GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 September 1925, Page 6

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “Waratah.”) ROCKERY PLANTS. It is advisable to look over the .rockery plants in spring and put some soil around them where it has been washed away by heavy rains during the winter months. Soil should be put round plants of primula and others of that type of growth to about the level of the lower leaves, as they often die in summer if there is too much of the root stock exposed. Few plants will thrive if- much of the root stock or the woody tufts are exposed to the drying winds of spring ,01- the drought of summer. A good soil for most rockery plants is made up of two parts loam, on© part leaf soil, and one part sand or grit. Work the .soil well among th© growths of tufted plants with the. fingers, and if the weather is dry apply water with a can fitted with a fine “rose.” If any plant is so high out of the soil that the top-dressing forms a mound which would throw off the rain, it is often necessary either to lift the plant and replant it deeper, or to put some stones round about it to hold up the fresh soil and to lead th© rain to th© roots

of the plant instead of away from it. TRANSPLANTING ONIONS. The system of transplanting onions is now largely adopted both by private iind commercial growers, ancl has much to' commend it. The necessary labour in thinning and weeding amongst the seedlings in the rows and' in hoeing between the rows during the seedling period is done away with; the plants are set out at regular distances apart, and with good cultivation larger and finer bulbs are produced. For transplanting the ground should be made firm bv treacling or with a light roller. Place the plants four, six, or nine inches apart in the rows, according to tlie size of bulb required. Medium-size, bulbs are the most useful, and usually keep better than large ones. If sufficient space is available allow a distance of 15 inches between

the rows (or 18 inches if the bulbs are required for show purposes). This distance permits the necessary cultivation to be done in comfort and without damage to the bulbs. When transplanting insert the roots only, leaving the plant above the surface. The tops will droop over for a few days, but will soon assume an upright habit. If the . roots are buried too deeply the onions ~ will ho thick-necked and of poor qual- , ity. During the growing season deep hoeing, which is so beneficial to most „ garden crops, must be avoided- with (Id's vegetable. The ground must be ~ kept solid, so that the bulbs will be induced to enlarge on the surface bet- , te>’ than when surrounded with loose ’ soil. ' s

In some seasons- onion mildew attacks the plants, and the leaves soon wilt and perish. As with all other fungoid diseases, this trouble is much easier to prevent than to cure, and the young plants should be dus-tecl with sulphur in powdered form at frequent intervals or sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, summer formula (41b bluestone. 4lb lime, to each 40 gallons of water) as a- precautionary measure. . GUTTING ASPARAGUS.

The el loots of this vegetable are often cut in such -a manner that other shoots',timt visible on the surface, are destroyed. The s ten us emerge from a crown, and when one -stein is fully grown these are usually several others at different (stages of development below the soil, and if proper care is not taken in cutting the one ready for use, the others near it may he irretreviably

damaged. The (beast method is to scrape away the soil at the base of the stem and cut it with a sharp nar-row-blade knife at a slightly downward angle, with tlhe point towards gii© and away from the centre' of the crown. If used in too downward a direction, with the point towards the crown, stems adjacent to the one cut will be destroyed.

Many cherry trees sued their leaves prematurely offing tona fungoid disease known ,as “cherry. Leaf spot.’ The early sfygdding of the leaves, year rafter year, grpaitly weakens tlie trees and may eventually cause them to die. The disease may be successfully controlled by spraying the trees with time-sulphur ■solution at least three times, (lj As isoon as the flower .petals have fallen ; \2) about ten days latter; (3) just before the fruit turns colour. A fourth application made shortly after the fruit has been gathered, will kill any spores ■of the disease that may have survived 'the previous sprayings. Sweet and 6our cherries are eoualily susceptible to klie disease, but care must be exercised in spraying sweet cherry trees, as the foliage is easily “burned'’ if the limehulpliuir solution is too strong. A mixture composed of one gallon of standard strength lime-sulphur to 40 gallons 'of water will give the best results with sour cherries; for sweet cherries the proportion. should be one gallon of. limesulphur to 50 gallons of water. Choose h dull day for spraying or spray in the late afternoon, when the sun’s Lays have lost their power. Never spray foliage of any kind with lime-sulphur Solution when the sun is shining brightly or xterious damage may ho done. IfcO UTI.N.E WORK. Lift and divide roots of rhubarb that have been growing on the same site for mqre than three years, Replant •four feet, aplanb in soil that has been deeply dug and well, manured. Plant asparagus roof* "r deeply, trenched and well-man urev. sol; t: if five feet wide are the most com ehient •size. In each bed plant three rows IS ins. apart, and set the phints 18'iins. apaht, covering the crowns with about three inches of soil.

Pliant cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce plants. Plant sprouted sets of seed potatoes 4 ins. deep and 12 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart. Place main crop varieties of seed potatoes in shallow boxes to sprput in ■a light airy shed. Cover the boxes ’with .sheets of paper on frosty nights. Plant gladioli (bulbs Gins, deep in •well manured soil in a sunny position. Sow peas at intervals of three weeks •to maintain a regular supply. Sow bread-beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, cress lettuce, mustard, •spinach, radish, turnip. Beet, parsnip parsley, and onion seeds should not he sown until the soil becomes warmer. The heavy rains we are experiencing are keeping the soil very wet and cold, and it is not advisable to sow seeds of weak germinating power, such as onions, parsley, and piansuip, until the soil, bee-nines moderately dry. UNDER, GLASS. Pe-pot and pot-on plants as necessary. Prick off seedling plants. Plant out tomatoes, and pot those for planting outside. Sow vegetable marrow, pumpkin, cucumber and melon seeds. Sow seeds of tender and half-hardy annual flowering plants. Pott off rooted chrysanthemum outti ngs. Strike coleus cuttings. Re-pot ferns and palms.