TREE-PLANTING CAN STILL BE CARRIED OUT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30196, 30 July 1963, Page 10

TREE-PLANTING CAN STILL BE CARRIED OUT

A bewildering array of containers can confront the home gardener shopping for trees and shrubs. The container-grown plants are popular, for they can be transported and stored with a minimum of root damage between nursery and garden. Carboard, wood or plastic pots can be easily peeled away without damaging the fine feeding rootlets of the plant.

If the plants have been kept in the containers for any length of time, the roots should be gently teased out where they have grown over each other on the conitainer wall. A popular condaiiner for home plant-raising is the peait pot, Which simply needs to be crumbled a little and placed in position. It then provides food for a healthy plant which has not really been transplanted at all.

At this time of year, deciduous trees and shrubs may be sold with bare roots. This does not endanger them as they are not relying on constant food supplies during the dormant period. Damaged roots should be trimmed off before the plant is puit in plaice.

Where the plants roots are wrapped in sacking, any protruding roots should not be disturbed. As much of the sacking as possible should be cut away, and the rest planted with the shrub. When fruit trees are bought, it should be established whether they have been pruned that autumn. As well as pruning for the future shape of the tree, some top growth should be removed to compensate for any damage which has been Below: A beautiful yearround display of conifers, carefully graded for size and colouring. This display is in the gardens of Lincoln College.

dunie to the roots between nursery and garden. An important point, often neglected, is the firm positioning of new trees and sbruibs. The hole to contain the new tree should take all the roots comfortably when they are spread out and should form a small hill in the middle. When the soil is replaced about the plant, a gentle pat with the spade is not sufficient—good firm packing with the boot heel must ensure that the soil will not settle and put the pliant “out of plumb.”

How Green Is Your Menu ?

If you have a young family with a dislike for “greens” there is no real need to grimly grow them simply because “they are good for you.” Some dietitians have spoken against them as the ultimate in food value. For example, here are some calorie values per pound of vegetables: asparagus 120, broccoli 170, cabbage 130, silver beet 150, Spinach 110. And in opposition: lima beans (dry) 515, parsnips 380, peas 460, sweet corn 490, Kumaras 565, potatoes 385.

It must be admitted, however that most of the green vegetables are recognised as good sources of vitamins. So if mother is planning a lowcalorie diet for her figure's sake they are likely to appear on the menu.