THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 22

THE GARDEN

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SEASONABLE WORK THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Tbe cold snap experienced in the beginning of the week was very severe for August, consequently operations in tins department will necessarily be delayed. But as soon as the ground conditions become favorable many things may be done, such as planting rhubarb, sea kale, globe and Jerusalem artichokes, herbs of various kinds, and potatoes. Seed sowing must ne done .with discretion. Localities and situation should be considered for a little time yet. In some places, where the frosts are not severe, many things may be sown, such as peas, beans, carrots, of the Early Horn kind, a small sowing of lettuce, radish, onions, and spinach; but in cold districts it will bo better to defer sowing until the weather becomes more settled. , . , Asparagus should be planted without delay. Plant also cabbage and cauliflower. THE FRUIT GARDEN Plant fruit tres of all kinds. The sooner they are in the ground the better. Where pinning is still to be done it should be got off hand as soon as possible. Spray fruit tres with winter sprays. For scaly blight and woolly aphis on apple trees the oil sprays are the host, but for fungoid troubles, such as black spot, mildew, leaf curl, etc., on stone fruits the lime sulphur or Bordeaux mixtures are better. The'pruning and nailing in wall fruit trees should be completed at once if this is not already off hand, as wall fruits are somewhat earlier than those grown in the open. THE ROSE GARDEN

mino got ono down from ATicltlaJid ro* 06 Chum.” —Divisions or divided young stools of chrysanthemums will give quite a good display of bloom when ground conditions nnd situations &rc favorable, .but those young-rooted shoots growing at the base of the old plants will give the best blooms. “ Primula.”—You ask is it true that Primula obeonica is poisonous, as I was thinking of growing some for my grfenhouse? They are not poisonous, but are troublesome to some people when handling thenij causing a rash up the arms which is very itchy. I have been troubled in tho same way, but for many years I was quite free of the trouble. Some people are not affected by them. H.C, A QUEER GERANIUM An extraordinary geranium, chistoned “ Peppermint Bull’s-Eye,” was exhibited in London recently. Thick I velvety leaves give out a strong scent of peppermint - , while tho flower itself, of a pale mauve color, has, no scent at all. When this plant is taken into a room people immediately receive the impression that somebody is sucking “ bull’s-eyes.” WIZARD AMONG PLANTS LUTHER BURBANK Professor J. Arthur .Thomson, in ‘ John o’ London’s Weekly,’ gives an interesting estimate of Luther Burbank’s work. He writes:— There has been too little notice taken of tho recent death of Luther Burbank, tho creative gardener of Cali--1 fornia. He suffered not a little from | his friends, who often exaggerated his i scientific achievements, and he suffered I equally from hard-shelled critics who [ failed to understand that his strength I was in his art. He was not in any i marked way a scientific discoverer making new knowledge, but he was an inventor of plant wonders. Ho was not like Darwin, making the world new; ho was more like Edison, socking out many inventions. JUGGLING WITH PLANTS.

Bose pruning may be carried on without delay now, and in most places tho sooner tho work is done the better. Tea roses are generally the first to break, consequently they should bo pruned first; but if teas, hybrid teas, and hybrid perpetuals are all required to flower at a given date, then hybrid perpetuals should be pruned first, hybrid teas next, and teas last, as the former takes longer to bloom. When all the pruning is completed attention must bo paid to ground or surface preparation. Some people boliov© in digging rose beds. This depends upon circumstances. For instance, with light or sandy soils I do not think it advisable—in fact, I believe it to be decidedly harmful—hut with heavy or wet soils it is different. Even with this ground what digging there is to be done should only be what is termed shelled over, or very lightly dug, for I cannot seo < how digging can be done without injury to tho fine or fibrous roots, which are those we wish to come as near to the surface as possible for air and warmth of the sun. Without this we cannot have first-class roses, jo, what digging or loosening the surface soil is necessary, bo sure and do this when the ground is fairly dry, or at least lot the water have time to drain from tho soil.

