GARDENING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1941, Page 10

GARDENING NOTES

THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY.

Maintain a dry buoyant atmosphere in the greenhouse while the chrysanthemums are the chief attraction, keep bringing in cinerarias, cyclamen and primulas as the flowers show colour, and continue to ripen off the tuberous begonias. The begonias can be stored away in their flowering pots or the tubers can be .shaken free of soil and stored away in boxes of sand or dry soil in a frost-proof shed. As soon as the chrysanthemums are past their best, the flower stems can be cut about a foot from the soil in case they fail to make growths from round the base of the old stem. After a light top-dressing they can be stood in a cold frame to encourage sturdy clean growths which will provide the cuttings later on. THE FLOWER GARDEN. Continue to clear off the old bedding plants and to cut over the herbaceous, perennials, also to plant out tulips, hyacinths, anemones, ranunculus,’ wallflowers, polyanthus primroses, forget-me-nots, and such biennials as stocks, sweet Williams, Canterbury bells, also any perennials

which may have been raised from seed or cuttings. This is a suitable time for planting roses, and all kinds of ornamental trees and shrubs. The rock garden should receive regular attention at present, and all leaves and weeds which might shelter slugs, which would soon devo.ur the sort young growths on the a'lpines, should be removed. Unless the pockets have already been top-dressed with light, gritty soil, this should be carried out, care being taken to work it in among the mat plants. THE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GARDEN. Take advantage of all dry weather to hoe or lightly fork .among an growing crops, and to give the celery its final earthing up. Dig and store root crops, and then manure and dig or trench the ground, leaving the surface rough during the winter. Collect and dry seeds of runner and dwarf French beans, and clean and pack away pea and bean stakes In a. dry shed if possible. Clear away the old, ripened leaves on the broccoli and Brussels sprouts, and dig up and burn the roots of cabbages and savoys after the heads have been cut.

Plant out tree a’nd bush fruits of all kinds and begin to prune the currant and gooseberries. It is assumea that the raspberries have been pruned by cutting out the old canes which have fruited as soon as the fruit was picked. Collect and store remaining apples and pears, and rake up and burn all leaves and fallen fruit. Strawberries can still be planted, and cultivation shoud be carried out among the old plants.