GARDENING FOR THE WEEK.

Evening Star, Issue 14420, 16 July 1910, Page 10

GARDENING FOR THE WEEK.

Our contributor, a well-known gardener, will be glad to answer questions, which must be received not later than Tuesday of each week. —The Vegetable Garden. — The cold snap we aro experiencing just now will to a great extent interfere with ■the general routine work in this department. It would be unwise to attempt sowing seeds whilst the ground is so cold and wet; in fact, it would prove disastrous to most things. But those who are favored with a high and sunny aspect may take the advantage of getting in a few early seeds as soon as the nvaiimr changes ami the ground has had time to get moderately dry, presuming that the ground was turned up to the weather last autumn, and has become in a fit state to receive seeds. The soil for these early crops should bo light and rich and well drained, and, as I said above, on a sunny aspect. Asparagus should be heavily manured, but not dug in—simply, placed neatly upon the beds, and a good sprinkling of salt will complete the operation. Tiro rest should be left to the rains.

Cabbage may be planted out at any time when the* weather permits. A wise plan is to plant two or three sorts, as very rarely two sorts come in at exactly _ the same time; therefore the advantage is a longer period of cutting. Cauliflower mav be sown in a warm bed, consisting of a few barrow-loads of good, warm stable manure placed in a

, “R.”—U) You'ask what the little white blight-like thing is on your palms, and a remedy for it. According to your description, I should say it is a very small white scale, that is very troublesome at times to palms, especially where they have been getting too much light and too dry an atmosphere. Your best plan will be to syringe well with a strong lather of Disburses Compound, then syringe with clean water before the soap dries, i(2) Palms should not get direct sunlight. They thrive best in a moist, humid atmosphere, with plenty of moisture at their roots. Do not keep them sloppy with water. Give your palms a change from a room to a ■ shady and warm corner of a greenhouse, and give them frequent syringings with tepid water for a few weeks. (3) You ask what is the cause of the white stuff forming on the rims of the pots. This is caused by over-moisture on_ badly-burnt pots. This and the green, slimy stuff you refer to are reused by overmuch moisture. Scrub off with a cloth dipped in sand, and use clean water. Your greenhouse may be a dry one, but I think you are inclined to give your plants water when they do not require it, especially at this time of the year. “ Musselburgh.”—(l) You ask for a good blue potato for sandy soil. Gem of the South, or, if you can get it, a good strain of the old Derwent. Both these axe blue. (2) You ask if bone meal is a good fertiliser for lawns. Not the bast. Blood or jrrass manure, with a good dressing of Newcastle soot, is an excellent manure for iawns.

“ Caterpillar.”—'The Ixix containing the grubs arrived quite safe. They are the common grass grub. To eradicate them you should procure some apterito and uso as advised above. You did wrong by applying salt to your lawn. If you put on much you will kill your grass, and perhaps not the grub. If you dig up your lawn give it a dressing with the apterito—this vdll kill all insects and act afterwards as a stimulant to the grass. “H.S.”—I am afraid you will have some difficulty in growing good apples in wet sand, and so close to tho strong salt air. I would not advise you to dig out holes and fill in with clay, but work in the clay and soil around whore the trees are to bq planted, and cover with a little soil, making them nice and firm. Good kitchen and eating apples are: Jonathan (K and D), Rome Beauty, Rymer (K), and Gravenstein. (2) Do not put soil or anything in your boxes when placing potatoes to sprout, but simply place the potatoes eyes up close together in shallow boxes until eyes are half an inch long, “■lnquirer.”—The enclosed potatoes I should say by their appearance were Snowdrops, and an early variety. They have the appearance of that variety. If so, they