I Luther Burbank enriched the world j by improving many of its fruits—cherries, plums, currants, gooseberries, ami so on, and by showing how copiously the spring of novelties continues to flow. Evolution is going on. New departures are always being offered to man, but few have Burbank’s eye for i detecting the finger-posts. Ho had a flair for seeing the new—minute teni tativo tendrils in the direction of finer I flavor, subtler fragrance, richer color, I larger size. Everyone knows of his stoneless plum, which has a fully-de-veloped kernel, or seed,_ but no “stone ” or hard wall between it. and the pulp. His “ Primus ” berry is also well known, a cross between the Californian dewberry and the Siberian raspberry, with virtues from both sides of the house. It is a stable cross, and can be propagated from seed, not merely by cut- | tings. It is hardly too much to say that Burbank played with his dewberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspbtw rios, making now permutations and ' combinations, some of which, a sc-> r e perhaps, proved of commercial value. , Many other cultivators have dpno the ‘ same sort of thing, but the Californian wizard had some unusual insight in dishorning what crosses would pay. We 'moan nothing uncanny, but the same kind of insight that is occasionally show'n. by a successful breeder of cattle l or other animals. When a particular j quality was wanted for commercial puri poses, say an increase in a plum s 1 “ shipping ” capacity, Burbank was soon able to produce what was wanted. | ONE IN 20,000! ' We rend that in one particular case ho had 600 different plum-grafts growing on a single tree, each itself and no other, each scion getting vigor from the stock tree and yet suffering no radical change of constitution. Each or these new plums was on trial, and part of Burbank’s success was duetto his thoroughness of elimination. When he got a distinct move towards what he wanted, ho sacrificed all the ethers. From 20,000 seedlings he might select a few scores in which he detected promise, and from among those few scores of tho elect only one would eventually he saved. They say that “ Phenomenal ’’ berry was tho outcome of sifting 40,000 blackberry-raspberry hybrids, which wore grown til! they were two or three years old, and then burned! Sometimes Bin bank got results that were startling even to one who was always gazing into the spring of variability, which has been called “ Nature’s bottomless well of surprises.” Thus ho got a quickly-growing walnut, tho “Paradox” walnut by pollinating black walnut (Juglans nigra) with pollen from the California walnut (Juglans californica). The progeny grew twice as quickly as its two parents- put together, and Burbank used to show with pride a tree which could not be spanned by a man’s arm when it was eleven years old. An interesting point may he mentioned in passing, that a different kind of offspring results, with very abundant large nuts, when the parents are reversed—that is to say ; when the California walnut is pollinated from the black. CACTUSES WITHOUT SPINES. For nineteen years or more Luther Burbank worked at breeding spines out of the constitution of cactuses, and he succeeded so far that he used to give his visitors little slices to eat. This was an endeavor of far-reaching importance, for there are vast tracts of desert country, in India for instance, where little will grow but cactus, and it can bo used as a food for cattle if the spines are eliminated. We believe that Mr Burbank was still working at this almost-solved problem when ho died this April. For an occasional spine would keep cropping up as a reversion, just like original sin. We must not try to speak of Burbank’s Shasta daisies, so well known in onr gardens, of his wonderful lilies and potatoes, of his quick-growing peas with two chops in the year, of his rainbow corn and variegated privet, of his mulberry trees improved in the interests of silkworms, and these are only samples of his new creations. We do not know the name of his garden at Santa Rosa (across the harbor from San Francisco), but it deserved to be called Eden. THE MAN HIMSELF.

Short manure may be applied as a top-dressing with advantage. Failing this, let artificial manures be applied; but for light soil fresh or short horse dropping ist preferable. For heavy soils or wet ground I prefer artificial manures. Tonke’s rose mixture is the best, although bonemeal and superphosphate, with a very little sulphate of ammonia added, will make a good dressing dusted over the surface after tho digging or cleaning up is done. The rose mixture should be dusted over the whole surface at tho rate of about a 4in potful for each Gft square. The best time to apply this is about now, or when growth is active in the spring, and again just as flower buds are forming. This will put both ngor and color into the blooms. Carry on or complete the work of planting. The bushes may be planted the whole of this_month, but late planting does not give the plants a fair chance, especially should the spring bo a dry one. THE FLOWER GARDEN Spring flowering bulbs and plants are pushing through their beads in numbers; consequently as soon as ground conditions admit hoe and stir the soil between them to keep down weeds and freshen the surface.

