WORK IN THE GARDEN.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 15, 6 September 1928, Page 8

WORK IN THE GARDEN.

The phenomenal rainfall during August has completely upset garden work and delayed early seed planting, or, if planted, the seed may have probably rotted. The main work now will be to make good all arrears of work, especially in the preparation of land for seed sowing, etc., and the clearing up of plots that are weedy and untidy. Where early seed sown, has failed, or partly failed, sow again. Seed is cheap, and a poor crop will never pay the rent of the land it occupies. Sow now peas for succession or for main crop. . Sow carrots, parsnips, onions, lettuce, radish, turnips, paisley, etc. Plant out cabbage cauliflower and lettuce plants, potatoes, garlic, shallots, and chives. Thyme, sage, marjoram and mint are useful- and indispensable herbs, and planting these should be attended to at once. The first-named herbs are inclined to get woody and stunted unless the plants are renewed every second or third year. This can easily be effected by breaking up the old plants and plantfng back the outside portions of the clump. FLOWER GARDEN. Although the weather towards the end of the month just ended savoured more or mid-winter, with the cold southerlies and driving rains, the amateur gardener should not be deceived- The perfume of violets and other flowers, the daffodils dancing and nodding in the breeze are barbingers of spring. Vegetation is now full of activity, and the temperature and the warmth in the soil should increase daily. Providing you now have your beds and borders dug and cleaned up, some consideration must be given to the provision of flowers during the summer, and for this purpose annuals will give good results. The herbaceous border is a great feature of present day gardening^ and in the maintenance of such a border annuals play a by no means unimportant part. When the eariy flowers of bulbous plants are over there are gaps which only annuals can fill, and therefore as fill-ups they serve a very useful purpose. Many people rightly estimate the value of flowers according to their usefulness for cutting and decorating purposes. It is scarcely advisable to sow annual seed in the open border until the weather conditions are more favourable. But' those who have a small greenhouse or frame may sow in boxes, to be planted out later. Where only small quantities are required, it is advisable to purchase hardened plants from nurserymen from October onwards. The following are useful and showy annuals: —Coreopsis, candytuft, cornflower, clarMa, Shirley poppies, sweet Sultans, and godetias. These are classed as the hardiest of annuals. The extra wet season in the Valley has delayed the planting of hedge plants, rose trees, shrubs, etc., the wet and pasty condition of the soil making successful planting almost impossible. To those not wishing to lose the present season, planting may be continued to the end of the present month, with, fair prospects of success. Late-planted roses should be heavily pruned back on receipt from the nurserymen, leaving only a few inches above ground. The growth will then be more vigorous, and will be blooming well from December onwards.