In The Home Garden

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 152, 26 December 1945, Page 7

In The Home Garden

The most important work in the garden, next to hoeing, is the regular removal of faded blooms and seed-pods, and the cutting down of the old flower stems. The autumn crop of roses. is greatly improved if all dead flowers are removed. Mulching is another important job, especially where the soil is of a light, sandy nature, and driesout .quickly. Plants can only absorb their food supplies in liquid form,, so when moisture is lacking the plants soon look very miserable. Break up the surface crust with hoe or fork, then give a mulch of rotted compost, or lawn clippings to a depth of two inches. The moisture in the ground will not evaporate so readily and the roots will be kept cool. Where a mulch is used the, soil does not cake after watering or heavy rain. VEGETABLES.

There is yet time to get good results from sowings of french and butter beans. During dry weather it is a good plan, after sowing, thoroughly to soak the trench before covering the seed. Make further sowings of peas. The dwarf, early varieties are the best now; they mature more quickly; W. F. Massey is an excellent sort for this sowing. Sow silver beet, spinach, swedes, white and yellow turnips. Sow kohl rabi during December, This vegetable, often regarded only as a food for sheep or cattle, is now an established favourite in many gardens, especially in districts where it is difficult to grow palatable roots of white or yellow turnips. It is important that growth be made quickly and the roots eaten in a young or half-grown state. If left to attain full size, they become coarse and hard. A great advantage kohl rabi possess over turnips is that they stand drought remarkably well. Seed should be sown thinly in drills in their permanent positions, reducing the seedlings while still small to about 3in apart. This allows each alternate root to be withdrawn when of usable size. Seedlings bear transplanting, provided they are well watered.

Make a further sowing of carrots. A quick-maturing variety such a* Chan-* tenay or short horn should be used.

Do not sow carrots in freshly manured soil. Ground that has been well manured for peas or broad beans and now cleared of those crops, is suitable.

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Sow lettuce seed thinly in drills and thin the seedlings to 6in apart. Plant out celery now. Attention should be given to the preparation of the trenches, which should be about 9in deep and 18in wide to take two rows of plants 9in apart. Dig plgnty of well-rotted manure or compost into the base of the trench. Failing those, use 2 ounces of blood and bone to each yard run of trench. Rich soil-is essential. After planting, the soil should be made firm, and the trench given a thor-! ough soaking with water. The following day the bottom of the trench should be hoed, to help retain the moisture given. Further waterings will be necessary throughout the growing season,! alternated with applications of liquid manure, 2 ounces of blood manure to a gallon of water. Plant out leeks in rich soil. A simple method of planting leeks is to make large holes with a dibber, drop a plant in each, then fill the holes with water which will wash in sufficient .soil to cover the roots. Before planting, the tips of the leaves should be cut off. FLOWERS. See that all tall-growing plants such as Michaelmas daisies, perennial phlox, rudbeckia, etc., are staked and securely tied. If there is any trace of caterpillar, dust promptly with derri-dust. Cultivate the rose beds, working in some fertiliser. Basic slag not being available at present, bone dust, 3 ounces to the square yard, will help the autumn blooms. If roses are attacked by green-fly use nicotine sulphate, and at the first sign of mildew spray with colloidal sulphur or dust with flower of sulphiu\ The dust should be used on a hot, dry day. Give carnations a weekly dusting of lime. To obtain large blooms, disbudding should be done early, leaving only the crown bud on each stem. Keep the plants up off the ground by placing four thin sticks round each plant and tie round with raffia or flax. Do not over manure carnations, or burst calyx will be the. result. Pick off all dead and diseased leaves and spray with nicotine to check greenfly. j INQUIRIES. C.R.C.: Constant cultivation is the best way to get rid of sorrel, which thrives in a sour soil. Apply lime, which will correct the acid nature-.of the soil, and with hoeing, especially during hot, dry weather, the sorrel will disappear. Carbonate or fine ground agricultural lime is best for light soil.