GARDENING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1938, Page 3

GARDENING NOTES

THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY. Continue to pot up the chrysanthemums and tuberous begom <»s Into their flowering pots, and iimsn the grape thinning. Prick out the seedlings of cinerarias and primulas as soon as they are large enough to handle, and make another sowing o. cinerarias. Seeds of bells and sweet williams can , be sown, and the first sowing of wallflower can be made. This is usually done on a specially prepared bed or border, taking care to see that the soil is well limed to neutralise all acidity, which would have a tendency to cause club root. . The top two inches of soil should consist, ox old potting soil or be free light loam, and to it a dressing of lime and superphosphate should b p given. Make broad drills six inches wide and . half an inch deep, sow the seed thinly, cover with about a quarter of an inch of fine, sifted soil, and make firm with the head of the rake To provide shade until germination takes place stretch a piece of scrim over the bed, but this should be removed on all dull hays as soon as germination takes place. Varieties to sow are Orange Bedder, . F>« King Blood Red, and Golden Queen.. The earliest batch of cyclamen cap be potted up into five-inch pots it) which they will flower, and the old corms which have been resting can be shaken out and repotted in on nr seven-inch pots. Give the tomato:s plenty of air water well, keep all side shoots pinched out, and tie them up to their supports regularly. • ,

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Complete the planting of dahlias and all kinds of bedding plants as soon f»s possible, continue to stake and tie up the herbaceous parennials, and to thin hardy annuals. Tie up the sweet peas “fid keen those intended to produce all tendrils, as well as all side shoots. Now that we have had plenty of rain the soil among all growing plants should be hood up with the scuffle hoe, nv stirred up with the digging- fork to admit air. Mow the lawn regularly give a dusting of sulphate of ammonia three parts, sand six parts

and sulphate of iron one part. Carnations are now developing ,their flower buls, and if good flowers are desired all but the top one should be removed. They should also be supported by spiral wire stakes or thin bamboos. Keep the old flowers picked off the roses, and hoe the beds and borders regularly. THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GARDEN. Fruit crops are now sufficiently advanced to indicate what is going to hang on and what is likely to drop off. Thin out where too many have set, and syringe with lime sulphur where mildew, is appearing, Thin out the young growths on gooseberries and currants, and keep the soil round them weeded- and cultivated. Plant cabbage and autumn cauliflower and make sowings of broad beans, runners, French beans, peas, lettuce, radish, spinach, and yellow and white turnips to maintain a suc-l cession. Stick peas and runners,, earth up cabbage and cauliflower, and keep the ground among all growing crops cultivated. Tnis is] specially necessary after rhe heating down it got during the recent heavy rain Make small sowings of cabbage, savoys, autumn cauliflower, and broccoli.