GARDEN NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5000, 15 October 1918, Page 3

GARDEN NOTES.

(By Kew.)

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS E;M. G, writes: —Could you kindly advise ino how to eradicate horse radish. I .have a patch -about three yards square, in which the plants have become a veritable pest. Last year I trenched the ground to a depth of three feet, - and carefully collected and burnt every 'piece of root above thatdepth. This year, -however, I find niv labor has been worse than in vaTn. every main rpot having a number of smaller ones leading from it, and penetrating the subsoil, to a depth of five or six feet. • I find that, as a result of the trenching, each of these has enveloped into a new plant, so that where I had one before now I have a dozen. —The horse radish is one of the most difficult plants fn destroy, as every little bit of root will make a plant, and the deeper the ground is dug the faster the plants grow. The only way to eradicate it is to carefully fork the ground through, and pick up every little piece of root. Then carefully watch thp’ patch next season, and every time a leaf is seen pushing through the surface cut it off with a hoe. The roots must die if the leaves ar 0 promptly cut off. Novice writes: —What is- a good artificial manure for potatoes. —In regard to a good artificial manure for potatoes, experiments have demonstrated: that phosphatic manures in some form are absolutely necessary for the successful cultivation of the potato, and nearly all specially-prepared potato manures contain a considerable amount of superphosphate. There are several forms of superphosphate or phosphate manures, and the question to be decided is which is the best form of phosphate to use. On soils known to contain a fair proportion of lime the acid phosphates are best, such as superphosphate, but on those soils containing no lime, such as peats and clays, nonacid phosphates are best. Basic slag, none meal, or good Peruvian guano are most suitable. /I he two first act more rapidly than the latter. I think you may be able to procure good potato manure already made up from the leading seedsmen.

BRUSSEL SPROUTS. There ar e few more popular winter vegetables than Brusbel sprouts, and they certainly are one of the most productive that can be grown, for they continue to give a supply for several months. - They must have a long season of growth, and for that reason the seed should be sown early. This is a good time to sow. Sow in shallow drills and, as- soon as the seedlings are large enough, they should bo picked out into a nursery bed putting the plants about four inches apart. The seed bed and young plants must be protected from birds and slugs,or they’ll have them before they are many days through the ground. Brussel sprouts are of sufficient importance to have a piece of ground to themselves and if such is the case, it should be prepared ns soon as possible for they do better when the ground is firm. 'J lie soil should he good but do not add any fresh stable manure as it encourages a too sappy growth, and what -is required is a firm, stocky plant. Ground that was manured for potatoes or celery Inst season would do without the addition of any further manure. If a niece of ground cannot he spared for them, the next best plan is to plant in the furrows between potatoes. Seed sown now will produce plants that will bo ready for putting out about the time the main crop of potatoes are earthed up. If the weather is dry at planting time give the bed a good watering an hour or so previous to lifting. Lift with as much earth as possible and plant with a trowel. Put the plants twenty-four inches apart and if planting on a piece of ground to themselves allow thirty inches between the rows, in the case of planting between potatoes they must ho put in tho furrows which will be about this distance apart. r l lnground should be kept hoed and weeded. As the lower leaves turn yellow nnd decay they should he removed to allow air and light to get to tho stems. When commencing to gather start at tho base and continue upwards, do not remove the ton until the end of the season. By this means the plants will continue to grow and will give a succession of nice firm ‘‘buttons.”

BROAD BEAN SHOOTS AS A / VEGETABLE. The young tips of broad beans, which are pinched out when sufficient flowers are open, should not be thrown away hut retained and cooked as a vegetable. They require boiling in like manner to cabbage. _ the flavor is very mild, and is similar to broad, beans "but not so pronounced. BEETROOT LEAVES AS A VEGETABLE. Green vegetables are somewhat scarce just now, and a welcome change can he found in the leaves or the ordinary beetroot. They should be cooked in a similar manner to cabbage or silver beet. They somewhat resemble spinach, having more flavor than the silver beet. KILLING DOCKS' ON LAWNS. Docks are very troublesome smd unsiehtlv on lawns and should be got rid of as soon 'as possible. If they can be nulled out when the lawn is soft. If they are large, cut oit the crown, - pierce a hole m centre with a three or four inch nail, tpem inject some kerosene in the hole made, by the nail. The kerosene can be injected by an ordinary small oil can.

BROAD BEAN RUST. UROMYCES FARAE. This parasite is very common on broad beans, and is also 'said to attack various- leguminous plants, riie first stage appears in the spring m the form of thickened , whitish spots on the stems and leaves. these spots are followed by pustules of a brown color, and are usually scattered thickly over the under-surfaces or the leaf. ’ In a short time these pustules burst, and the plant becomes covered with, a rust-colored powderThis is a most difficult disease to check, as no remedy has been found which can actually be called successful When the fact is grasped that the disease can only commence Lom snores- which have passed the winter on old’ stems and leaves tho Of burning all steum e c. will bo obvious. If the pianrs « attacked, the stems should be pulled and burned at tho. first f.ci s. o einp. the stems into the ground, _ or putting them into a heap to rot is of o avail, as- the infection is still possible If the cron in the district was

affected last season, it would bo as well to, spray the present _ season’s crop with lime-sulphur solution. This can be obtained from all seed merchants, and only needs water to "be added. Tho directions given with the lime-sulphur should b« closely followed.

