WORK IN THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 5

WORK IN THE GARDEN

PALMS AND OTHER HARD-WOOD PLANTS. Where tlie.se plants require repotting and shitting into larger pots now is a good time to carry out this work. The compost should tie made up of good fibrous loam or clean peat #1 an open nature and well-rotted leaf mould, with plenty of clean sand or oyster shell (Oceanic lime). Your seedsman should be able to supply the compost required for this work. J)o not attempt to pot these plants with ordinary garden soil. It is essential that the right size pot is used—a size larger than the plants are in should be large enough, especially in the case with palms. The writer saw a short time ago a batch of_ Kentia palms which had been potted into oin and 6in pots when a 4in pot would have been large enough for the young plants to shirt in, and half of them were dying. The pots should be clean. After placing in the pots some good drainage, this should be covered over with either moss or half-rotted leaves before placing in the soil. It is also important that the old soil should be removed from the plants before placing the roots into the new when potting. It is also essential that the soil is made firm when potting around the roots. This must be done by using a wooden rammer. None of these plants is a success where the compost is not made firm when potting. Care must be exercised when applying water, as very little water will be required until the roots start away into the mixture. THE FLOWER GARDEN. All the spring flowering bulbs and plants are showing signs of growth, and these can be assisted by first of all hoeing lightly through the surface, and then apply a dusting of good ashes', lime, or bone meal if obtainable. This should not be allowed to lie on the surface, but should be worked into the surface. There are many things which can be planted out, such as wallflowers which were raised in the late autumn, also pansies and violas. The old clumps may be broken up into small pieces providing there are sufficient roots on them. These small clumps will give you a display for months on end. Polyanthus and primroses may be broken up in the same manner. Remember that pansies and polyanthus enjoy partial shade, and will certainly pFoduce finer flowers than when they are planted in positions where the plants get the full rays of the sun throughout the whole day. Carnations and Allwoodi pinks can now be planted out. The latter make ideal plarits for the rockery and for edging purposes. Plenty of lime or old mortar rubble should be worked in, as the plants must have lime to.be a success. Refrain from using artificial manures in the cultivation of carnations, and use Nature's plant food, either well-decomposed animal manure or well-prepared compost containing plenty of leaves. Your plants will not only keep in a healthy condition, but will continually produce good, wellformed flowers.

The perennial border will also require attention, and now is a good time to divide up the clumps which have become overcrowded. New varieties can also be planted with safety. There are many new varieties of perennials which are well worth a place in the garden, especially with the newer varieties of Michaelmas daisies, etc. Remember when replanting that all the perennials are gross feeders, will remain in .the same positions for several seasons', and will require plenty of rich plant food. J his should be dug in before transplanting the clump. A good mulch should be applied at this stage where the plants have been planted for some time as the spring rains will carry the food down to the roots for the season's flowering. Seeds of the following mav be sown when the; sod and climatic conditions aro suitable:—Virginian stock, giant perfection stock, night-scented stock nemes:a (all varieties), pansies, violas! calendulas, larkspurs (giant imperials), cornflower (jubilee poppy (all varieties),' and alvssun! ; snow carpet). For inside sowing (frame or cold glasshouse): Lobelia ageratum (blue cap), carnations, antirrhinums, 'statice, helichrvsum and rhodanthe (everlasting flowers) arctotis, cahopsis, delphiniums, alo/i----sia, summer-flowering peas, and Livingston daisies. The dahlias which have been resting should now be looked over and all diseased tubers should be removed, after which they should be broken up into small pieces containing two or three eyes. These should be boxed up into a free compost, containing plenty of free material, such as oyster grit or coarse sand. Such tubers always g.ye the best results. In some gardens the tubers are allowed to ! remam in the ground and are never lifted, but this method ahvnvs means ihir too much wood and small flowers But of course, some of the wood can be taken out at a later period, but the flowers are even then much inferior to flowers produced from tubers which have been rested. There W varieties of bulbs which can be planted outside at this sta°- e either m the perennial border or "in borders by themselves, such as lily of the valley, anemones, iris (in variety) amaryllis, montbretias (the hybrids are very beautiful), peonies, valotas, and glndiolas for early work. The chrysanthemum ciitt : nc S are now ready for taking off. and should ha inserted either in , pots or boxes. Where large numbers of plants are required, then boxes or travs are the best. The compost should be of an open nature, made up with good fibrous mam, leaf mould, and sharp sand or oyster grit. The writer finds that compost made in a practical manner is ifar away the best for rooting all soft-wooded cuttings. After the cu£ tings have been inserted and the compost made firm, the boxes or pots can be placed either under the benches or in a frame placed on the bench, and the light kept closed for a |ew davs until there are-signs of the cuttings standing erect, when a little air should be given It is essential that the direct rays k of the sun do not reach the cuttings 'in the early stages A piece of piper placed on by day will easily break the ravs of the' sun from the cuttings, It will -he necessary to wipe the moisture from the glass of the frame after the frame has been kept closed for a day or two, or there is danger of the cuttings damping off