GARDENING FOR THE WEEK

Evening Star, Issue 17548, 31 December 1920, 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. WEEDS. The month of Januarv is the hottest of the twelve, arid usually inclined to be electrical, with heavy showers, though for the last year or two Januarv has been hot and dry. Weeds are in full growth. So are flowers and all other plant life. When we speak of weeds we should remember that, as Dr Edward D. Clarke says, the weeds of one country are the flowers of another. A glance at our gardens and parterres serves to carry our thoyphts to many a distant clime. " The old damask l-ose, from which most of our present-day roses have sprung, grows wild on the sunny plains of Syria. The hollyhock, once known as the foreign rose, and now common in every garden, is of eastern origin. Fuchsias, which now have their white, crimson, and purple bells in most gardens, were brought by enterprising travellers from the depth of Mexican forests, where also was found the passion flower, whose cruciform shane (which to the imaginative and superstitious Spaniard was a type of Christianity) demanded of him the conversion of the country. The jasmines, amongst the oldesV'and sweetest of our garden flowers, are still in «reat request, particularly with the women of the East, who are accustomed to decorate their hair, with the blossoms. For the verbena, one of the "brightest of our present-day border flowers, we are indebted to both north and south. In fact, all climes have been ransacked to decorate our flower beds. No country under the sun is unrepresented in them. The frozen plains of Siberia send us the larkspur; golden California her clarkias ; Brazil the petunia, It must not be imagined, however, that the flowers of these to-day are the same as Shose collected originally from the countries. In every case improvements have been brought" about by the skill of the hybridist. There is no end to this work. No matter how we progress, there is still something to be learned, and none of -us know to what end even some of our own weeds may be brought. ROSES. We are at a season when the first flush of bloom will be soon coming to an end. As the flowers fade and before the seed capsules form, remove them. Neglect of this will have to be paid for in a poor supply of bloom in autumn. Trim or cut back shoots that have finished flowering—hybrid perpetuals rather harder than teas and hybrid teas—then give a liberal supply of liquid manure or guano, or superphosphate dusted around the roots and watered in. The more liberal one is at this period the better will the second growth be, and consequently a better return of bloom will ba secured. The budding of roses may be proceeded with as soon as stocks and the buds are ready. I will have a word to say upon budding next week. VEGETABLES. Take every advantage of showery or dull weather to plant out crops for w'inter and spring supply. Early potatoes that are becoming yellow at the ba6e of stalks and lower leaves may be lifted to make room for such crops, providing no other ground be available; but the lifting and storing of early kinds must be done with care to prevent the breaking of the skin. All the set sizes of those required for seed should be carefully boxed and stored away in some cool, airv shed. J From Christmas to New Year is about the latest that it is advisable to sow garden peas. After that date it is just a chance if they mature before being cut with frost. Dwarf early kinds should be used for this later sowing. Spinach may still be sown. For this sowing the prickly spinach is best, as it will come in for winter use. Cucumbers, whether grown in frames or glasshouses, may be kept fruiting much longer By ffie careful removal of yellow leaves and old growths, so as to make room for young shoots, which should be tied or trained in to replace the old. As th* first flush of fruit is getting past, it is advisable to give a good watering with liquid manure; then cover the surface roots with two or three inches of fresh turfy loam (sandy preferred), but any old turf loam will answer the purpose. Keep the surface moist to encourage the fresh growth. Give plenty of fresh air on all hot days, particularly at this season of the vear. THE TOMATO-HOUSE. Mildew now becomes very prevalent. This is a very troublesome disease, and often proves fatal to tomatoes—not that it affects the fruit much, but it destroys the th-. foliage, which, of course, prevents the development of the fruit. Avoid a stuffy atmosphere ; nor should the plants be subject to cold draughts from bottom ventilators. Give plenty of air from the top vents: indeed, air may now be given both night and day, except in wet, cold weather. Water well when it is given, but not too often. Let the surface be kept fairly dry and warm. At the first sign" of mildew spray with the Bordeaux mixture, as advised "for tomatoes. Pinch ■out all surplus shoots, and keep the plants tied up. ANSWERS. "Anxious."—The plum tree leaves forwarded are badlv affected with shothole fungus. The best thing to do now is to spray at once with summer formula of Bordeaux mixture, and in winter, when pruning is complete, rake up and burn all leaves and clippings, then spray again with the winter formida of the same. A great deal of this diseaseis going through the trees this season. Keep the ground clean about them. It is also a good practice to sprav the surface soil.

"Red Currant.'"—The cause of your red currant bushes splitting down the wav you describe is wind. Certain varieties are very liable to be damaged in this way. A good preventative is to go over the bushes when the shoote are from 12in to 18in long, and clip off the points of the shoots. This causes them to thicken aud not grow so long; therefore they are not nearly so liable to get damaged. I am afraid it is rather late to do much good now. " Violet."—You may still plant violets, but it is getting a little late. About the end of October or the beginning of November is the best time, but it is quite all right yet providing you keep them well watered to protect them against excessive heat and dryness. Princess of Wales is one of the very best. King of the Belgians is, if anything, larger, but not so well scented. ~S..G