SUMMER DISPLAYS Are Now At Their Best.. .

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 3

SUMMER DISPLAYS Are Now At Their Best.. .

Everywhere at the present time we see gay gardens built up with profuse and pleasing display. Geraniums, petunias, Iceland poppy and Phlox drummondi probably figure prominently among the bedding plants, while dahlias, gladiolus and perennial phlox are likely to be found in the permanent back row section. Perhaps the greatest contribution to prize-winning gardens is made by the spring-planted bedding contingent; but the weakness of this section is that it is recurring and has to be done all over again each spring. Most home gardeners like to see variety on their borders, and that means a judicious collection of annuals and perennials planted with the idea of having something different, yet adequate, for a long period. That is, of course, where the perennials come in, for they provide both variety and novelty for nine months of the year. Garden display can be greatly assisted by some attention to staking of dahlias, gladiolus and lilies. . This preserves the balance and J prevents stalks being blown to unsightly angles by the wind, ( so often the cause of unsightliness : in otherwise carefully tended ’ gardens. ( Even now it is not too late to ; supplement and fill up spaces ; with quick-flowering annuals < such as marigolds, stocks, zinnias, ] asters, petunias, ageratum, portulaca or salvia. If you have < already attended to this activity, < attention should be paid to cleaning up the borders by weeding, removal of spent foliage and ; flowers. This, with attention to ■ the staking of the taller growers, < should result in your garden look- < ing at its best for the remainder i of the season. 1

Everyone loves and appreciates the old Christmas lily (I* candidum) and it is sad to see it impaired or even destroyed by the lily disease to which it is, unfortunately, subject. Where stem leaves have withered and turned yellow these should be cut off at ground level, and the affected bulb soaked in Oretan or Bordeaux before replanting. This lily has only a very short period of rest, so that any intended lifting for replanting can be done towards the end of January or in February. It is not particular as to situation or soil as long as it is not subjected to extremes. Hydrangeas are making a wonderful show at present, revealing their beauty of pinks or blues according to the type of soil and

Roses are v promising well for their second flowering and, to ensure the best possible results, all old stems should be removed down to the bud showing. Recent hot days have unfortunately brought much mildew into the picture. This shows as a silvery deposit on the young foliage, which curls and wilts. Mildew can be checked by spraying early with Bordeaux or colloidal sulphur. These sprays, however, are preventive rather than curative, hence spraying should be done before the disease manifests itself. Be on the watch, also, for suckers from the roots of standard roses especially. These suckers should be followed down and cut off right at the root. Suckers are not so evident on newly planted bushes as on the old, Australian briar standard.

exposure m which they are growing. They are easily influenced by iron or excess of moisture to produce blue or mauve shades, and these will be found to predominate where the plants are facing south or west. I think the importance of pruning these lovely shrubs is not sufficiently appreciated by many gardeners, judging by small, crowded heads of flowers seen on many plants. Pruning is done in the winter, and many of the crowded branches should be cut out at the base. This will allow of much larger heads the next season. One seldom sees seed forming on these plants for the reason that they are mostly male. The female flower is quite different, being composed of a head of many small blossoms with just a few of the larger male flowers showing in it. The lawn will be showing brown patches where the grass has been unable to stand up to the hot sunshine or to the ravages of grass grub. In either case liquid manuring will help, and, if a table-spoonful of arsenate of lead be added to each gallon of water it will be the end of many grass grubs. It is timely also to combat lawn weeds by spraying on a 24D hormone weed killer. Daisies, cape weed and other broad-leaved weeds may offend your sight, and the use of the hormone spray provides a simple way of removing them without harming the grass. Thin out some of the crowded stems of chrysanthemums and Michaelmas daisies or the flower heads will bear only small.

Answer* To Correspondents REGENT STREET, Waimate; (1) Boron is one of the minor elements which is not very necesaS Only a trace of it is needed, and without analysing your soil, its presence could not be detected. If your raspberries are not healthy, look for anothfer soil weakness, such as Want of organic manures or spraying. As is another of the “trace” elements, so it can be seen that its lacker otherwise woald have, little effect in the case which you cite. (2) Brown rot in strawberries: It is not clear to what you' refer, for it may mean any one of several troubles. Spraying with Bordeaux might help. Red ’ spider on the leaves are serldtis, top, ih the autumn and are hard to get at as they stay on the’ underside of the leaves. Lily, Rakaia: The disease affecting your Lilium candidum is referred to elsewhere in this page, and is one calling for some attention. Cut off all affected stems at ground line, lift the bulbs, shaking off all soil, and put them in the soak as advised leaving for half an hour. When replanting, do not put them near other lilies as the disease is Contagious. Do not destroy the bulbs yet as the treatment may be successful. If it is not you can destroy the bulbs next year. The Glasshouse Vines under glass will now be needing daily attention. A glasshouse cannot be efficient unless it has ventilators low down on the side and near the top ridge of ' the roof to allow air currents along and through the foliage. Without , this, stagnation of the air is likely ,to bring on mildew and shanking with a consequent serious loss of fruit. On hot motnings, damping the floor is necessary to obtain a moist atmosphere. When thinning is finished, spray colloidal sulphur very thoroughly over the vines and fruit. .It is about the best check on mildew and also refreshes the foliage.