THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 19712, 12 November 1927, Page 20

THE GARDEN

WORK .FOR THE WEEK. Ms==G^^m^S

Oar cctntribntcr,. a yroll-fcmrsii jfardener, will be glad to answer qnotrtioiia, which must bo received nat later than Tuesday of each week. juSwrtkexamia for this oolanm must bo handed in to iM adits before 2 p.m, on Friday.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Asparagus plants should ho cut regularly as they appear above ground until cutting must cease fox the season. A word on cutting may help. Some people when cutting asparagus seem to think that it is part of tho routine to cut low down into the bed in order to get length, with tho result that if they are not adept at the work the constant wrigglingof tho Jpifc damages two or more incipient heads in the process. This means a great loss of valuable material. Rather cut all stems just at the ground level orscrano a little soil away with the knile at tho base of the stem, when tho length required may bo easily removed after the cutting for the season, which should ho not later than tho middle or end of December. (Jive the beds a tondressing with manure to encourage strong growth to build up strong crowns for next season. In dull or showery weather plant out broccoli, savoys, and Brussels sprouts. Earth up potatoes before they become too far advanced Thin out young crops, such a» onions, carrots, parsnips, beet, etc. Do not leave this until the plants h« come overcrowded and drawn. Trenches for celery, prepared as previously advised, will bo in good condition for putting out tho first earlv plants. Select dull or showery weather for tho process. Stake peas and runner beans, tho latter to have long poles for them to climb up, and if they are tied at tho head they will bo made quite secure against heavy winds. This staking should bo done quite early whilst tin* plants are small, or they will soon entwine and make tho work impossible Tomato plants should bo thoroughly hardened olf before they are put out in tho open. Strong plants should bo provided for this purpose. On tbo sunny side of a warm wall is the best position for outside tomatoes in this district. In any case give them a warm and sunny situation and free and warm soil made firm about them, unless the "round is of a heavy nature when it should be made light and open with other material, such as wood ashes, burnt garden rubbish, or sand. It is not advisable to make tho ground rich for outside tomatoes, or they will grow too much to top at the expense of fruit. Sow peas and French beans for succession, also lettuce, radish, carrots, and onions, tho latter for drawing young. THE VINERY The growth of tho vine is very rapid just now, and should on no account be neglected. All laterals and sub-laterals must bo kept stopped or pinched out as growth demands. The side or maiu arms should be tied out to their proper place, and always under the wire supports, never above. This also applies to young vines which are making their new canes for next season. Keep thorn supported and growing up bn the under side of the wires for the convenience of lowering when required. As tho fruit bunches come into bloom give tho vines a sharp rap or snake to liberate the capsules from the bloom. They will set their fruit much better. Keep tho inside moist and warm to create a warm and humid atmosphere.

