GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 January 1929, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “Waratali.”) j PASSION FRUIT. It is absolutely necessary that the soil in which the roots of passion fsuit are 'growing be kept in a moist condition during dry weather, or the jraung fruits will drop off soon after they have formed. When young fruits; show signs of shrivelling it means that the soil 'about the roots is too dry, and a good soaking of water should "be applied immediately, also a mulch of manure spread on the surface soil to keep the soil cool and moist. Ifj manure be not available any vegetable refuse will answer the purpose. Ah application of nitrate of soda should also be made- now. Dissolve four ounces of the nitrate of soda in font gallons of water and apply that quantity to each plant. Water the soil thoroughly a few hours before, if it be in a dry condition. • CARNATIONS. T,he best time to layer carnations is immediately they have done flowering. The soil round the plants should be loosened and broken into a fine tilth. The shoots chosen for layering should be gently bent down so that at least one joint may be placed beneath the . soil. Cut through the joint with a sha’rp knife starting underneath and cutting half. way through .the joint and the stem up to the next joint. Remove any leaves which may be in the way at the base of the shoot; then peg it down firmly with small pegs of bent wire, cover with soil to a depth of about one inch and keep moist by watering occasionally in dry weather. The layers may be transplanted into their permanent quarters in the latter end of March; the stem should be severed about a week before transplanting. Plant firmly in soil, to which a liberal quantity of lime has been added. Choose a sunny, open position away from trees or shrubs. MELONS. The main shoots of melons should be stopped by pinching off the ends, this will promote the growth of the growth of the lateral branches and assist' the development of the fruits. The laterals (side shoots) should also be pinched about one joint above the fruit. Raise the fruits on pieces of slate or stone to prevent damage by lying on damp soil. The . plants should be kept well watered until the fruits commence to ripen. When the footstalk cracks away from the fruit the melon is ripe. Rock melons are very apt to damp off if too much water be given them. i •ONIONS.

The tops of ea'rly sown onions that are showing signs of ripening should be bent over to assist them ripening. As soon as the tops are withered the bulbs should be lifted and laid on a hard surface to dry. As soon as thoroughly dry they should be tied in bunches or Topes and hung up in a. cool, dry place, or spread out on shelves. Thick neelced bulbs do not keep well and should be used first. SHALLOTS. These should be lifted and dried in the same manner advised above for onions as soon as the foliage turns yellow, ROUTINE WORK. Spray apple and near trees with arsenate of lead to prevent attacks of codlin-moth, bronze beetle or pear slug. Use two teaspoonsful per gallon of water, or one pound to twenty-five gallons of water. Spray every fourteen days until the end of February. ‘ ‘ Swift’s ’ ’ in paste form is the most reliable brand to use. Spray plum trees infested with pear ! slug- with arsenate of lead solution. I Plant out cabbage, broccoli, leek and I lettuee plants. Sow broad beans. Sow a dwarf variety of peas. Sow lettuce in a shady position. Sow French and butter beans in a shady position. Sow Early 'Horn or Early Nantes carrots. - | Sow lettuce in a shady position. | Sow turnips; “ Golden Ball” is the | best variety to sow now. Sow radishes in rich, firm soil in a shady position and keep well w-atered.! Sow endive. Sow mustard and cress. Sow cress five days before mustard if both are required for use at the same time. Sow silver beet. All vegetable seeds sown mow should be sown in shallow trenches to facilitate watering when necessary. Soak dry & soil thoroughly before sowing 1 seeds.

Pinch back long shoots of cucumbers, melons, marrows, and pumpkins to keep the plants within bounds, and assist the setting and development of the fruit. In exposed positions it is advisable to peg down the shoots. Spray cabbage, broccoli, etc., affected with green-fly with a solution of “Black-leaf 40”—use one teaspoonful per gallon of soapy water ; when caterpillars arc troublesome add two teaspoonsful of a'rsonate of lead to each gallon.

Pinch back verbenas, petunias, phlox, etc., to keep the plants dwarf and bushy. Clip hedges. Bud roses. Bayer carnations.

Pick off all faded flowers to prolong the flowering period. Once seed formation commences the plants will cease to produce flowers. Pinch off the ends of shoots of scarlet runners over six feet in length. This will cause the formation of sideshoots, on which beans will be produced. Pinch off the tops of tomato plants as soon as they have attained a height of about four feet six inches. Keep all side-shoots pinched off and spray with (Bordeaux solu'tibn (one pound Bordeaux powder flo ten gallons of water). Spray every seven days in moist humid weather; in dry weather every fourteen days. Apply weak liquid manure once a week to plants carrying fruit.

Sow seeds of biennial and perennial flowering plants. Lift anemone and ranunculus tubers and bulbs, of hyacinths and tulips. Store in a cool, dry place. Lift daffodils, freesias and other bulbs where overcrowded.

Apply liquid manure to all crops once a week. When the soil is dry apply clear water a few hours before.