GARDEN NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25306, 4 October 1947, Page 3

GARDEN NOTES

(Specially Written for “The Press.”) [By T. D. .LENNIE, F.1.H., N.Z.]

FLOWER GARDEN Tidiness on the borders should now be evident, and stfeps can be taken to nil the spaces according to the owner’s plans Bedding plants can bulk largely in most schemes,- as they will at small cost make a good show throughout the summer. Antirrhinums retain their popularity and, whether planted in a colour pattern with separate colours or mixed, are effective. Their usefulness as cut flowers for the house is a big point in their favour. Other plants to be recommended include Iceland poppy, wallflower, petunias, schizanthus, pansy, calendula, lobelia, ageratum, and violas. Geraniums and shrubby calceolaria can be planted. Both are ideal for massing in rather dry positions or to fill open beds in the lawn. _ Late planting of shrubs can still be done. In this class azalea mollis, hydrangeas, clianthus, viburnum japonica, rhododendrons, and camellias may be mentioned. The planting of herbaceous perennials should be hastened, as growth is rising fast. There is still time to deal with phlpx, rudbeckia, campanula, astilbe, paeonies, and helenium. Dahlia stools can be lifted and broken up for replanting. Division will be easy if growth shoots are taken as the guide for cutting up. One or two eyes, should be left on each piece. These divisions will give better results than the crowded old stool. Dust sulphur powder in and about clumps of delphiniums as a help in checking mildew. ' Gladiolus should be in the ground now unless wanted for very late flowering. A spell of fine weather will quickly bring on green fly attacks on roses and other plants. As soon as noticed a spraying with nicotine sulphate or kattikilla should be applied. Chrysanthemums can be broken up for replanting. Cuttings with a few roots attached will soon make good plants. Michaelmas daisy is another plant improved by subdivision to prevent formation of unwieldy clumps. Liliums are showing rapid growth upwards. Stir the surface soil around them and in the case of L. candidum, regale, and tigrinium—all subject to lily disease—spray Cosan or Bordeaux. Should Ihe young leaves show a purplish tint, pick these off and burn.

Lawn-making should be hastened to get the benefit of early spring growth. TJjere is now no reason to have the lawn spoiled by weeds, as these can be easily controlled by spraying a hormone weedkiller without risk of injuring the* grass. VEGETABLE GARDEN Last month was ideal for seed sowing and work should be well up to date, so that the current jobs for October need not be delayed. Main sowings of general crops should be undertaken as well as other lines for succession. Usually one sowing of onions, carrots, beet, parsnips, spinach, silver beet and leeks is sufficient, but with others—peas, radish, turnip, lettuce and other salads, it is best to sow in small lots at intervals of three or four weeks. This month many late vegetables have to be considered—vegetable marrow, pumpkin and squash, jam melbn, cucumber, dwarf and runner beans, sweet corn, salsify, endive. All are useful where space permits their inclusion. The various winter greens are also due for sowing. Plants of these should be put out in December or early January frfcm seed sown in October. In this class are drumhead cabbage and savoy,. Brussels sprouts, curled kale, kohlrabi, leeks,

celery, and celeriac. Plant lettuce and cabbage for use in early summer. These plants should be usable in about two months’ time. Main lots of potatoes can be planted, and readers are advised to put all vacant patches in this indispensable vegetable. As to varieties, choose between Aucklander, Arran Banner, Sutton’s Supreme, Chippewa, or Inverness Favourite. •> When sowing a dry ‘‘artificial’’ fertiliser, it is always best to get it under the seed row or mixed in the soil for potato or plant. It may take more time to open up a drill, four or five inches deep—sow the manure—and fill in again before making the shallow seed drill, but the manurial elements will be in a place very accessible to the roots, and not likely to cause injury to the seedlings. Similarly, a spoonful can be dropped in each plant hole and covered with a layer of earth. For sweet corn, pumpkins, etc., ihe ideal agent is compost or farm manure. Excavate to a depth of six* inches, dig a layer into the subsoil, replace the top soil, .and the seedling plants will have both food and moisture assured. Prepare for planting tomatoes. Choose a warm position not too dry, and dig in a generous supply of compost or manure as recommended above. Good varieties for outdoor growing are beefsteak, potentiate, Marglobe, and Best of All.

FRUIT GARDEN Spraying should be done with caution just now, but taken up again when, flower petals have fallen. Small fruit bushes will benefit from a mulch of sharp manure or good compost. Failing either, scatter a blood and bone manure at the rate of 4oz to the square yard. Slugs and Woodlice do a. great deal of damage to plants in the spring and early summer, and should not be allowed to increase. Their haunts are usually old clumps of reedy flowers, thick grass, or heaps of vegetable rubbish. Cleaning these up will thin them out considerably. Being njght workers, their presence is often unsuspected until damage is done. If an examination be made late at night, the army will be seen on the march from their haunts. They-can then be killed by shaking silt on them or by crushing with the spade, Their numbers on such a foray are. often quite astonishing. It is wise to protect plants by using a poison bait or slugene powder. M.H., Geraldine.—The presence of that black deposit on the leaves -is due to scale insects infesting the plant, so that if you destroy the scale the sooty mould will disappear, and the plants flourish once again. Spray the manukas with nicotine sulphate, and repeat about February. It would be wise to make a point of spraying them every year abfiut this time.

One of the fundamental requirements for world peace was the establishment of a world parliament, said Mr T, A. Efford, in an address entitled “Can We Achieve the Conditions of Peace,” to the Christchurch Workers’ Educational Association. This would necessitate a world law enforced not by an international police force but by world courts, said Mr Efford. Unfortunately there appeared tc be no hope of the early establishment of a world parliament. The keynotes to its establishment, faith, trust and goodwill, were lacking, and in their places were distrust, fear and hatred as exemplified by the feverish atomic armaments race. Hatred destroyed intellectual integrity and there could be no real progress until it was overcome.