SEASONABLE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 24

SEASONABLE WORK

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Continue to plant cabbages (Blairs), cauliflowers, and savoys, also locks in prepared trenches for late work. Make sowings of spinach and silver beet, swede turnip and early carrots (shortThe hoe should be kept at work between all growing crops to keep down weeds, and, what is the most important of all, to allow the air and sun to penetrate into the roots of all growing plants. THE FLOWER GARDEN -• Just now the various annuals are giving a great display, and this is the time as we travel around the city and suburbs to notice the colour schemes as a guide for next season s planting. One of the best. I have noticed is at Ross’s Corner, Anderson Bay—here may, be seen a beautiful display or neraesias and pink antirrhinums. There are a few rogues among the antirrhinums, which could have been pulled out when developing. . . This scheme of planting antirrhinums between not only nemesias,. but many other varieties of annuals, is a good one, as the antirrhinums flower over a long period and the beds are not unsightly through the late summer months. I wonder, if many people have grown the ■ beautiful free flowering plant, the arctotis. This is a hardy annual from South Africa,, and our climate suits it well. There is a great variety of colours, and flower and growth is similar to the gerbera Jamesonu. It requires a sunny position, and as a rock plant it is ideal. If large pockets were planted it would be a glorious sight. But if required for rock garden worK, I would advise growing the. hardy herbaceous kind arctotis Scapigsra. this variety produces large flowers similar to the gerbera. It has very dwarf foliage with a large range of colours including terracotta, yellow, cream, orange ana salmon. If sown in the autumn the plants will flower from early spring and right through the summer months. 1 have a number of plants that have been flowering for months and are still full of bloom. For bedding purposes these will, when well known, be .grown in every garden, as the foliage ana of plant quickly cover the ground, and most weeds are kept under by its rapid growth. Soil conditions do not seem to trouble it very much. The plants appear to thrive under any condition. Chrysanthemum growers have been having a bad time owing to the unfavourable weather conditions. the growth has been in many cases poor, and there is also much disease m their plants. Those who have been feeding with artificial manure when the weather has permitted should, as soon as possible, water their plants with lime water, mixing sufficient lime (shell) to colour the water like milk. It should be applied about twice, at intervals or From now on care must be taken in selecting the buds; that is, those who are growing large exhibition blooms. Where buds are showing of such varieties as Louisa Pookett, Melba, etc., these should be allowed to remain and all side growths removed; hut in, the case of those varieties which develop quickly, the buds, if showing, can be taken "out and another will show very soon.’ This should be allowed to remain, and will give a better developed flower than the early buds. . Those who are growing exhibition singles should not retain any buds before the end of February or the beginning of next month. If the buds of these varieties are taken too early the flowers are coarse, with largo disc or eye, and the colouring poor. For decorative varieties, no stopping should be done from now on, except where flowers are wanted for late work. Then the tips should bo taken out at once. THE VINERY Grapes are now swelling freely, and feeding should be done when the weather permits. . Where application of fertilisers given, and they should he applied at the rate of 4oz per square yard and then well watered in. . Sometimes there is a difficulty in getting the berries to colour properly. If this is the case, mix together equal parts or sulphate of magnesia and sulphate of *potash and apply 2oz of the mixture to each square yard, and then well water it in. In no account must the surface of the border be interfered with at this stage, for the simple reason that the fine fibrous roots are very near the surface and there is a danger of de-

stroying these if the surface is interfered with in any way. It is also most important that the main leaves on growth-carrying fruit must not bo taken off, as these play an important part in building up the berries. If a leaf is examined with the aid of a microscope it will be seen that it contains a number of cells on the upper and under surfaces, forming vfhat is called an epidermis. On the under surface a number of tiny mouths (stomata) are found, and these openings connect direct with the intercellular spaces in the leaf. There are a great number of stomata on every leaf, and as these play an important part in the leaf’s work, they should never be taken off. It is also through these tiny openings that the gases from the atmosphere can gain access to the inside of the leaf, and the water brought up by the roots and not required can be thrown off. It is essential that plenty of air should be given from now on, day and night, as often grapes fail to colour owing to the lack of proper ventilation and sunlight. It should be the aim of all cultivators to endeavour to produce good, well-developed foliage, as it is no value to apply fertilisers unless the foliage can, without hindrance, do its proper work. F.S.P •