COMMON SALT AS A GARDEN FERTILISER. Some plants .more than others are benefited by a dressing of ordinary salt. Beetroot is a crop which is particularly benefited by an application of salt as also is asparagus. The general effect of salt is to stimulate leaf action, and light applications at the rate of half .an ounce, to two yards run a row. Lettuces, cabbage and other garden vegetables will ho found to make the foliage thicker and more succulent. Although useful in small doses it must not he over done, otherwise, the result is failure. Salt attracts moisture, rfr.d also acts on the soil rendering other plant foods available. Its action is somewhat similar to nitrate of soda.

ASTERS. In common everyday phraseology tho above name is usually applied to two distinct genera of plants. 'Hie tru e asters- are sometimes known as Michaelmas daisies, and are hardy herbaceous perennials, chiefly natives of North America, having star-like flowers usually of some color ranging from white to purple. The bestknown use of the name aster, however, is for annual varieties of Callistephus chinensis or “China. Aster,” and it is to these plants that the name is intended to be applied in the present case. The asters are amongst the very best of autumn flowering annuals. Hie different types, varying in height and form, are numerous, and tho range of colors are almost legion. The China aster* was first raised in Paris from seeds sent from China towards the end of the eighteenth centurv. In its wild state the flowers are" single, that is, only the outer florets are star-shaped or quilled, and a richness and variety of coloring lias bteen developed, scarcely surpassed in, any other species. We are chiefly indebted to French horticulturists foi the great perfection to which the different types have been brought,. Asters are valuable for growing foi the decoration of beds or borders, and are invaluable for'cutting purposes flowering as they do in the autumn. A bed of well-grown asters ia a picture worth looking at whether in a small or large garden. Asters like a deco rich loamy soil, although they arc capable of neing grown with success in almost any son. As tho plants require to be kept growing during the hot dry months of summer, the beds or borders, wherethev ore planted should have a good heav T , dressing of weil-rottod maniuo worked in. The reason one oi ten sees starved-looking plants is usually due to tho lack of a good body cl Immufi in the roil. Planted m the ordinary wav one gets the small weakly plants, which probabiy carry a terminal flower and a few small lateral blooms, whereas when well treated you get a large plant which will carry a Large quantity of flowers, all of which are of a good size. /I he seed should be sown, thinly m “ patch of ground which has boon worked fine", and the seed covered with about half an inch of soil. .lie seed will require watering it the weather is dry. As soon as the rwants are un the*’ should ho dibUea mat in a bed which should be prepared by having some well-rotten manure or leaf soil worked in , i-his will cause the plants, when luted Id planting, to lift- with a nice bad of soil attached to the roots. •he seedlings should be dibbled out about cix inches from plant to plant, and the same distance between the rows. If the plants are to be planted m a border and all of the border cannot bo treated the same, dig in—a good forkful of manure just where the r, Santa will be put. Asters make the best displays if they .arc m croups each color to itself, about ? dozen plants in n group ffianos a zood patch. The distance apart to plant will vary somewhat .according the tvpe grown, but ,rom fifteen b hes for tho *nrf to. eighteen inf'ms for the taller sorts is somewheie about corvect; in any case do not rather allow a little over -iWo undo The plants will require watering during dry weather, and a wtw-klv -dose of'liquid manure when r.hcy are coining into flower will minrr.v** IflO t)looiUS. n “ Y-'iiat are the best sorts to grow ? U.a verv wide question, and to ; tmtain extent must depend upon individual tastes, but the following am. some of the most useful*~ nhrveanthenmni Floweied. lii e - ,r'r both tall and dwarf varieties of and both are amongst t o htr’tn grow They are vigorous Growers, and the flowers are large and r.,ii chrysanthemum-shaped, P lO ducecH m clusters of from ten to Perfection.—-These . ar e vigorous upright growers, bay mg large, p.jmispherioal-fornied head- ot flo with incurved florets. The.y are amongst the tallest growers, and &>«-. hpupllv about two feet high. U is one of the most popular types of asters, and its pop - Urii.v is well deserved, foi it. is un fculitedly the best riHWggfi The flowerheads are veiydouEe.i b’-icate globular, aboim four inches in diameter, and very Poriferous. Comet.— This is a very distinct ana beautiful section, charactemert b> the flowers having beaiitfl 1115-cu i notp-10, reminding one of the •> apa--ese chrysanthemums. They aJ C- oca for cutting, as the floweis lend themselves to decovatrve nurpom There ar e both dwarf and tall, 0 • . tfc are called. Giant Comets J o rb-m-lA are about ten inches to one foot, the giants about hfmeu i'iehm. i Eos* cutting purposes the Giant C of is wlia *fco grow. p There is now an improved jvpe 3$dKS3 SS, ness for decorative purposes, cit e n beds or borders, and m a cuKstate they are hard to he t- &r lightness and - clw*m■ c-cnial, d °;i H theTii'T” >vith O,t T sss? ££& .-rif b ss ent colors, wl.ici - i m see d. so S u? f.:v t »ssd I'Sio 1 'Sio. 0 b,.w0,0,, can he obtamgg. „