SEASONABLE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 21

SEASONABLE WORK

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN The sowing of giant Rocca and brown Spanish onions should be made when weather permits for transplanting later. Onions grown in this way are a great success in this district, but the plants must be put out early to get established before the hard weather arrives. Keep the surface between growing ' crops open. Lift all early potatoes and shallots and store in dry hut cool stores.

THE FLOWER GARDEN

One of the most popular of summer flowering plants is the carnation, and although climatic conditions have not beeit the most suitable for them this past summer, as these plants enjoy plenty of moisture, there have been some nice blooms in many of our gardens. Carnations in the' past have been worked from cuttings and layers chiefly, especially the border varieties, but in the future a great deal of this work—that is, layering and planting cuttings—will be a thing 1 of the past, as the new race of carnations can be easily raised from seed. What is a very important fact is that the new race of carnations are much freer in flowering and the plants are compact in growth. Also they have the rich perfume which we _ who are acquainted with the old varieties _of carnations, such as Uriah Pike, etc., well remember. Those who desire to work up new stock —and there is no doubt that young plants always give the best results—can at this stage strike cuttings very quickly with very little trouble. It is not everyone who enjoys the labour of layering owing to the stooping necessary for pegging down the growth in a satisfactory position. But if cuttings are taken this unnecessary labour can he saved. The growth now is in splendid condition for taking cuttings, but. only the young growth should be taken off. The cuttings can be made by cutting below a joint with a sharp knife or—what is the most practical method—by taking a young piece of growth and pull it with the finger and thumb from its joint or socket. In this way the cuttings will root quicker, and there will not he so many failures as when cut with a knife. This method is known in the nursery trade as pipings. After the cuttings are made they should be allowed to dry off for an hour or so before inserting them into pots or pans. The compost most suitable for rooting should be made up with good fibrous loam, a dressing of well-rotted leaves, or, failing this, well-rotted animal manure with a good dressing of clean sand rather sharp or coarse if possible. The cuttings or pipings should be made firm when potting and then placed in a shady position under a bench in the glasshouse or The surface should he kept moist, and the foliage, if kept in a moist condition, will help them to root quickly. As soon as the cuttings show signs of growth they must he potted off into 3in pots or transplanted into boxes, when they will soon be ready to place into their permanent flowering quarters. Many of the summer annuals are over, and no time should be lost in putting in their place plants for flowering in the early spring months. Many prefer early flowering bulbs. When this is the case these beds can be improved by planting first of all such things as forget-me-not (Blue Bouquet), wallflowers (new dwarf double flowering), dwarf flowering wallflowers (self-colours or mixed), and double flowering sweet william. These plants will make a beautiful groundwork for such bulbs as hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, ranunculus, and anemones. Self-coloured varieties of antirrhinums also make a splendid groundwork for the later flowering bulbs. One of.the best flowering plants for Dunedin and district for spring and early summer is the viola and pansy in self-colours or mixed. Try forget-me-not (Blue Bouquet) -with a bed of yellow crocus. All these plants should be planted as soon as possible to get a show in early spring. Chrysanthemums will need careful attention just now. To keep rust under spray with Bordeaux powder. The little green caterpillar can be kept under by looking through the plants every day and picking them off the foliage. The earwig is very busy destroying the buds which were taken a week or two ago. These pests can do a considerable amount of damage, if not checked, in a few days. All buds must be retained in all varieties at this stage. Growths must be well staked, or there may he damage done with the wind, and the season s work wasted. In feeding it is advisable to change the diet as often as possible, and before changing a watering _ with lime water will be beneficial. This will clean and keep the young roots in a healthy condition. Refrain from using too much sulphate of ammonia, as the flowers are apt to damp later. F.S.P.