GARDENING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 24 October 1925, Page 17

GARDENING NOTES

RAPID GERMINATION

SEASON'S QUICK ADVANCE

MENACE OF SLUGS AND SNAILS,

(By "Practical.")

Most of the delayed work of plantIng and sowing should be overtaken now, except where such work has been postponed till next season. Current work, however, will keep gardeners busy, as growth, encouraged by the moist, humid weather conditions, is very rank. After each shower a fresh crop of weeds appears, and these must be cheeked by means of hoeing to prevent them seeding. Seeds both of flowers and vegetables have germinated readily under the favourable conditions experienced, and theso require attention in the matter of thinning and loosening the soil, which gets very crusted after hevay rains. Slugs and snails arc very much in evidence, and at this season of the year the young ones are hatching out. These little fellows, which arc not easily seen, are the ones which do so much damage to seedlings unless destroyed. Frequently dusting the beds with lime, soot, or powdered alum will destroy most of those destructive pests. Some of the perennial plants arc particularly liable to attacks by slugs and snails, notably pyrcthcums and delphiniums, the young" growths of which get eaten as soon as they appear. Unless steps arc taken to check the damage the plants will be killed outright. Work Among the Flowers. Seeds of: any of the following annuals may be sown now in. ground which has been properly prepared. Land, which was dug over in the autumn or winter and allowed to get the influence of the weather will be in good heart, and only requires breaking down. . A light forking over and levelling are all that will be necessary. Stocks, pansies, violas, verbenas, Bchizanthus, antirrhinums, larkspurs, scabious, correopsis, lobelias, gailardias, dianthus, and many others arc all suitable for present sowing. Seed should be sown thinly in all cases, and the seed beds be "kept free from weeds and protected in some way against damage by birds. Blackbirds are particularly destructive on seed beds, especially where manure has been dug in. They dig down for the worms which arc usually present in such soil, and in so doing destroy any young seedlings which may be present. Some fine wire-netting placed over the seed-beds is the best protective method to adopt, care being taken that the birds cannot get underneath. Where available, plants of any of'the varieties mentioned may be put out with safety, spacing them out according to the size they, normally attain when full'grown. Give a good watering as soon as planted to wash the soil in among the roots. . The planting of chrysanthemums should bo done as soon as possible. These plants rcquiro good soil, and as they arc mainly surfaco rooting a good mulch of ojd stablo manure spread around them will greatly assist their growth, especially during hot weather. . Sunflowers of the annual typo may now be sown. There are several variietics, differing in colour and size. The seedlings may safely bo transplanted. Perennial plants in the mixed borders should bo attended to. In the majority of cases such plants as Michaelmas daisies, perennial phlox, delphiniums, and hclenium are allowed to become far too crowded. The clumps should be reduced to five growths at most, when far better results will bo obtained. ) Ifc is a mistake to imagine that there is great loss of bloom by so reducing the growths, as each growth when it has plenty of space to develop will give far more bloom than when all the growth is allowed to remain and the clumps are thick and crowded. Each growth when so reduced should have a stake, and be secured by soft ties at each S or 10 inches. Growing Gerberas. This is a good time to lift and divide and transplant gerberas. These African daisies are better left, undisturbed when they are doing well, but if the clumps have been for many yenrs in one place, and have become too large, they require dividing. They will not stand a wet position, and it is particularly necessary to keep the crowns It is a good plan to plant in a. raised bed of good rich soil, but fresh manure should not come in contact with the roots. When planting the crowns should be left uncovered. i!e careful when lifting not to damage, more than is unavoidable Iho long, fleshy roots, and when replanting sco that the holes are sufficiently deep to allow of the roots not being doubled in. Primroses and Polyanthus from Seed. These plants are always popular, and being easily grown should bo present in every garden. Tho variety of cfflcuring and (when well grown) length of stalk make them very good subjects for (able- decora!ion. The best results are obtained from seedling plants, but they, may readily be propagated by division of the old clumps. To get good flowers it is necessary to divide the clumps up each year after- flowering, bced is somewhat slow in germinating, but under favourablo conditions and where tho seed is fresh' there aro notmany failures. A seed bed' on a partially shady border where the soil does not get too dry is suitable for raising the seedlings. Cover the seed about oneeighth inch deep and do not sow too thickly. As tho seeds are fairly ki^e they may easily be planted separately. As soon as large enough, tho seeclings may be p-u-ked out into- nursery beds, and by April they should be largo enough to plant out into their permanent positions for blooming next sprin". Spring-flowering shrubs which ° have finished their flowering season should he pruned as required, and camellias and similar shrubs should have the dead flowers removed and any thinning necessary done, as new. growth starts when tho (lowering is finished on most of these. Rhododendrons, whose roots form a mat right to the surface of the soil, must be carefully treated. Digging around these should lie avoided as much as possible, as roots are bound to be damaged if a spado is used. Weeds should be removed by hand, and the plants receive a good niulcliiiic; of either well-rotted st;iblo manure, "leaf mould, or rubbish from the compost hciip. The, aim must, lie Id keep, the roots cool and moist during the hot seasou. Vegetable Growlno. T"iruit"r,-j miiy In-, pUnlcd iin'i' n-illi safety auywhsre except in .di&tiiile,

where late {ronts aro likely to occur. Theso plants do not require particularly rich soil, which is apt to mako them grow 100 rank. Manure may bo supplied in liquid form when the fruit has formed. The ground for this crop must bo well-drained, otherwise blight will destroy the plants. A position sheltered from all winds, but one Which gets the maximum of sun, should be chosen for tomatoes. French and runner beans may be sown, and while small the young plants should be surrounded by bushy scrub as a protection from cold winds, which ruin them. P*unner beans, being perennial, should be planted in ground which has been specially prepared and deeply dug, as they will remain in the same position for several years. Old plants of runner beans should be coming away strongly now, and will require to be cleared of weeds. As slugs are fond of the young growths, means must be taken to check their ravages.

Main crop potatoes should bo got in, and also carrots, red beet, and parsnips.

Peas should be eown according to requirements, the tall varieties giving the best results during dry weather. Ths soil should be deeply worked, especially for the later sown ones, as when the season gets advanced and the ground dry they need to be able to push their roots deeper into the ground to obtain the necessary moisture.

Make sowings of lettuce, radish, and other seedlings at. intervals ns required to ensure a continual supply of young growth. ■

Pumpkins, marrows, and. cucumbers should be sown on prepared hills as previously advised, thinning out the plants as soon as they appear.