The Hawke's Bay Garden Guide

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 162, 28 June 1930, Page 11

The Hawke's Bay Garden Guide

(By

LEONARD A. GRIFFITHS.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1930.

“The very flowers are sacred to the poor.”—Wordsworth. * * * ♦ The Flower Garden. The planting season for roses, flowering arid ornamental shrubs is in full swing, aud all work should be carried out while the soil is moist. Commence pruning roses at once. The object for this operation is to concentrate the sap into fewer channels, and so enhance the size and colour of the blooms. Many flowering shrubs require judicious cutting back, especially those which produce flowers on the new wood. The effect of an early pruning makes the tree throw out new growth. Shrubs that require this treatement are hydrangeas,, lantanas, lasiandra, abutilon and hibiscus. Start planting creepers where required, selecting varieties that bloom at different periods of the year. Fur jilanting against stone walls and garages, ficus and Virginian creepers are best. Divide and replant all l,irbaceous plants that are now dormant, such as Michaelmas Daisy, Golden Rod Cannas, etc. Plant the following hardy seedlings :—Pansy, Primula malacoidea, Violas, Ageratuni, Anemone, Ranunculus, Penstemon, Antirrhinum, Cornflower and Larkspur. Owing to the consistent rainfall may seedlings like stock and poppies have thrown up premature flower spikes. These should be nipped off and the plant will throw off new growth and bloom abundantly in the spring. In the bush house and fernery plants are mostly resting, and a search at this period for slugs and snails that are breeding among the fern roots would be profitable. Calcium arsenate sprinkled over the ground will kill hundreds of little fellows that an eye cannot detect. The following flower seeds may be sown in boxes for transplanting when the weather is mote suitable :—Cinerarias, Poppies, .French Marigolds, Nemesia, Carnation, Delphinium. Finish planting all hlium and calla bulbs for summer flowering. Violets flowering now should have all the runners cut off at a plant cannot flower and produce new growth at the same time. If required, these runners may be stuck in some spare corner fnr planting out later. Lily of the Valley crowns may be set in a shaded and damp corner. * * * * The Vegetable Garden We are now in the middle of winter, and gardening more or less is at a standstill owing to the many wet week-ends and sodden condition of the soil. Nevertheless, there is some work that must be done before it is too late, namely, the setting of fruit and shelter trees.

Holes may be dug the first fine morning. Plenty of drainage is essential and rotted manure worked into the bottom of the hole. Loosen the subsoil before planting. A little trouble taken now will amply repay later, as the tree has to stop in the one place all its life.

In cold, wet districts the planting of gitrus trees may be delayed until the end of August, when warmer weather should prevail. But set at once apples, peaches, nectarines, plums and all deciduous trees Plants and tubers that may now be set:—Onions, seedlings, cabbage and cauliflower, beet, rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, artichokes and shallots. Young seedlings should be dusted with tobacco dust to keep down the lavages of the slugs and snails.

Tomatoes are a world popular crop, and no garden, however small, should be without this health-giving vegetable. Sow the seeds now in pans or boxes, covering lightly with saud and soil, and if possible, a sheet of glass to protect them from heavy rains. Market Favourite'is a splendid cropper for general use. Carter’s Sunrise is a small, sweet sort that is very useful for pickling, In sunny spots of the garden the following seeds may be set:—Broad Beans, Carrots, Beet, Spinach, Mustard. Cress, Parsley. Turnips, and Swedes. All root crops should be planted in ground that has been occupied by cabbage and similar leaf crops. ♦♦♦ ♦ ' Azaleas THEIR CULTIVATION. The Azalea tree may be planted during June and July. Early planting is advisable before the shrubs begin to flower. This remarkably showy plant is certanly deserving of more widespread popularity, aud should be availed of tu a greater extent by the , home gardener. The species em- ! brace many beautiful varieties, all | more or less adapted for ornamenting I the home garden plot, provided favorable aspect and good soil condilons are available. For growing in 1' the open ground the plant requires a shady or partially shady position, and prefers a rich, well-dug, loose soil.

