, but not too deeply. The Glasshouse Plants that need it should be potted on now. When doing this work see that the pots are clean. Plants cannot thrive unless their roots can get air. Maidenhair and other ferns may be potted now should they need it. Dahlias may be raised from seed. Sow the seed in flats. When the seedlings are large enough to handle they should be pricked out into shallow boxes placing about four dozen in each box. These can be planted out after the frosts are over. These seedlings should flower well this summer. Sow seed of tuberous begonias, primula obconica, and primula sineusis. Pot on asparagus when they become root bound. Pot up fuchsia. Those plants like rich soil. Pot on chrysanthemums as they need it. Geraniums and pelargoniums struck last summer should now be potted on to five-inch pots. Pot on hydrangeas for summer blooming. , , , ... Cvclamcn should be placed outside as soon as the flowering period is over. Pot up tuberous begonias and stroptocarpus. Flowers The planting time for flowering shrubs will soon be over, with the exception of rhododendrons, azaleas, bo ; ronias, heaths, daphnes, and kalmias. Possibly few gardeners know that the best' time to plant magnolias is late spring, just before the leaf buds open. All this family have fleshy roots, and if disturbed during the dormant period often die. Magnolias should be given a position in full sun and where the water drains away freely. Magnolias never give their best where the soil contains lime.

Plant gladioli. If planted for garden effect these are best placed in groups. Allow six inches between each corm and place them about three inches deep. If sweet peas are sown now, they will be effective during the summer months. Plant antirrhinums, pansies, polyanthus, pentstemons, stocks, nemesia, Iceland poppies, lupins, and hollyhocks. As soon as the soil is workable sow hardy annuals in the borders where they are to bloom. Complete the planting of herbaceous perennials. Autumn-sown sweet peas should have the spindly growths removed. Keep the soil well cultivated. Wistaria is one of the best climbing plants for covering pergolas, arches, and fences. It is hardy, free flowering and is a vigorous grower. Wistaria may be planted for some time yet. These plants do best when given a position in full sun. They are fond of lime, and require plenty of root moisture during dry weather. Shrubs At the present time many of the magnolias are making their display. For the small garden, one of the most suitable kinds is magnolia stellata. This charming shrub bears a multitude of starry flowers in spring. The colour is a mauve-pink. A charming effect can be produced by underplanting with blue grape-hyacinths. Magnolias do not require pruning. They do best when left to grow at will. .Root disturbance by deep cultivation is detrimental to them; so is lime or wood ash.