GARDENING FOR THE WEEK

Evening Star, Issue 17543, 24 December 1920, Page 10

GARDENING FOR THE WEEK

Our contributor, a well-known gardener, will be glad to answer questions, lohich must be received not later than Tuesday of each week. VEGETABLES. The majority of crops are now able to look after themselves, providing care be taken to keep down weeds and to stir the surface soil to retain moisture and stimulate growth. This frequent stirring of the soil is of great assistance to growing crops. If there is one crop in the vegetable garden in which amateurs or beginners fail to produce profitable head.s or a satisfactory return it is celery. This being the time for planting out this'fine vegetable, I propose giving one or two essential points in their culture. If carried out I am sure the result will be satisfactory, and more than pay for the little extra trouble. Celery is very liable to run to seed instead of forming solid sticks. The most common cause of failure is want of sufficient moisture. If there is one fault more than another it is this. Celery requires good cultivation. The forcing" system should be avoided, as it deprives the celery of flavor. On the other hand, stunted growth is sure to cause it to run to seed. Colery must have rich soil and abundance of moisture.,. It is best grown in single trenches; but it may, where space is limited, be grown in double or treble rows : for one row 12in wide and 12in deep, with Sin or 4in of good or wellrotted manure dug in ; for two rows the ■trench should he loin ; for three rows, 2ft. By this plan plants require more care in earthing; but" this triple row system is suitable where large quantities " are required. The plants should be got in before they become too large. They should be lifted with a trowel, and planted at least 6in .apart and fairly well down, giving a good watering to settle the soil and to prevent a check. In cold soils and cold districts the trenches would be better not so deep, but the rows should be a little wider so as to allow more room for proper earthing up. Earthing up is only for t-ho bleaching of the sticks, to make them fit for the table; therefore, celery must not be earthed up before it is nearly full growm Various methods are adopted for bleaching celery other than that of earthing. ' Six-inch drain pipes.are used with good effect: also stout brown paper collars (wrapping and tying them around the stems)—anything to excludo light and air. In earthing up care should be taken, if the soil is at all dry, to give the trench a good soaking of water previous to earthing. From beginning to end celery should not suffer one dav for want of water. _ We are now come to the time for making the last sowing of garden peas in this district, excepting- places like the Peninsula, where they may be sown somewhat t /V l * 1S very rare for P eas muchafter Christmas to mature before they are cut by the early frost. Varieties to sow now should be dwarf kinds, such as Dr btuart, Dwarf Defiance, Carter's Daisy and others. Sow for succession lettuce, radish, mus- ' tard and cress, spinach, and French beans. Plant out Autumn Giant cauliflower broccoli, savoys, ' Brussel sprouts, and curly kale, which are highly appreciated for w.nter use, especially after frost, X lant out leeks as previously advised. FLOWERS. The present is a good time for sowing antirrhinums. If sown now in drills outside in well-prepared beds they will come into flower early next spring. Polyanthus and primroses mav he sown in the open border, but the situation for them should be warm" and the soil rich. Brampton's stocks make a fine show in spring if sown now and grown on and planted out in good rich loam. East Lothian and Beauty of Nice stocks may also be sown, but it would bo safer to sow these in boxes. Miinulus sown now will flower early next spring. Wallflowers may still be sown. Aquilegias come up readily if sown now, and make good plants for flowering nesrt spring and summer. Hop. and keep clean flower beds. Stake and tie dahlias and gladiolas and all plants that require support. The recent severe winds have proved disastrous to unsupported plants, particularly such as these and chrysanthemums. Remove faded flowers from sweet peas. By doing this, the flowering period is very much extended. Seed pods of rhododendrons and such like flowers should bo all carefully removed. THE YIXERY. Grape thinning should be in full swing just now, and not an hour should he lost until it is completed. The overcrowding of the berries at all times is a decided mistake, particularly before thinning. Keep the inside border or floors of the vinery moist to maintain a moist atmosphere. Under such conditions better growth and finer fruit are securer! than with too dry an atmosphere. We are ncaring tire time when scorching or scalding of the fruit is very liable to happen. Where scalding takes place there, is nothing for it but clipping them out. This is a. serious loss if the scalding is bad. The cause of scalding is generally neglect of ventilation early in the morning whilst the moisture is still uoon.the leaves and fruit. A hot sun on the glass whilst the ventilators arc closed and before the moisture has time to dry off is nearly always the cause of the trouble, or a hot sun immediately after dull or cloudy weather. Plenty of top ventilation during anything like hot weather is the best safeguard against it, as it liberates the congested atmosphere, or, I should say, prevents it. Attend to the stopping of laterals and sub-laterals, also the tying down and into their places all leading shoots. Especial care should be taken of young 1 leading vines that have not reached their full length of the roof. Keep them tied in their places to prevent breaking off the points. ' ANSWERS. " South End."—l advise you to sow your hyacinth seed right away now in a gocd-sized seed box, with a few squares of glass on the top of the box to retain the moisture and bring tnem on quicker. They may form small tubers or bulbs this season. If you have not a cold frame or some squares of glass',. I advise holding the seed over until spring: Use rich sandy soil, and keep the ground moist and covered until the seeds are through. It would be quite right to sow both seasons' seed at once; but I would keep them separate, as most likely the fresh seed will come up first. When the tops turn yellow dry them off, and plant the small bulbs in drills in rich soil outside. If the bulbs are very"small, .grow them on'again, in the box for.another season.

"Amateur," —I certainly do not advise removing roses now ; but, if it is necessary to do so. dig the holes ready to receive them. Water them well, and the roses

at the same time. Give them a good soaking. Two or three hours afterwards, lift the bushes with care and with as much root and soil as possible. Plant carefullv and well down, make the soil fairly firm and water well to settle the soil about them. If you can shade them from the hot sun and winds' they will stand a better chance, and recover quicker. Cut oft' the blooms. • " J - M -."— l should, say your hydrangea is suffering from want of sufficient nourishment. Dig around' it and place some rotted manure around the base of the plant, and water well in. At planting season lift and replant info rich and welfprepared soil and manure. H.C.