THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 24079, 27 December 1941, Page 10

THE GARDEN

AMONG THE FLOWERS IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE There are several important jobs that should be carried out in the /lower garden from now on. If the spring /lowering bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths have not, been lifted yet, this work should be done at once. Owing lo Iho climatic conditions prevailing this past spring, tulips especially have been making very strung growlli and in many gardens are -just commencing to die down. The writer has ju-1 recently lifted several thousand tulips and the crop has- turned, out well. The offset s or bulblets arc much larger than in recent years. The reason for this is, of course, the amount of moisture that the bulbs have received throughout tbo growing season. No tulip bulbs should be allowed to remain in the ground after the foliage commences to die down, for the reason that deterioration takes place and the bulbs become very small, especially if they are allowed to remain in the ground for two years following. When lifting, use a fork, as the bulbs will not be injured when ibis tool is used. After drying them off they should be placed in Irays and stored m a dry, cool store or shed. It is advisable not lo break off flic offsets or bulblets when lifting. These will drop away from the mother bulbs themselves after being stored for a short lime. No soil or oilier material is required to cover them after placing fliem in the trays or boxes. If bulbs are treated as advised they will increase in size and that certainly means larger blooms, and what is also most important the various diseases which attack (bom can bo kept under. Tulips and hyacinths will become very valuable owing /o the fact that no bulbs will bo imported from Holland and other countries which have been supplying New Zealand for years past. The same advice can be applied to hyacinth bulbs in the same way as tulips. AUTUMN AND WINTER FLOWERING PLANTS. 1 Seed of the following should now be sown so that the plants will be ready for transplanting after summer plants have finished (lowering;—Wallflowers (the early /lowering varieties and the new dwarf double (lowering variety), Canterbury bells (single and the cup and saucer variety), cfieiranbhtis (Siberian wallflower), carnations, calendulas (yellow colossal, campfire, and orange sunshine), cinerarias, froesias, ranunculus, hollyhock, lupines (Russell), pansies and violas, Iceland poppy (Artist’s Glory), senizanthus, stocks (Uroniptons), sweet william, and sweet wivclsficld. THE GLASSHOUSE. Pot on all /lowering plants required for autumn and winter flowering. A little feeding will be required for plants which are showing their /lowering spikes, such as zonal geraniums, pelargoniums, fuchsias, begonias, streptocarpus, etc. THE FERNERY. Piculv of shade will be wanted from now on for all ferns, palms, and plants of a similar nature. Plants that arc becoming pot bound should have a little feeding. Sulphate of.ammonia given once a week will help the plants in a remarkable manner. One ounce lo a gallon of water will be found to be sufficient. Liquid cow manure also makes an excellent food for ail foliage plants. TOMATO HOUSE. Owing to the climatic conditions tomato plants arc backward, but it is not advisable to drive them by making strong applications of artificial manures at this stage. To keep the plants in a healthy condition watering should be done with.-great care. Only sufficient to keep the soil moist around the roots is required, when we arc experiencing dull and cold weather. It is essential that plenty of ventilation be given day and night. This will keep under the-fungoid disease which makes its appearance iu the foliage when the house is kept close. It is advisable to spray plants at least once a week with pinepestol liquid or Bordeaux mixture. Where signs of disease are showing on the bottom leaves these should be removed at once and burnt. WEEDY LAWNS. If lawns contain weeds now is the time to kill them bv applying pcntoxkle. This weed killer is easily applied by using the watering can with the rose on. One pound makes 12 gallons, which is sufficient for 200 square yards. The weeds will die out in three to four days. This weed killer does not interfere with the grass in any way, and docs hot even discolour it. It should be applied when tbo turf is SOfL F.S.P.