ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 100, 2 May 1929, Page 22

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Hydrangea Blooms.—Another reader has kindly written on the subject of hydrangea blooms as follows:—"Allow the blooms to remain on the bush until they look thoroughly without water." *

"L.G."—Potatoes rany cither be stored in pits, which is the , usual way where large quantities have to be dealt with, or in sacks It is natural for them lo sprout after a time but if they are tipped out on the floor of a dark shed, where they are l;ept dry, ami at the same time have plenty of air, tile sprouting would" not commence so sooii.

Advantage must be taken of any dry days ivhcn tl>c soil is fairly dry on the surfaco to do as much weeding as possible either by hand or with the hoe. Hoeing is of very little use during wet weather as the weeds are merely transplanted. . .Where possible it is as woll to dig the weeds in, but this cannot always be done without doing considerable damage to the roots of the plants. As the days get shorter the ground requires all the sunshine available and by keeping the- garden free from weeds more light and warmth arc able to "ct to the soil. "With the same object any useless growth should be cut away from the plants. All perennial plants which have finished their flowering may bo ■ cut back and the soil be loosened up round them unless they are to be lifted < and divided, in which case it is as well to proceed with the lifting and replanting as soon as possible. If done now while til* soil is still warm the replanted portions will soon form roofs and come away strongly, making good sturdy plants for next season's ingPAEONIES AND GLADIOLI. Paeonics may be cut back as soon as the loliago dies back naturally. This should not be done until then. " These plants resent disturbance and once established are- better left for several' years until the soil becomes quite exhausted or the clumps become too crowded. After cutting back and marknig the site with a stake a. good mulch ol decayed manure spread over tho clump will greatly assist the flowers As soon as tho foliage starts to turn yellow the conns of gladoli should be lifted If allowed to remain in tho ground they arc liable to start into growth again, and to get tho best results it is necessary for the conns to have a rest ,. if ]iftcd b(jforo toliago completely dies, less trouble will bo experienced with tho small conns winch will adhere to the larger one, and so avoid tho troublo of havwanted. -Soino varieties can become •he Bndo ypc a,s they are already making growth. After lifting the tops should be cut off an inch or so from the conns and the conns bo laid oit on a bench to dry. l CHRYSANTHEMUMS AND DAHLIAS. These plants are now coming into their lull g ]ory all(1 wL Jook * a 7f ° we'eH T3ko thn garfl °n «■•'•>• f« ™»y weeKs. To secure the plants from damage by rain and wind it is nece" lirlv £*??' Btakcs aml tics «g»Jarij.. It they arc once broken down it is exceedingly difficult to get them SLTVT"- I,' thCy ar6 »ot entire? broken off. Grubs are particularly destructive to chrysanthemum blooms, of- £•?,£'.?■•£" ".iriii"-!. BELLADONNAS. T^i" floweri»& tho foliage of Ticlladonuos comes away strongly if tho bulbs are healthy. There is a str or.° temptation to cut oil this folia go fo? the sake of neatness. I would warn oi ?l ? r il n*Ur° seasol». Tho strength of the bulb is built up by-the leaves, and if they are cut off the bulbs ;-o

weakened and if the practice is persisted in will eventually die. "When the foliage is very long it may bo doubled over and tied and" will then be quite tidy. CUTTINGS. Many of tho plants raised from cuttings will now be ready to move and provided they are rooted this is a good-time to plant them out, as there is sufficient warmth still in the soil. When planting out care must be taken not to damage the young roots, and the plants should be made quite firm when planting. The soil is sufficiently moist so very little, if any, watering will be required. GETJMS. Among the most useful garden plants which have been greatly improved of recent years Geums should take a forward place. The plants are very free-flowering and remain in bloom for a long period. The best-known scarlet variety, Mrs. Bradshaw, is still the best of its colour, while the yellow variety of the same habit, Lady Strathedcn, is a worthy companion to the former. Geum Borisii is a somewhat smaller plant than these, with smaller flowers of the most vivid .shade of orange. It produces these with amazing prodigality, surpassing every other geums" in this virtue, and is such a bright, cheery neat Httlo plant, and thrives so readily in any ordinarily good garden soil, thai it claims a place of special affection in the heart of the gardener. Fire Opal is another newer variety which stands in a class by itself. It is of a shade of warm orange-scarlet and in habit resembles Mrs.' Bradshaw and Lady Stratheden. Tho flowers are semidoublo with petals not quite so crimped as Mrs. Bradshaw. As bedding plants Geums take a lot of beating, either massed iv one colour or alternated in two contrasting colours. Tho plants remain in bloom for a very long time, a.nd are so profuse that they are ideal for tho purpose. If planted in conjunction with spring flowering balbs or carpeted with forget-me-not the display will be prolonged even further.