The severe frost experienced in the beginning of the wee!: will have a retarding effect upon the growth of all plants, and it will be well to defer planting of such as are usually planted fit this time until the _ weather conditions are more congenial. Plants recently put in the ground should be looked oyer after so severe frosts to firm the soil about them, particularly carnations, as such frosts tend to lift them. If they were left unattended and other extremes of weather occurred they would be seriously damaged, if not killed outright. Any transplanting still to be done in the herbaceous border should be got off hand, particularly those outgrowing their allotted space, and others such as delphiniums, which require lifting and dividing. This is a good time to lift, just as the growth starts in the spring. Manure and dig beds in readiness for bedding out later on. Beds and borders previously manured and dug may as soon as the weather permits and the ground conditions are favorable be planted with antirrhinums, stocks, wallflowers, pansies, gaillardias, cinerarias, carnations, calleopses, phlox,, and others of the hardy border plant kinds. The Rock Garden.—At this season it is well to look over and weed out all spaces and pockets and reduce those that are overgrowing their allotted space, to prevent them from crowding out or smothering their more tender or slow-growing neighbors. It may bo found necessary to give a little topdressing to some that may sink low in the spaces in which they are-growing, so that they may do and be seen to the best advantage. Other plans or arrangements to bo carried out should be got on with before the busy time, comes aronnd. ANSWERS “Flame Flower.”—(l) You , have a Scotch flame flower about 6ft or 6ft high. Should you cut it down, or wiU it shoot out all over the branches. The tops look withered., I presume you mean Tropeolum speciosuim known as the “ flame flower.” You need not worry about cutting it down. As it becomes established it will make rapid progress by fresh growth coming up from the ground and travel to quite a considerable height. These plants are quite a blaze of red when well established. (2) You have a yellow lily of the Nile. You ask if you lift it to save it from being frosted. 1 have grow® this beautiful yellow lily both under glass and outside. At the present time I have one which has been outside for three years. It will do it no ham to lift it during the winter after it has dried off; but if the position is a warm one, with a sunny aspect, good soil, and good drainage you may leave it where it is. (3) Can bulbs of the regal lily be procured in Dunedin? I presume you mean liliura regalis. If so, I should advise yon to jnciuire at the seedsmen. A friend of

Luther Burbank was born in Massachusetts in 1849, and brought up on a farm. He had little scientific education, and no one could accuse him of being a botanist! He was more interested in doing than knowing, though the distinguished botanist, Hugo De Vries, who appreciated Burbank thoroughly, says that “his principles are ip full harmony with the teachings of science.” His whole secret was to provoke variations and then sift them rigorously. His particular gift was a quick eye for the hints of new beginnings, united with an almost §ymjnv-

WORK FOR THE WEEK,

thotic insight, which guided him in his picking and choosing. Luther Burbank was a small, delicate, sensitive man, very lovable, radiating kindness, entirely sincere, towards the close of his life he seems to have become possessed by an irrepressible desire to tell people what he did not believe, which is always a mistake. But this was just a final expression of tho lifelong honesty of purpose that characterised this gardener-gemus. PROTECT THE WILD FLOWERS

