In the Garden

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 27

In the Garden

By "PKACTICAU

SEASONABLE WORK

SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED

START OF SPRING FLOWERS

"T.O.H."—The greatest difficulty in growing shrubs on the hills around Wellington is on account of the severe winds. Very few plants can stand wind, and even those which are hardy enough to survive get distorted. To b» successful with shrubs, it is necessary to have shelter In the first place. A close boarded, or scrub fence is perhaps tho best roithod of protection; while any of the native flaxes, toltol grass, and pampas, all make a good break-wind, and are quick growing. Very few, If any, of the native shrubs, even, grow satisfactorily In exposed positions. Your only way will be to erect some sort of shelter, and then each shrubs will help to protect tho others. .

Now that .the autumn season is here and growth has largely come-to a standstill, interest in garden work is apt to slacken. This, however, is a mistake, as the work done now bears fruit during spring and summer, and neglect to attend to seasonable work now can never really.be caught up.. The very welcome rains we : have had recently have made the soil into splendid condition for working,, and weeds , are romping ahead, although more welcome plants are making very little growth. Now that the days are shortening, the average man has very little time for garden work, except oh tho half-holi-day, and every fine half-day should ,be utilised to the utmost, while if a half-hour can be squeezed.in ■• in the mornings somuch the better. Half an hour each morning for a week is equal to another half-day, and it is really surprising the, amount of work that can be done by utilising eve.ry spare moment. It is not' the straight-forward job, like digging, which take* the time so much as the incidental-tasks which crop up. .'■■' „.;.

The dutch hoc is of very little use at this season unless the weeds can be raked up after hoeing, as ■ when left lying on the ground-very niany of them will root in again and 'flourish as well as "ever. Where the land is clear the best method is to dig the weeds in. It does not matte^ how" roughly the digging is done, so long as the weeds are well covered, but in beds which are occupied it is not always possible to dig without damaging the .plants, and in such cases hand-working should be resorted to.

PEKENKIAL PLANTS. Nearly all, perennial plants, such 'as Michaelmas, daisies, heliniums, etc., may with advantage be broken up now and the best of the young growths from the outer edges of the clumps be replanted. By getting this jlone as early as possible after flowering is over, the young plants get a good hold of 4;he ground before, the worst of the winter arrives. ... j _ Pansies and violas should also be increased by cuttings of tho young sturdy growths which spring from the base of the plants. Better plants a^re got from these pieces than result when the plants are merely divided. Any vacant spaces caused by tho removal of spent annuals should bo'filled up _ with any availablo seedlings of antirrhinum, stock, nemesia, wallflower, or Iceland poppies. These should flower very early in : the-spring, provided the winter is not unusually severe. Early sown sweet peas require support aa soon aa they are through the ground. Sqnie small twigjjy branches are the best things .to use. If the plants are allowed to''remain, without supports, they lie, on the ground, where they are more liable to bo attacked by slugs, which are troublesome at this period. To protect plants which are liable to be eaten by slugs dust some lime,, soot, or powdered alum over the crowns and around them. Alum is the most satisfactory, as it remains effective for a considerable time even after it has been wetted, while limo or soot havo to be renewed after every shower. Alum not. only dostroys • any slug or snail which comes into contact with it, but. also kills any of their cegs which may bo in tho soil. Alum may very easily bo produced by rolling the lumps down with, a bottle.

Slugs are particularly destructive to delphiniums and pyriOirums, often entirely destroying the'plants by eating off all the young growth. SPRING FLOWERING BULBS. Most of the spring flowering bulbs are through thb ground.' Tho beds should be kept free from woods and tho surfaco loose.. Care should bo taken during weeding not to disturb the roots or to break off the young, growth, which are very brittle, particularly those of tulips and hyacinths. Where

bulbs are grown in beds by themselves it is advisable to .plant somo dwarf annuals among them, as the bulbs are only in bloom for a comparatively short period. Any of tho following are suitable for. the purpose:—-Forget-me-not, nemesia, mignonette, pansl.s, or violas, arabis, and Iceland poppies. If tho plants are put in now between the bulbs in.the rows the hoe can. be run. between the rows or weeding can be done much more easily than when the plants, aro put between the rows of bulbs. :

B3JEKNG THINGS CLEAN.

