THE GARDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13935, 18 December 1905, Page 11

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THiy WEEK,

Greenhouse and Flower Garden.— P’ants for autumn and winter .use should receive attention during the next month, this being tho season when the foundations of .success is laid. Calceolaria.—Once the plants start grow- . ing they should not be allowed to suffer any check. Many declare they are not worth, the trouble to grow. This may he true, when the plants are neglected from time to time, but there is no other plant that gives • a greater return for the labour involved than calceolarias, provided they receive constant and consistent attention. A very serious mistake often made at this season is thatj too many plants are started, and when they are about halfgrown and the gardener finds there is not enough room for all, some are dispensed with, but not until they have robbed those retained of both light and jair. Decide at once -ow many you can finisU, give these all iiie room available so that the seedling plant may start in robust habit, and . success is then certain. Keep the young plants near the glass, and give plenty of ventilation. Cinerarias are of easy culture, but are often seriously injured in youth crowding the small plants. They need plenty of room, fresh air and only moderate supplies of water. Thousands are killed every summer through overwatering -no roots. The foliage should he kept moist, as they derive much strength from this source. Fumigate once a month to ueep insects away. Chrysanthemums will 1 claim rather much attention during this month. They.-should b© put in. their summer quarters, potted into their flowering pots, and staked. In selecting a position for these plants during the summer choose, if possible, one that is in some way sheltered from strong winds, but remember sunshine’ is absolutely necessary to ripen the growth. Unless the growth is matured early in the season exhibition flowers cannot be obtained; therefore, if a position cannot be found protected from strong winds the grower had better make some screen to serve this purpose, and secure the maximum of sunshine for his plants. Another advantage 1 of giving the plants, all the sunshine possible is that it tends to keep the plants .dwarf, and when the plants are grown for conservatory'' and house decoration the dwarfer they are the more useful they will be._ Potting.—Many will need the final shift at onoe. There is- a risk in leaving tho plants too long in the intermediate size pots after these are filled w'th roots. It is safer to pot a little too soon than too late as the latter results in loss- of foliage, and premature bud formation. In preparing the compost for this final potting get the best you can. Good fresh loam is better than that which has been stacked, in a heap for a year or more. Should there be a deficiency of fibre use some rotted turf, chopped up fins, and some thoroughly rotted manure, and leaf mould. A quantity of old mortar rubbish, ground oyster shells, and small nodules of charcoal will keep the bulk porous and sweet. Pot firmly and keep the plants well up in the pots. There is a tendency with many to put the ball right down on the drainage, and the fresh soil on top of the ball. This is a great mistake, as the roots strike downward, therefore put as much fresli soil under the roots as possible. Having potted the plants, they should be staked, using the stakes that are to remain in all the season. Sometimes small ones are used at first, and larger later on. Tho danger of this method is that when the larger .stakes are driven in the soi 1 , many roots are bruised and broken, giving the plants a check just at a critical time. Keep a sharp look out for caterpillars. These are green, the same shade as the plants, and the only way to 'ocato them is •by the curled leaves. If one of these pests is left undisturbed for two days, it will eat the centre from one or two shoots. Be careful in watering the plants immediately after they have been fresh-potted -Meo much is worse than too little. Syringe the plants overhead twice a day, and only water at the roots when they absolutely need it. Spray the plants with insecticide to keep aphis and other pests away. Epacris—These plants are almost neglected in this colony, as very few .are seen outside a nursery. They are amongst the easiest pf plants to grow, and all but hardy—in fact, can be grown without the aid of artificial heat. They stand out in the open all the summer from October to March, and flower from March to September. Several plants make a good display in the dull autumn and winter months. During the summer they should be potted in good soil, and only moderate sizes should bo used. After the plants have finished flowering they should be pruned hard back before they are re-potted and put in the open again. Primulas are well Known and extensively ■-grown, with more or less success. Two errors in cultivating these plants are very common, one is “ over-pot-

ting,” the ether is “ want of air.’ When Primulas arc put into very largt pots they are not very useful for decorative purposes, as they look squatty in large vases; and as large plants can lie grown in moderate-sized pots, there is nothing to gain, from using large ones. Want of air means a loss of foliage, which gives the plants a naked appearance, and robs them of half their beauty. These plants should be grown slowly, have plenty of ventilation, and a clear space between each plant. They need careful watering, too much is often fatal to them. y