Healthy Soil Needed To Grow Good Plants

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 6

Healthy Soil Needed To Grow Good Plants

The earth’s covering is the medium in which vegetation grows and expands; thus vegetation is dependent on the quality of the covering. Thus'we get the vagaries of good and bad growing conditions. Even good soils can be depleted rapidly by putting nothing back to replace crop demands. though this procedure is being recognised as an economic necessity. Nature manufactures plant nutrients sufficient for her own needs by means of humus, which is the accumulation of fallen leaves, dead limbs, and other organic residues. Man is slowly awaking to the task of following suit. Here is where composting comps in as the means of salvation and the world is slowly realising the fact. The tremendous wastage by towns and cities of dumping immense quantities of valuable matter is deplorable, when it can be converted into high-class compost at a profit. It can be said that the -householder is better aware of his responsibilities in this matter, and many people take pride in producing healthy crops by means of home-made compost supplies. The farmer has to use other means such as the working in of greeb crops, full utilisation of animal manures, alternate grazing, etc. There are many cases throughout the country of farmers

following these principles with success. Good compost furnishes many of the trace elements so vital to the healthy- growth of plants. It seems an anomaly that so many individuals will follow the practice of composting, yet cannot be induced to go’ into the mass production of communal schemes of such evident value. Dannevirke and Hastings are two New Zealand centres which have proved their composting schemes both practical and profitable. A good winter job is hedge trimming. Too often the garden is overburdened with- a hedge planted long ago as a break wind and -allowed to overgrow itself into a soil robber. Hedges are a necessary part of garden architecture, and for best effect should be closely clipped during the winter, with a lighter clipping in December to restrain undue or mispaced vigour. Soft “’tips can be used for the compost heap, and the branches burned unless they are wanted for the foundation of the heap.

Trees and shrubs can be planted now in all their rich, variety. Make due preparation by adequate digging and manuring. Often mistakes are made by not allowing for future spread, or by planting shrubs too close together. Shrubs should be at least six feet apart. Shrubs that should appeal include berrying and colouredleaved specimens. Of these, cotoneasters, Crataegus, and berberis offer several fine varieties, while in the coloured-leaved Section, the purple smoke bush, Rhus cotinus purpurea, Dodonea purpurea, Japanese maple, Berberis thunbergi liquidamber, and variegated broadleaf may be mentioned. All these berry and colour best in a fairly dry position with not too much manuring. To keep pace with the times it is often hard to find space for a desirable new shrub, and in such cases it is often possible to gain this by removing an old-timer that has lost its glamour. One should not let sentiment stand in the way of progress in any garden, and this is particularly the case in the shrub sections where,

too often, a subject once planted remains long after it has passed its prime. The Herbaceous Borders It will be opportune now to devote much time to the herbaceous border, where some of the desirable perennials may require attention. Though most of these are quite hardy and easygoing, it will pay to give them care (furing the winter months. Some such as delphiniums, trollius, and lythrium, after being weeded and old sticks removed, should be covered with a threeinch mulch of wood ashes, sand or sawdust to act as protection from frosts. Where the clumps are large, divisions can first be taken off for filling in other vacancies. Even if there is not room for planting all of them, these subdivisions should still be made to improve the quality of the parent plant. Divisions can be made very simply with the spade or with two hand forks thrust into the middle of the clump and levered outwards. Among others which will benefit from this division are Michaelmas daisy, heleniums, rudbeckia,' herbstone, poker plant, shasta daisy, flag -iris, bergamont, and inula.

In cases where any of these clumps are infested with couch grass, there is only one relief, and that is to lift the clump bodily, shake off most of the soil, and carefully pull out all the couch roots. This will not unduly harm the plant. Do not be in a hurry to prune roses or geraniums. The end of July will be more suitable, for the hardest winter frosts will then have passed. Present growths will in the meantime take the effects of these and can then be removed.

If you can spare a cloche, or can construct similar' form of protection, it can be well used over clumps of hellebore or white arum. Such a covering will protect from frost and give a long stem growth. Repairs to, or painting of garden woodwork can usefully be done now for climbing plants or roses can be thinned or lowered if desired. This is a job that cannot be done so well when’ the spring growth has begun. Cuttings of hydrangeas, geranium, and fuchsia can be put in in a selected warm position. Rose planting should be done. It is important that deep digging and manuring be done, as the rose is a gross feeder and deserves the best. Fallen leaves should be raked off the lawns. Those falling on the borders can be dug in.