With the falling of the leaves of aciduoua trees, much litter is lying about. One of the most important tasks in the garden at this season is to keep all litter • gathered up, as it is on such things that many of the fungoid diseases propogate, while underneath is a perfect harbour for all kinds of insect pests, slugs, snails, and woodlite, etc. ' Hodges should be trimmed and cleaned, raking out all dead leaves and rubbish from Jhe base, while shrubs ami trees may with advantage be thinned out. While a certain amount of shade is very desirablo in the heat of summer, the maximum of sunlight is required in winter, when" the sun is low and. tho period of sunlight is short. The planting;out of annual seedlings may be done in localities where severe frosts are not prevalent. In most gardens quantities of self-sown seedlings come up, and theso might with advantage bo utilised. Any of the following are suitable for: this purpose, and, if .planted shquld-niake-good-sturdy

plants ana flower - very early:—ncmesia, Iceland poppies, antirrhinum, mignonette, phlox drummondi, Alonsoa, godetia, linaria, verbena, leptosyne. and sweet peas. . WELL-KEPT LAWNS. ! The green of' a well-kept lawn is a large-factor in the beauty, of a garden whether large or small, bit unless well attended, regularly cut, the edges trim--med, and weeds eradicated,- a grass Plot m more of an eyesore. It in rather late for sowing down now, but preparations should be made for spring sowing. It is not sufficient t6 ■ mereTy scratch the surface as is so often done. Grass, like other plants, doesbest when it has a good deep rpoting^mediumi The plot to be sown down should be dug now to the full depth.of the spade, Ind well manured leaving it m a roug h state throughout the winter. In the spring it will require very little more workinl beyond raking and breaking down any lumps. Drainage must be attended to as grass does not thrive on water-logged ground.. Where the lawn is on a slope the natural drainage should be sufficient, but when on the level it may ,be

necessary, to put in drains either of field tiles or some other medium. It is important that the levels should be correct before sowing. Bake the plot over and get it as level as possible, then run .pressions and once more roll. It is essenthat some parts have sunk more than others. Rake again, filling in any depressions and once; more roll. It is esentail that the soil should be thoroughly consolidated- otherwise depressions will occur later as any soft spots subside. Be sure to get good seed—the best is the cheapest in the long run, as inferior seed is invariably full of weeds, and does not. germinate so well. A good mixture is preferable,to one kind of seed as some grasses do best in wet weather, others in dryjbut none are at their best all through the year. Sow the seed as evenly as possible. Chqose a calm day for this, and sow fairly thickly and rake it in. To'protect the seed from sparrows draw black cottons over the plot. The young grass should be out with a scythe for the* first two or three times—a mower is ■ apt to pull the young plants out by the.roots..Boiling should be done fairly frequently, as this has the effect of making the stool out. At the samo time rolling while the,-ground is wet will do more harm than good, forming a hard crust on the surface.

BEAUTIFUL PYRITHRUMS. Among the many beautiful summerfoworing perennials, pyrethrums should take a: prominent place. They aro thoroughly hardy—not particular about the. soil, produce blooms prolifically, and the flowers, which Jast.for a long time when picked, are excellent for room decoration being borno on long wiry stems. Pyrithrums may be had in various shades of red, pink, and white, and there are both single and doublo varieties. The present-is a good time to divide the clumps, which is allowed to remain more than two or three years in one position,, becomo overcrowded. Each crown with somo root attached will mako a plant, but it is bettor to break the clumps into pieces with three or more crowds. As previously mentioned slugs and snails are particularly destructive on' this plant, so precaution should bo taken to protect the crowns by means of lime or alum.