BOOM Itt DAHLIAS

THE TOMATO HOUSE

In houses heated by artificial moans tomatoes should be well towards ripening, and others sotting their fruit rapidly. At this period assistance may —and indeed should —be given for tho sake of bringing on or fully developing tho main crop. Tho tomato is a rapid and vigorous growing plant, and under favorable conditions is capable of producing enormous crops of fruit, and it is when a good crop of fruit is set and setting tlpt the plants require assistance. There are various ways of assisting, and discretion must bo used as to the nature of the soil. For instance, on well-drained or light, sandy soils, particularly in dry seasons, mulching he tween the row's with good stable manure is of great benefit. It keeps the roots cool and active. On tho other hand, if tho soil is inclined to be on tho heavy side, with a clay subsoil, this method of feeding should not be thought of. Tho treatment should ho by artificial manures. Good superphosphate, dusted on tho surface and lightly raked in, is very good for bringip*; on the fruit. Watering must always he done with care. When you water, water well, so that it may reach all the roots. Do not give more until required, and that is when tho surface appears quite dry. Watering with liquid manure may be used to advantage, but discretion must be used in its application—not too strong. Nor should it be given when the soil is moist. This applies to feeding most plants with liquid stimulants. Tho judicious administration of water forms an important feature in tho cultivation of the tomato. < Disbudding or pinching out of all sido shoots must he strictly attended to. Remove all yellow loaves as they appear. Some persons almost denude the plants of their leaves; other object to remove them in any case except tho yellow leaves. Neither extreme should be thought of. Too dense foliage tends to check the proper ripening of tho fruit, and too severe denudation practically stops root action. THE FRUIT GARDEN A few words about tho summer spraying of fruit trees. As to apples, as soon as tho fruit will set, and when there have been previous signs of black spot or other fungoid troubles of that nature, spray with the summer formula of Bordeaux. Fortunately, wo in this district are. not troubled with tho dreaded codlinmoth. It it does .make its appearance spray tho trees with Paris green or Bordeaux mixture as soon after the fruit has sot as possible. Pears, plums, and other fruits affected with fungoid diseases, such as shot hole fungus, black spot, mildew, etc., may be sprayed with the above formula. T 5 make Bordeaux mixture, summer formula, take 41b sulphate of copper, 41b fresh rock lime, 40 gallons of water, dissolve the sulphate of copper in 20 gallons of water. Slake the lime slowly. Make up to 20 gallons. Strain the milk of lime into the solution of sulphate of copper, stirring briskly the one into the other. Sulphate of copper is easily dissolved in hot water. Should small quantities be required and not the full amount care must.be taken to use tho proper proportion. Badly affected trees should have two or three sprayings, about 1A days between each. ANSWERS C. Sundstrum asks for information about stopping grape vines. On no account should more than one shoot bo allowed to grow on each single sido arm. Select the best placed and strongest shoot on ■ each arm. and rub tho rest out. Sometimes, when there has been a loss of one or two side arms by bad pruning, etc., two may be left and spread out to fill tho blank spaces. When they are sufficiently advanced in growth to show well the bunches of fruit," pinch off the point of each two eyes or loaves beyond, the bunch. Sub laterals which will form

after this stopping must be. kept pinched back to one eye, except tho leading one, which should be stopped an eyo at a time as growth develops. By tho end of the season there will he about five eyes beyond the bunch of fruit. Never allow more than ono bunch ou each spur. “ (Roslyn).—You may cut or clip your ngaio quite hard to prevent it spreading too far. By your drawing I should cut right away the limb that euroachcs on the lawn. The others will soon work out to fill the blank. You may trim the branches back now; they will break out again alright. “'Amateur.” —If there is no fruit on the old black currants and gooseberries I advise you to root them out and start with young trees next season. When gooseberries or currants get into tho state referred to they arc not worth worrying about. Root them out and work lip the ground for no'-t season. H.C.

SWEET TEAS AWAY FRORI FENCES

Berlin, slightly larger, perhaps; but very like the old pompon variety nerissh. On the continent the dahlia has been a recognised market flower for several years, and visitors to the quaint and busy little town of ’Aalsmeer, in Holland, would be greatly surprised to sea the large quantities of pompon and small decorative varieties offered for sale in its markets. Both as a garden plant and as a cut flower the dahlia is extremely popular in many Continental countries, notably in Holland—where numerous dahlia shows are held and almost every shop window has its vase of dahlias at this season of the year—Belgium, and Germany. In the United States also the dahlia is becoming increasingly popular. In short, the dahlia is enjoying a “boom” that it has never previously enjoyed, and grateful thanks are due to those patient raisers whoso skill has made such a boom possible.

