Here And There...

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29145, 4 March 1960, Page 7

Here And There...

This is a good time to build up good stocks of young plants for planting out in the spring, and any good weed-free position out of doors will suffice for such hardy subjects as pansy, viola, carnation, hollyhock, Canterbury bell dianthus, polyanthus, delphinium, antirrhinum and Iceland poppy. It is still possible to get an autumn display by planting the brilliant scarlet salvia, portulacca, verbenas, anthirrhinums or petunias; or by filling up spaces with seeds of godetia, linum, clarkia, nemophila, candytuft or cornflower. These will carry through the winter into spring and can be quite spectacular. Hollyhocks are showy for the back row. Where the foliage is disfigured by rusty spot, it is best to cut off the affected leaves for burning. Geraniums, also are likely soon to be showing holes in the leaves made by the looper grub. The grub can be easily found on the undersides of these perforated leaves. Hand picking, or dusting with derris would be the control; or, if you are treating the lawn for grass grub with arsenate of lead, do the geraniums as well. Autumn sowing of sweet peas is favoured by many, and now is the time to begin operations. While a deeply dug trench of rich plant food is desirable, it is not wise to open up the trench and fill it w r ith compost or manure without careful digging and mixing with the trench soil. In this way an abundant supply of plant food is there to develop a steady growth for months on end. Cuttings of pinks, viola, pansy, carnation and hydrangea can now be put out, and runners taken off violet plants or the old ones broken up and replanted.