One day recently two friends went | out along the upland road toward San Bernardino (California) to see the wild , flowers. In a happy place sheltered by the foothills, out of a great profusion they gathered scarlet larkspur, wild blue penstemon, golden yarrow, and a few late Mariposa lilies. Though . it was late in tho season and earlier ; comers had apparently gathered the first blossoms, they were happy to see no traces of wantonness, no destruction of the wild flower plants. Here and there flowered a snowy yucca, now protected by law. On returning by another road, a tall, glorious, showy, yellow bush bordering the highway was passed. They stopped and went back to it to observe it. On either side of the road, barely off the paving, there grew many more splendid clumps with tall yellow sprays blossoming out of lacy gray green foliage. On each a thin hoard had been set up, bearing the following words: “Very rare. Golden eardrops or Dicentra. Please leave for all to enjoy.” In smaller letters it was signed, “ A Nature Lover.” The meek command had done its work. Not a spray had been touched. Similar signs were read now on this side of tho road, now on that! And they drove on grateful for tho beauty of the golden eardrops, _ but more grateful for tho indications of a gentler, finer, more loving regard of man for his fellow-men. SECATEURS AND OTHER GARDEN TOOLS I take a great interest in all garden tools, especially such as aro used in pruning (states the ‘Garden’). For a long time I looked with suspicion upon secateurs of all kinds, thinking them to be very inferior to a pruning knife. However, experience proved that a good pair of secateurs beat a knife on several counts. One is that when on a ladder pruning wall trees one has a much longer reach witli them than one has with a knife—if able to use one’s left hand tho space pruned without moving the ladder will be double that which can be covered with a knife. Again, once the action of secateurs has been mastered tho work can be far more quickly done. This has been proved in nursery work over and over again. But —and it is a very important “but”— the secateurs must be good ones, handy to use, capable of making a clean cut, and not readily put out of order; also with blades which will take and keep a good edge for a reasonable time. 1 have tried endless patterns of this useful tool, but have found very few really good ones, lots of really bad ones, many indifferent. In one or two cases, where a good pattern has been secured, a further supply was unobtainable. One excellent pair came irons a Sheffield firm, hut on trying to get another lot they were found quite different and very inferior. Tho fact is the English makers are quite out of the running in competition with other countries in the manufacture of secateurs. They will not take tho trouble to find out ■ what is the best form to adopt, and tho steel they employ is not as good as that used by the host French makers. Perhaps a really good garden tool of any sort is wasted upon many amateur gardeners, because not one in ten takes any proper care of garden tools; their spades and hoes arc perennially rusty, their knives and secateurs ditto, ami probably, when required, a long hunt will ensue before they are unearthed from some hole or corner where they were put when last used. It would save a great amount of - time, annoyance. and hard work if tho gardener would make up his or her mind to have a place for each and every garden tool in a dry building—point one. Point two: Keep a piece of greasy waste or rag in tho place where tools aro stored, and after using spade, hoe, hedge shears, or other steel tools wipe them dry, and then rub over with the greasy rag before banging them on nails or hooks on a dry iyall. If this be done regularly the tools may he kept as bright as silver with very little trouble, and when required for uso they will ho in perfect condition at a moment’s notice. Before winter sets in such tools as hoes, which will not ho required for months, should have a coating of vaseline, which is a better protection than oil. I know that this is a counsel of perfection and not easy to keep up, but I assure ray readers that it is well worth trying, even if one should at times fall somewhat below tho high standard aimed at. Neglected, rusty tools must either be scoured with emery cloth and oil—a nasty, grimy job —or have gradually to be cleaned by work; and all tho time this is being done nearly twice tho labor is being expended that would have been put into the work with a clean, bright tool. Not only so, but in the case of a rusty hoe the work will not be so satisfactory. This is a long digression from the subject in hand, but the point I want to bring homo is this: it is useless to spend a lot of money on good tools if one does not keep them in order. One rusty spade is about as good as another rusty one, but an indifferent bright spado is better than a good rusty one, while the best patterns if kept bright will easily beat all others!

To return to our secateurs. The careless gardener would do well to stick to cheap patterns, for if ho should buy the best they will soon ho ruined, and two or three pairs may he had for the price of a high-class pair. On the other hand, to the person who loves his tools and delights in their smooth and efficient working, I would say have nothing short of the best, and take every possible care of them. They will outlast any of the cheaper articles, and will always be a pleasure to use. Not enough is made of the pleasure of work; if one be in fair health and does not try to do too much at a time garden work should ho a pleasure in itself, irrespective of the results obtained.