To secure an abundance of sweet peas it is necessary to sow frequently. A good plan is to sprout tho seed in boxes, and thus make sure that no “duds” are put in. More important is to change the positions of the sweet peas every season. Poor results are got by tho lazy man’s method of always growing them up against a. certain fence. If that plan is persisted;in the least that can be done to secure a decent show of bloom is to wheel out the old soil and replace it with soil that has not carried any of tho pea tribe. That means heavy work. Far better to choose new places. Hero is a proved plan by which the sweet pea can be grown in any suitable location out in the open, away from fences. Pick the spot that vou deem likely and desirable; dig a'holo two spades deep; place therein a good supply of manure; shovel the soil back on top of the manure; draw a circle an inch deep; drop the seeds, Sin or 4in apart, in this circle; when the plants are well up stick bits of twl" on the inside of the circle for the tendrils to take hold of; then drive in two or throe stout stakes, and outside these draw a circuit of wire netting. By this means no further attention is necessary. The plants cannot tumble down to tho outside, but they catch a grip of the netting and the inner twigs hold them up inside till they support one another. Let the netting bo high enough, according to the kind of pea, to lot the [Hants grow at will about a foot above the wire, and Nature will provide a beautiful decoration in the shape of a great nosegay, flowering all round and seemingly selfsupported, sinco stakes and wire can he quite hidden if thoughtfully placed ■ at first.

TREATMENT OF DRY BANKS

Steen and comparatively dry banks often exist within the precincts ol gardens situated in hilly districts, and such places may bo made very attractive, adding greatly to tho amenities of tho garden - [writes “11.E.A-, in m ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle’). Should the ground slope very steeply, a prices or terraces may bo made, and these should conform to the. surroundings. 1 For instance, if the environment is informal, the paths should also be informal and partake rather of the nature of rude tracks sufficiently vide to allow of comfortable passage. paths may bo formed of stones of irregular shape and size, and the luteisticcs between the stones planted with suitable, low-growing crevice plants. It retaining walls are necessary they should be of sufficient strength to withstand tho pressure of the bank, the weight of which will bo considerable, such walls should bo constructed ot rough-hewn stone, and will be ideal Am the reception of many alpine and othci plants. d . ffci , ent met i loC [ 0 f treating a steep bank is to arrange irregular stone steps or paths with occasional stepping stones through it; such treatment is very natural, and is best suited to ground of gentle slope, whereas the dry wall and terrace method lends strength to ground that falls sharply and renders the subsequent management of tho bank more comfortable and efficient. lor a bank of largo dimensions mass planting is best, tho resultant effect being always more pleasurable and much more eitectivo than when heterogeneous mixtures of a great number of subjects, many, perhaps quite unsuited to such a position, are used. In the planting of the treated area the first consideration is the exposure. If it faces other than north or east, a wide choice of shrubs and plants is available, but only such as require a small amount of moisuro should be chosen. Tho finest shrub for a dry bank is the broom. Many of tho brooms are suitable, including Cytissus Andreanus, C. pallidus, C. Hallimovei, C. Dorothy Walpole, C. fulgens, and such pretty varieties as Butterfly, Dragonflv, hirefly. Daisy Hill, and Mayky. In firm soil and a much-exposed, windy situation, tho ordinary C. scoparius is a capital plant, while on tho lower terraces may be introduced suck dwarf brooms as 0. schipkamsis, C, Androanus prostratus, C. kewensis, C. Beanii, and the small C, Ardoinii, A fitting and very lovely companion to tho broom is Genista virgata, a fine subject for a dry position. Corokea virgata is a good bank plant, as arc many of tho cotoncasters, and I have found many species of

