IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23349, 7 June 1941, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK (SPECIALIST • WRITTEN TOE THE PRESS.) IBy W. J. HUMM.] FLOWERS The weather during the last few weeks has been ideal for general gardening work. Planting should be pushed on with haste. Many persons are in the habit of pruning flowering cherries, apples, and plums at this time of the year. This is quite wrong. These plants develop much of their blossom on the wood which was grown last season. To shorten these growths back at the present time is to sacrifice the future blossoms and also to destroy the natUfal appearance of the plants. Many of the climbing plants will need attention now. Thin out all spindly and worn- ( out growths, leaving only a framework of well-matured wood. Clematis montana are best pruned as soon as the flowers fade. All the clematis of the Jackmanii type flower oh the current season’s growth and ' therefore may be cut to within a foot of the base. Ttfe majority of the large -flowering types flower on the lateral growths which develop on the mature wood and therefore should not be cut, down each year. All they require is a little judicious thinning out and only if they have outgrown their positions. Push on with the pruning of roses as soon as possible. There is nothing to be gained by leaving rose-pruning until spring. Wichuriana and their hybrids may be pruned now. Thin out all old growths and replace with vigorous new ones. Shorten all lateral growths back, two buds. Cut out all spindly growths and leave only a framework of young, healthy wood to produce next season’s crop of flowers. Do not lift fuchsias, unless there is a frost-proof building in which to store them. Although these plants in many localities branch freeze the roots are not injured. They will grow again next spring if left undisturbed. Cover the crowns with some strawy litter or leaves, which will keep the frost out.

Delphiniums should be carefully watched during the winter months. These plants are subject to the attacks of slugs. Any grass or weeds growing about the plants will harbour these Chrysanthemums that have finished their flower display may be cut down to within one foot of the ground. ■ Plant all types of ornamental trees and shrubs. Vegetables It is not possible to grow first-rate vegetables without proper ground cultivation. Experience has shown that the sooner the land is dug up and left exposed to the influence of the frost the better will be the results of next season’s crop. Spring digging is never satisfactory. In favourable weather all crops piamed lor spring use, such as cabbage, lettuce, broad beans, peas, and onions, should be hoed frequently. Broad beans and cabbage should be moulded up. 'this will keep them firm and ensure good drainage. Potatoes for early crops should be procured now, and stood in shallow trays to sprout, They should be placed in a frost-proof shed where they will receive plenty of air and light. Treated this way, they produce short ; sturdy sprouts, and when planted will come in much in advance of the unsprouted ones. It is a good time to prepare the ground for planting rhubarb. For this crop the ground, should be deeply trenched and plenty of well-decayed manure incorporated into the soil at the time of trenching. Let the soil settle before the plants are put in. These is no need to hurry planting; if the roots are. in by August it will be soon enough. .Rhubarb requires plenty of space between the plants. The rows should be placed four feet apart and the plants three feet apart in the rows. Those who wish to excel in growing vegetable marrows and pumpkins should prepare the soil early in the winter. Take out holes four feet wide and two feet deep. Fill this with a compost of well-decayed manure, good sweet, gojl, and sharp sand. If this is stirred frequently during the winter it will be in an excellent condition to receive the young plants or seeds in spring. , Fruit Push on with the planting of all classes of fruit trees. There is nothing gained by waiting until spring to do this work. Where brown rot and other fungoid diseases appeared last year in the stone fruit, spray the trees with Bordeaux mixture. For apple trees infected with scale, red mite, leaf roller, or codlin grub, use lib of caustic soda and £lb of soft soap dissolved, and add this to 10 gallons of wdter. Care should be taken not to let the liquid come in contact with the skin. It is liable to burn. Plant black, red, and white currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and loganberries. The Glasshouse There is plenty of work to be done under glass at the present time. The time for sowing annuals and many of the perennials will soon be here, and it is advisable to make preparations now by getting the boxes and soil ready. A suitable mixture in which to sow the seeds would be one part loam, one part leaf. mould, and half-part sand; Put through a half-inch sieve. After the shortest day, sow lobelia, nerhesia, stocks, verbenas, petunias, and antirrhinums. It is too early to sow> begonias, gloxinias, streptocarpus, and primulas. The first week in August is soon enough to do this. All. glasshouses should have a thorough cleaning once a year. Plants growing ih frames should not be denied 1 -fresh, air. Cuttings of pansies, violas, and calceolarias will damp off if the frame is kept too close. When the wteather is suitable, it is advisable to open, the frame and subject the cuttings to the air and light. Shrubs Winter-flowering,shrubs are valuable especially when coming into flower. One notable, feature is that many of the early flowering species are sweetly scented/ Lonicera fragrantissima is in full bloom. Its small creamy-white bell-shaped flowers are very fragrant. This shrub is well worth a place where winter flowering shrubs are valued.