GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 30 August 1929, Page 7

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “Waratah.”)

REPOTTING PLANTS* • . i, . Any pot plants that require repotting should be done now. The best 'Pay is to turn the ball of soil out of each pot, and if the roots are thick and matted' the plant should be repotted into a. pot two -sizes larger. The pot should be held in the righthand and the fingers of the left placed on the soil. Then turn the pot upside down and tap the edge gently on a table or shelf; the ball of soil will then leave- the pot. Before repotting remove- as much loose so-i! as possible with a blunt stick. The pots should be clean and dry inside: if not they should be soaked for half an hour, or they will soak up moisture from the soil in the pot. The best soil to use is two oarts fibrous loam, one part "'ell-rotted manure, and one part sand; this should be well mixed together. If no organic manure be available use Clay’s fertiliser. one part to 80 parts of soil, or any mixed general garden (artificial) manure will answer the ourpose. First- place a few nieces of broken pot over the hole for drainage; then place sufficient soil -so that when the- hall of soil is put in the top will be within half an inch- from the top of the pot in- the case of small pots and an inch for nots eight inches upwards. This is to -allow space to apply* water. Then fill in the

space- between the ball of soil and the side of tb« pot: do this gradually and make it firm with a- piece of wood’. This is important, because if the new soil lie not -so firm as- the- old ball of soil when water is applied it will pass +lv’'oup'h tbe -new soil and- leave the old ball of soil dry. After repotting the soil should h» kenf moist, hut not sodden, or flip new soil will become sour befoi'p it is oocunied bv new mots. Palms do not require remitting often • on r -e in two veers is sufficient. They have only a small root svs tom in prorvortio'i to the tun. and do better in a small quantity of soil. AA a-te-ring pot plants is the most- important detail in their care, and no definite bard and fast- rules can be given Water must be- given as reonired. and this knowledge is gained by experience only. This mav be once a day or once a. week, depending unnn the class of nlant. the season of the year. etc. Plants in small pots growing vi"oronslv require freemen t> smvolies of yater. In hot weather and in rooms with a. fim more moisture will be needed than durin" dondv weather and in cool rooms. The best wav to ascertain whether- the soil is dry Is to ran the not with the knuckles of the hand; whe-i the sod is dry* the not gives a lio-llow sound This is a. better method than Tndeiivr by the pneearan'e of tfie coil wliici' mav be damn on ton but drv underneath if Sllffi mont water was not given a,t the I previous water in". Aiwa vs give sufficient wo to,- to thorpiinddv moisten tbe soil in tbe T '-at: if the nots stand in sivueers- emotv aw a v the water that lias drained tbi-enorh. No VC” allow +.be nots to stand in water, because it makes tlm cop soar. Plants with bard leaves should he snn.ugerl te i*a_ j move dust-, or mnnv ‘be stood out in I "•arm. ""uPo rain. Plants with soft! leaves should Tv* • svringed with warm j water occasionally. Should scale .an-l near on o"lms or asnidistras use warm . water and some ordinaw soan on a stiff brush 4o remove them. T.ie-lif and m-met-nre are important factors in +he cultivation of not ulants Cronin" in *nmii- .An” dev-jon to inC"a,, S a Aiirl bold tba n*ois l ll re. is rlesi”.

able-. Cnii'-ers "ii,lov tb” vki+c hre advantnf">o’’‘-. if ’ there pm f*'^lTl a sm yi 11 - ;,, flymy» |n pmmnt flic jn wafpr nnfl finis piuin-mrr rlri''in"o nn+ c . f„,. ~.,i; 1 ,„,. P nn+s; nr ,c nnlv lm+ ni’mninnfiil pip. T ™>t +r? ’n prjinnr.ifi'nn f.- o .n siflnt „C fi’« not,., ; s ~p„. ..-’•.An ’W AAA a-aava.l +A fl, A ~;, Af + 'n-M is „.Iva„ y’a a|l i|. a 1,, 4KA .-..+ 4’,a.- ,1,, |* a _ f,.n.-A «... ~,.,,.1, ..■A*p. Ca,„a mM.I.. AA . A.--A- P...,„A-1 ,Ta..-.. ' .Va.-VI l.„ ~1..,.A,1 pi. A 1.,.n,„„ l,„ + I.A ~..i ll.nl {* ,1. „„p -1,..., pi. A A4-A .. ..AAP.I.AS al,a V A 4>,A _ + ntn -f +I.A AA+ V.A„IA r> f 14 sl.A.'Jfl IIA SHADY BORDERS. Most gardens have a border where tile light supply is deficient and where many kinds of flower plants have been tried with no success. There are very few plants which will grow successfully where there is little or no sunshine. The following list comprises those that will do well in all shade: Cornflower : Height 18 inches-2 feet. Forget-me-not: Height 6-8 inches. Godetia: Height 12 inches. Xemophila: Height 12 inches. Pansy: Height 6-8 inches. Canterbury Bell: Height 2ft 6in. j Seeds of these may be .sown outside as soon as the weather conditions improve . Other plants which will grow well in a border which receives some sunshine for part of the day are: Balsam: Height 18-24 inches. Sow August inside. October outside. Verbena: Height 12 inches. Sow August inside. September outside. Stocks: Height 12-24 inches. Sow August or January. j Clark ia- : Height* 12-24 inches. Sow August outside. Zinnia: Height 2-3 feet. Sow August inside. October outside. Mimulus ('mask): The scented and tiger-flowered varieties will also grow in a position that receives little or no sun. but must not be planted until the ond of October or beginning of Xovenibc*\ as the foliage is very soft and onsilv killed, bv frost. Needs plentv o( ''liter in drv weather. Seeds should l»g sown under glass. .M A THIOL A BICORXIS. This is a hardy annual flowering plant, commonly known as nightscented sto k. It "rows about one toot high, and has lilac coloured flowers. It has a delicious fragrance after subset and after rain. Small patches of this plant should be grown near the } house for the .sake of the oerfume it; emits. i ROUTINE WORK. 1 Sow down new lawns. Sweep old lawns to scatter worm casts and roll after the soil has been | washed down among tbe roots of the) grass. Spray camellias and other shrubs affected with scale insects with “red oil.” one part to 40 parts of water. Lift, divide and replant hardy perennial flowering plants in well-manur-ed ‘oil. Plant out- autumn-sown onions. Plant cabbage. cauliflower and lettuce plants. Plant garlic and shallots. Sow broad beans, beet, cabbage-, cauliflower, carrot, celery, cress, leek, lettw e. mustard, onion, neas. parsley, radish, spinach and turnip when (he soil is in a suitable condition. Whor-’ birds am troublesome damp seeds and roll in red lead powdei'. or stretch i double row of black cotton two inches from the surface of the &bil.

Plant sprouted sets of early varieties of seed potatoes, one foot apart in rows two feet apart. Place seed potates broad end upmost in shallow boxes to sprout. Keep in dark place till sprouts appear, then in a- light airy place to keep sprouts sturdy. Protect from frost at night. Give asparagus beds a dressing of nitrate of soda, one ounce per square yard; it is best applied in' the form of a solution, using one ounce of nitrate to a gallon of water. Apply every fortnight during the cutting season. Sow seeds of hardy annual flowering plants in the open as soon as weather conditions are suitable. Sow under glass seeds of half hardy an-l tender flowering plants. Plant seedlings of hardy flowering plants. Take cuttings of chrysanthemums.