GARDEN NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24814, 2 March 1946, Page 5

GARDEN NOTES

(Specially Written for "The Press.”) [By T. D. LENNIE, F.1.H., N.Z.] FLOWER GARDEN Roses, both dwarf and climbing, will be the better for some attention now. Spent bloom stems should be removed well down. This will help the second blooming in the autumn, which is always worth while. Then spray with Cosan or Bordeaux to control mildew. Climbing roses have made many strong growths, not all of which are needed. Keep sufficient to clothe the supports when the old growths are removed in the winter and the plants will benefit. Perpetual carnations should be gone over. Flower stems an,d much of the old growths should be cut out. Usually these plants’ are left to develop a close busfe, inducing leaf rust and weak grass. Many perennial plants can be helped by cutting out flowering stems. Phlox, kniphofia, delphinium, and foxglove should not be allowed to seed.

The bulb planting season has now arrived. Most gardens rely on bulbs largely for a spring display. Preparations include deep digging of the areas. Some form of animal manure or compost should be included -when digging. Bulbs for hot, dry positions include freesias, sparaxis, romulea, scillas. snowflakes, tritonias, nerines. and amaryllis. Most others favour an open all-weather position. Flower seeds to sow now include cornflower, godetia, mignonette, candytuft, nemophila, schizanthus, ten week -stocks, pansy, viola, polyanthus, antirrhinum', poppy. Rockery and edging plants can be propagated by division. Weeding should riot be relaxed. Where couch grass or similar ar£ involved, -lift the clump, free it, and replant. Chrysanthemums will need attention. Staking or tying up is imperative. Thin out clumps if large or too close. Fewer but better flowers will result. VEGETABLE GARDEN Give celery attention. Loosen soil in trench and earth up if well grown. Sow lettuce and early cabbage for spring use. Asparagus tops can be cut off' and burned on the bed. Onions and eschallots can be harvested. If still unripe defer for a week or two. Stir soil around tomatoes, and water with a potash solution loz to the gallon, or dress with ashes from wood fires. Soot is also valuable for this crop. White butterfly is prevalent. Use derris or spray arsenate on all cabbage tribe. Sweet corn is ready for use when the tassel shows withered. Cut the cobs off with a knife. THE FRUIT GARDEN Gather fallen apples. Destroy if not usable, as most carry codlin giubs. Cut out old fruiting canes from raspberry patch. Stone fruit trees can be usefully sprayed with lime sulphur, two tablespoons to the gallon. A moderate thinning out of branchlets is also advised. Tree banding is common in England, resulting in the capture of great numbers of hibernating grubs. The procedure is simple. A three-inch wide strip of bagging is passed around the trunk of apple and. p6ar trees. Draw fairly tight and secure with a nail bent over. The grubs passing up the trunk will stop at the bandage and spin their cocoons. When removed in three or four weeks’ time the grubs can be destroyed and the bandage renewed. At Home a greased band is employed on the fly-paperr principle but the simpler band indicated here will be found to do its job well, especially if applied about mid-January to catch early broods.

Cutting is a term meant to convey a system of plant propagation. Most garden plants can be so Increased, and with geranium, fuchsias, hydrangeas: gazanias, arctotis, carnations, the time is now opportune. With the former the cutting should be allowed to dry a little before planting. Cuttings of firm season’s growth- are required. Cut off just below a leaf nodule, put into a good sandy mixture, shaded from the sun, for two or three weeks. With the three last named, pull off and slightly trim both ends. .