. Many years have passed since dah- | lias were so popular as now, and hover before have these _ handsome, easilygrown and decorative plants been so , largely cultivated for garden decoration (states the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ England). Dahlia growers of tong experience will remember the timo when these flowers were immensely popnlai 1 at exhibitions, but rcg'rded, as cif little value for gard'-n tisp'iy. f hew were the days when the fine old fancy and show varieties wore grown with tho utmost care and tho big circular blooms, dressed by patient enthusiasts, were arranged in regular lines on show beards at the Crystal Palace and elsewhere. But at the recent splendid exhibition hold by the National Dahlia Society these varieties, so beloved by old florists, wero almost conspicuous by their absence, and the larger part of tho display was provided by flowers of varieties which, for tho most part, wero produced on plants that have a distinct garden value. True, some of the cactus varieties still hide their beautiful blooms among tho foliage, but tho time has long passed when cactus varieties wero regarded ns fit only for exhibition purposes. Varieties of this section suitable for garden decoration are now available in plenty, nevertheless, varieties of other sections have become oven more popular for brightening tho garden in late summer and autumn—as witness the brilliant display of Coltncss Gem and H. J. Jones in public parks in all parts of the country. Tho big decorative varieties, such as Jersey Beauty, curry their flowers on long stems and attract a large amount of attention, and now the picony-fiowcred varieties hold up their heads, they, too, have become popular as garden plants. Charm, star, miniatnrc-pai-ony, decorative, and other sections add a diversity of form that was lacking half a century ago, and in each section there aro flowers of rich as well as soft shades of color. In these matters the gardener of to-day is better served than his forefathers, and yet, although older florists aro somewhat scornful, tho dahlia enjoys a greater popularity for exhibition purposes than it ever did before. A few years ago tbo idea of growing dahlias in pots for sale in Covent Garden market would have been scouted and tho man who put it forward would have been regarded as mentally deficient. But as genius is akin to madness, so this “mad” idea lias developed into a paying business. From May onwards flowering plants, in pots, of tho scarlet Colt ness- Gem and tho yellow 11. >T. Jones, havo been offered for sale regularly in Covcnt Garden market, and what is more to tho purpose, they havo been sold, and still sell, well. Young plants, not yet in flower, were also offered for sale in largo numbers is tho late spring, and such plants were finer than those usually sold by specialists; the varieties so offered wore, of course, limited iu_ number. Nor may the value of dahlia flowers for house decoration be overlooked, notwithstanding the fact that as market flowers they do not meet with general approval —with one exception, and that is the pink variety Pride of

Ceanothus admirable for the purpose. Cistus should bo largely planted; a good selection of rock roses includes tho .beautiful C. purpureum, C. salvifolius, C. obstusifolius, 0. crispus, C. algarvensis, C. llorcutinus, and the larger-growing G. ladanifcrus and C. laurifoHus. In the retaining walls a representative collection of helianthoniums will find a congenial home. | Bearded irises are very beautiful when boldly massed on shurply-sloping hanks, and' do not. apparently, object to the dry conditions. I have cognisance of a very steep and dry bank facing west, where for the last_ two seasons a very large “ drift y> of irises in good variety has been a very fine feature. . , , ... Budclleia naiibomsis is a n«e subject for a dry position, as also is feenecio Grayi, a'most effective plant? certain of the olearias will thrive in .s*nch surroundings; and ericas, especially _ the E. ear lie a, should be extensively For the dry walls and the iutci- j slices of the paths a whole host ol small plants are adaptable, _ and good breadths of aubrietia in choice variety and of Nepeta Mussina should be introduced iu close proximity to the stone areas. The plants available for a north or cast exposure are somewhat limited. A massed effect created by a very few subjects is the best solution of the problem; a pretty planting I recently saw on a north bank was a mixture of primula dcnticukita and yellow _ and white polyanthuses in spring, interspersed with foxgloves and aqiulegias for a later display. Tho one disadvantage to this selection is the necessity, after the first season, of continually checking the progress of the foxgloves, they will rapidly crowd out tho primulas. If it is desired to treat wooded slopes or banks, it will be wise to retain a few suitably-placed trees; an occasional pine, for instance, is a great asset. For small banks of gentle contour" I would suggest drifts of dwarf brooms, of ericas, or similar plants; bold massiugs are delightfully effective. In localities the , terrace walls will provide suitable positions for many choice shrubs, and may be made a feature of absorbing interest; tho selection of plants, however, must be largely a matter of individual taste, so that I do not make a lengthy selection, but merely reiterate the advice to plant a large area boldly to procure an appreciable effect. Autumn is tho ideal season to undertake the work of beautifying these dry banks; thorough preparation of the ground will be reflected in the growth made by tho shrubs and plants. during the next season or so.