GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 February 1925, Page 6

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “Waratah.”)

FLOWER GARDEN

Bulbs in Pots.—Hyacinths, tulips, daffodils and freesias may he successfully grown in flower pots, either in a sunny window or a greenhouse, and will furnish handsome plants for table de'coration at a time when flowers are scarce. The pots used should he thoroughly clean; if new, they should be soaked in clean water for an hour and then allowed to dry on the surface before using. If used without this soaking the moisture in the soil will he absorbed by the pot, leaving the soil too dry. The soil used to fill the pots should be good turfy loam mixed with a little sharp sand, the quantity of sand necessary depending upon the nature of the loam used; if of a light nature only a small quantity of sand will be necessary, but if very heavy clay the sand should form a fourth part of the compost. If any well-de-cayed manure or leaf mould is available a quantity equal to one-fourth of the soil may be mixed with it to advantage, but on no account should fresh manure ,be used. The pots must he well drained by placing a few pieces of broken crocks in the bottom of each, as the plants will need plenty of water when growing, and the soil would soon become sour if not adequately drained. I’he number of bulbs that may be put in a pot will vary according to the size of the bulbs. One hyacinth bulb is'sufficient for a five-inch pot. Three tulip bulbs may lie placed in a five-inch pot, and six to eight bulbs of freesias will be sufficient in a five-inch pot. The number of daffodils to put in a pot will vary according to the size of the bulbs; the large sizes should be placed in a six or seven-inch pot. Sufficient space has been provided if the fingers can be placed round each bulb. Hyacinth and tulip bulb's when potted should have a third of the bulb above the soil. Daffodils should be just buried in the soil, leaving the necks above it. Freesias should be planted with the crowns an inch below the surface. After planting the bulbs well water the soil in the pots, and place, the pots in a cool, shady position out of doors, where they may remain until the tops show above the soil, and can then be taken into the greenhouse or other place where they are to flower. The pots should stand on a hard bottom or on boards, so that worms cannot enter the holes in the bottom of the pots. The object of standing them outside is to have plenty of roots on the plants before talflmg' them into warmth to flower; if kept in too warm a position at first the flowers will lie forced into growth before there are sufficient roots to provide nourishment for them, and the result would he poor blooms.

Hyacinths may also he grown m water in glass vases specially manufactured for the purpose. The glasses should he filled with rain water so as to just touch the base of the bulb when the hyacinths are first put in; after the roots have started it will not be necessary to keen the glasses so full. A little charcoal should he placed in the water to keep to sweet; should the water become clouded or sour it may be emptied out and fresh rain water substituted. The glasses should be stood in a cupboard or any dark place and remain there until the bulbs have made good roots and have commenced to grow, when they should he brought gradually into the light. The laying out and formation of new lawns should be taken in hand,now. Sow early or winter-flowering sweet peas. Shake out and repot cyclamens. VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Bend over the tops of onions about 5 inches from the soil to assist them in, ripening. ~ ' Lift runnel's of kumerasi occasionally to prevent them rooting at the joint*. Manure and deeply dig or trench all vacant ground. Pinch out the tops of tomato plants as soon as they are from 4ft Gill to sit high. Continue to remove superficies, lateral shoots, and cut off halt of any leaf shading the fruit. Caterpillars will be trrfublesome now, and the plaints- should either be examined carefully each day for them, or tfie plants .sprayed with a solution or arsenate of lead, two tea,spoonfuls- to each gallon of water, or the arsenate of lead may he added to the Bordeaux mixture when using it. Shallots should he lifted as soon as the foliage has .withered, tliorougnly dried, and stored in a cool place. ’ Sow cmrrot (Early Horn), cress, endive, lettuce, radishes. mustard, parsley, silver heet, turnip, ,tnd a small ‘ quantity of cabbage and cauliflower. Soak drills thoroughly with water before sowing in dry weather.