There are many beautiful colourings incorporated in this glorious garden gem, including magenta, purple, pink, rose, apricot, white, scarlet, etc. When -making your choice endeavour to select shapely, well-furnished specimens. These will build up to good, eveuly balanced specimens quicker and more readily than straggling, ill-sliapen plants. Endeavour tq embody a good selection of colour in your collection. They should not be planted doser than three feet apart. Dig a hole about eighteen inches to two feet deeji and make provision for drainage Dy placing a quantity of rubble at the bottom of each hole. Before filling in, mix some well-rotted dairy manure. together with a good handful of bone dust, with the soil. Now fill in and compress the soil firmly with y'tir feet. Make a hole in the prepare! patch sufficiently largo enough '■ to accommodate the shaped mass of earth which clings to the roots. Build up the earth round the stem, stamping it firmly as the operation proceeds Complete the planting with a copious watering. "J he after-care of the Azalea is extremely simple. Apart from pl-rnty cf vatei in the dry summer mouths, all the attention required is an annual application of well-rotted stable manure forked lightly round t,ne plant during the early spring months. For pot specimens Azaleas are unrivalled. Treated in this manner they are also most serviceable and adaptable for verandah aud table decoration. For the latter purpose the effect produced by a nicely-furnished, well-grown plant wholly eclipses a display of cut flowers and last considerably longer. Should you bo fortunate enouglj to possess several varieties, the colours should be changed about from day to day. ♦ * ♦ ♦ Woodlice WORSE THAN SLUGS. Many gardeners are eonstantly laying blame of wanton destruction to the door of the poor slug and snail. Certainly they are pests and cause much damage. But the worst enemy ot tlie gataener is the woodlouse (Oniscus). These are distinctly related to the crab and lobster family, aud are really not an insect at all. They are greyish in colour, with hard backs, ana when alarmed curl themselves into a round ball. They are scavengers aud feed ou all refuse and decayed vegetation. If the Oniscus would stop at this they would be very useful, but if given a chance they will immediately turn their attention to any tender green leaf that may be within their reach. Young seedlings just germinating are one ot their favoprite diets. They often nip the tops from tha young plant, leaving the bare stalk, and in the morning wo look round muttering swear words under our breath and blaming the slugs. Wooden borders and garden frames are their favourite haunts, where'they can hide among tho rotteu wood. They are largely night feeders, thus the mysterious disappearance of our plants. Fortunately they are easily exterminated by laying traps for them to hide under and stamping them out as they collect. If this operation "is repeated several times they will soon be held in check. Another and quicker method is to procure loz of Paris green and mix it with a little bran or pollard, and sprinkle round affected parts. The woodlice will eat the pollard and be poisoned immediately. ♦ * * ♦ Garden Strawberries THE TIME TO PLANT. Every gardener should cultfrate a small bed of strawberries (Fragaria). Tho stiaweberry will grow in any good soil provided it is thoroughly trenched with well-rotted cow or stable manure. Tho finest strawberries are generally grown in cool districts on a slight slope facing the early sun. The first thing to do is to select the most suitable variety for planting. Marguerite or Waikato' strawberry is a great favourite in Auckland. Ettsburg is a smaller berry than the above, but much sweeter. Captain Cook, tho new variety, seems to be an improvement on both varieties, the. berries being large and rounded and a heavy cropper. This berry commanded top prices in the market last season, Tho above three, varieties ace the best for the Auckland district. Set out the strawberries as early as jwssible in June. Early planting is advisable, as they have a” chance to get established before it gets too dry. Plant in rows 18in. apart and 2ft. between the rows. Overcrowding is not advisable. This gives room, for walking between the rows when picking. Set each plant carefully keeping the crown level with the tup cf the grpund. On no acCQVtnt cover the crown.

After planting mulch the strawberries with straw or rotted stable manure. Keep the rows well hoed Ibis will keep the sod loose and work m the manure. During the dry weotlusr frequent watering should be

given 'and liquid manure applied every ten days after they show flower. This wall help to produce a second crop. The old plants will throw out runners. Nip off any that are not required, ana when the growing shoots are rotted transplant into a oed Bin. apart, to make fresh stock for next season. I * ♦ ♦ ♦ Some Useful Hints A Necessity! t J No home garden should be without its \potato patch. Of all vegetable crops this is not only the easiest to grow, but such a sure cropper—even poor land furnishing a most liberal return. The potato is undoubtedly the most popular and certainly the most valuable of all the vegetables. The money expended on the purchase of this commodity by the community is enormous, and with very little trouble on the part of every householder fortunate enough to possess a few square yards of workable ground, a tremendous saving could be effected. For the best returns good cultivation is essential. » * » The soui The soil for potatoes should be thoroughly prepared and deep trenching and a liberal inclusion of welldecomposed farmyard manure worked well below. Wherever possible it is advantageous to plant whole tubers, particularly at this season of the year. For this purpose potatoes the size of a hen’s egg should be selected. Avoid mis-shapen specimens or any disease-infected tubers. Get your supplies from a reputable house, and demand hand-picked seed. Pay a little more if necessary. Anything larger than the size suggested should be divided into two or even three pieces, but it is not advisable to plant the cut portions until they are well sprouted. The Seed: This may best be achieved by first dipping them in wood-ash to prevent bleeding, and laying them, cut portions downwards, on shallow trays or boxes in a dark place for a few days. Whole tubers are best sproiifed by >tirst laying them out in the cellar, or some other place excluded from light, and covering them with a wet sack. In the meatnime the ground should have been thoroughly prepared by good digging and cleared of all weed growth. Work the surface soil to a fine tilth. Manures : A little bonedust and superphosphate in the proportion of loz of each to the square yard, supplemented by |oz of sulphate of potash, scattered along and mixed with the soil at the base of the drills at time of planting, will prove highly beneficial to the resulting crops. Regarding the quantity required for the home plot, 141 b of seed potatoes should be sufficient for 100 ft. of drill. If larger areas are to be planted, we would recommend 6or 8 cwt. to the acre. Keep the ground free of weeds during grow-th, hill up when the plants are of an established size, and water liberally between the rows, without saturating the foliage, when the weather is dry. Kitchen slops are excellent for this purpose. ♦ ♦ ♦, ♦ Answer r to Correspondent? Ashes—Whether mixed with wood ash or not ooal and coke ashes are disastrous to plant life In any soil.