GARDENING FOR THE WEEK.

Evening Star, Issue 14414, 9 July 1910, Page 10

GARDENING FOR THE WEEK.

Our contributor, a well-ltnown gardener, will be glad to answer questions, which must be received not Hater than Tuesday of each week.

The sudden change from the mild and dry autumn we experienced to heavy, soaking rains will interfere to a considerable extent with the progress of the digging and planting of trees, but this little inconvenience will be nothing to the vast amount of good the rains are doing to the whole Dominion I am happy to learn that the rams are general, and are, as fat as this district is concerned, the finest rains wo have experienced for about three years. Though we should get another drysummer, the result cannot be so disastrous to vegetable and other crops as was experienced last summer. Those of my readers who took the advantage of the fine weather and got their ground trenched and dug, as I nave frequently advised, will have a big pull over their slower brethren who have not done so. The effect these penetrating rains will have upon well dug and manured ground will be very great. On the other hand, those who have not dug their ground should not rush on it before the water has had time to soak away and get moderately diy, for this will do more ham than good. Always give the ground two, three, or four days, according to the nature of the ground", before proceeding with digging, Sandy soil that requires stiffening may be dug one day after heavy rains. If heavy claysoila are dug a day or so after such rains the effect is disastrous, for. as soon as the hot weather sots in in the spring, instead of the ground brea,lcing down into a fine mould as it should do, it will remain in lumps, and become as hard as bullets So this is one of the great advantages you derive by digging early in the fall, leaving out other advantages the soil derives.'

The planting of trees also should be done with great caution, and the ground studied, whether it be heavy or light, as in the case of digging. When it is advisable to proceed with planting, the soil should bo nice and moist, not wet and sticky. Bettor wait a week or more than to put trees in in that condition. When planting always dig tho holes large enough to receive the trees without doubling up tho roots. Also to raise the centre of the hole a little so that the roots point slightly downwards. Imagine a hole dug with the centre of il low like a basin and a tree put in, as 1 have seen, and the soil tramped down wet, the roots pointing upward. It is impossible for such a tree to grow aud produce a good crop of fruit. Another little kindness that should be shown to <ho trees at planting is well worth considering. When planting, always place in direct contact with the roots some of the best soil you can procure, not shovelling in the cold, hard lumps of clay just as it was dug out 6: the hole. Manure must not come in direct contact with the loots, but be placed a few inches under the soil that the roots are resting upon, or near the surface, but underneath preferred.

The depth to plant depends upon, the nature of the ground. To plant tree? deep in a cold, wet clay would be to court failure, though the same/ depth might be necessary on a dry, sandy, or even gravelly soil. In the first caso you plani to keep their roots near the surface, to obtain as much warmth as possible • in the second, they are put down , to retain moisture and to keep the roots cool. These are the two extremes, from a hot and dry to a oold and wet position. Fruit trees should be put from 6iu to lOin from the surface, according to the nature of the soil, and roses from 4in to Sin or 9m. This planting applies to almost everything. The lighter and dryer, the deeper should each plant be put in. Advantage should bo taken during this wet weather of getting all inside work done, such as scrubbing flower pots, also pots that have plants growing in them, as plants thrive much better m clean pots than in dirty ones; also cleaning down the benches, removing dead leaves. Vines are to be pruned as described a week or so ago. Also, remove all loose bark from the canes, and after this is done paint them over with strong insecticide for a winter dressing, in caso of troublesome insects, such as mealy bug, being on them. A good strong kerosene emulsion or strong Gishurst compound made into a lather will do. Vines should have this dressing each year, as prevention is better than cure in caso of mealy bug or red spider being about. If mealy bug should get a hold it will be very hard to eradicate. —-Answea, “A.M.”—You ask for the names of a dozen each of good chrysanthemums and carnations. I gave twelve good chrysanthemums tor outsuie growing in last week's issue, but will .repeat it:—‘‘Mums” for outside growing: Kevins, Rose Morn,, Chas. Davis, W. R. Church, Merstham Crimson, Mrs Greenfield, Godfrey’s King, Solid d'Octobre, M. A. Pockett, Nellie Pockett, Air Geo. Randle, and Mr Geo. Glenny. 'twelve carnations: "Wild Swan, Professor Cooper, Mutch the Miller, Bachelor, Scarlet Gem. Francos Wolsely, Daffodil, H. Falkland, Primrose Day, Sailor Prince, Cecilia, Mrs R. S. Cartwright. “ Viviaua.'"-—On the enclosed leaf of cineraria the insect is the leaf miner. It is a very small, haimless-looking little fly, that hovers about above the plants when they are disturbed. They alight upon the leaves, puncture them, and at the same time deposit eggs, and in a short time each egg is hatched into a very small grub-like insect. as you can see. and this eats its way in between, the 'inner and outer skin. The fleshy parts are eaten away, leaving the transparent, irregular lines so noticeable They are very partial to the common sow thistle. It is a pity they do not stop on them, for they are a great nuisance when

they attack the cineraria. Your best plan to rid year plants of them is to fumigate tho plants with nicoticido or tobacco smoke, or spray them with tar water j Boil a little tar (half a pin t) in a gallon of water, and spray with the clear water. This is distasteful to leaf miners. Those that are in the leaves you will require to squeeze between the thumb and finger; this will kill them. Other remedies cannot reach them; but very badly effected leaves should bo cut off and destroyed. “H.D.”—You wish to know what good kinds of apples, pears, aud plums for household use can be planted on a clay soil resting on a- reck, bottom, but you do no state how many varieties of each kind you require. I will give six varieties of each kind of early, medium, and late: —Apples : Rome Beauty, Ailington Pippin, Gravenstein, Hoover, Jonathan, Rhymer. Pears: Williams, Bon Chretien, Mario Louise, Beure Claifgeau, Conference, Gunsells Bergamot. Plums: Ponds Seedling, Monarch, Kirk’s Large Black, White Magnum Bonum, Diamond, and Blue Rock. They may b( planted up to the middle of August, hut before that if possible. Before planting trend? two spades deep if possible, digging some good manure in at the bottom of tintrench, so that it will be a little under their roots. If the ground or soil is light, tread it well at planting; if heavy, much lighter. “Sticky Plant.”—-The enclosed leaf hj the old oak-leafed {scented geranium. You speak of a variety that has a very sticky leaf, and would like to know its name There is no class of there plants that I an aware of that is so sticky, only when they have been badly affected with green fly When they are in that state/ they beconn very sticky; that is the only time any o