THE GARDEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 138, 10 May 1930, Page 11

THE GARDEN

Notes aro published under this heading, and readers interested in gardening aro invited to send in questions relating to matters upon which they wish export advice; answers will be published with the weekly notes-.

CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Chrysanthemum growers have been having a very happy time this year, and judging from the beautiful blooms shown at tho various shows there are plenty of growers who are capable of finishing their blooms perfectly. One outstanding variety this season has been “Pink Pocket.’* It is not really a pink, but a pinkish mauve, and is a large massive flower of splendid proportions. “Gallipoli” is another variety that has been well shown, both for colour, size and form. This variety is looked upon by growers as ono of the hardiest and best keepers of them all, and is one that any novice can grow and grow well. “F. S. Vallis” is an old one that has been shown everywhere in the best condition and colour. This variety was going strong over twenty years ago, and blooms this year have shown no signs of deterioration. There has been a little variation in colour, but that can be accounted for by soils and the amount of suniight wliero the flowers were grown. “Wm. Turner” is another old stager that will como good under the worst of conditions, but when given a season like the present one it comes to perfection. Unfortunately, many of tho flowers are not perfectly shaped, but as a white we consider that there are few incurved to beat it. “Miss Edith Cavell” is an easy one to grow and one that comes without any variation year after year. This season it lias been exceptionally good both as regards colour and form. The chestnut and bronzes are always wanted and this is one of tho best. “Stephen Brown” is a very incurved, broad petalled chestnut that has been oxceptionallv well shown, and is a good doer in ail districts. Tho masnivo incurved heads look as though every petal has been tucked into its place. “Louisa Pockett,” a massive white reflex, has been seen to advantage in many exhibits, and is a variety that likes a dry season for finishing off. Some very good “Golden Champions” have been seen and on our list this is noted as being one of the best for exhibition and garden purposes. “Renown” has como to its own as the best of the reds, and is one that all growers should try ns the colour is exquisite and lends colour to an exhibit. “Rockett’s Crimson” has been well shown this year but is rather uncertain in a wet season. “Annio Hamilton” and its sport “Pink Hamilton” have both been good.

SINGLE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. It generally follows that flowers that come into favour or fashion in England soon become popular here also. At the present time single chrysanthemums are much to tho foro in the Homeland and there are indications that they are going to be popular hero also. As garden flowers they are superior to the doubles, but at tho samo time wo cannot see where tho single varieties leave off and the doubles begin. Some of the newer doubles will have less rows of petals than the newer singles, and as far as wo know there has been no definition given by tho ruling powers as to tho number of rows of petals or anything else. However, there is no doubt that the single varieties aro a very welcome addition to our garden plants. There are some early flowering varieties that will come into bloom about the beginning of February and will continue to give flowers until the later ones come in. Ono grower told us that he could got blooms for five months in the year oy a strict selection of varieties, and this wo quite believe as long as tho frosts can .bo kept from the latest flowerers. Tho singles ore very easy to grow and will often succeed in soils that aro too light for the more double kinds.

POTATO SURPLUS IN SCOTLAND.

How to dispose of the heavy stocks of potatoes that havo accumulated this season in Scotland is a problem that is exercising tho minds of growers in that country. The executive of tho National Farmers’ Union has suggested that surplus stocks should be exported to South America and Mediterranean ports, but that proposal was turned down at a meeting of the Perthshire branch because of tho sacrifice imposed on growers. Somo blamed the Ministry of Agriculture for talking so much about the “wart disease,” which was responsible lor tho action of tho United States in placing an embargo on British grown potatoes. There was a strong feeling in favour of placing tho same restrictions cn foreign potatoes as tho foreign countries had placed on the British product. One man made tire suggestion that as tho “wart disease” emanated mainly from small gardens farmers should combine to prohibit tho growing of potatoes in tlieso gardens, and if necessary give potatoes free to gardeners in consequence. Another said that tho farmers were largely to blame as they put tubers on the market which were not fit to eat. Ho had been served that day with some he would not give to pigs. HERBACEOUS BORDERS. There is no doubt that tho herbace-

ous borders aro becoming part and parcel of the home garden as much as they are in parks and public gardens of all kinds. Well managed herbaceous borders are one of tho most interesting features of the flower garden, but during late .autumn and early winter they do not get the attention they deserve; yet at this time of the year much useful work can be done especially with borders that have not to be entirely re-made. A liberal supply of good manure can bo dug into tho ground now and there aro many things that can be taken up and divided quite as well now as in tho early part of the spring. The dying stems of all herbaceous plants can be cut down to witlrin a few inches of tho ground and the stems removed to the compost heap. Most of tlieso will rot down in time and will add to tho amount of available manure for future work. If there aro bulbs of tho narcissi order growing in the border no manure should bo allowed to come in contact with them, but a handful of basic slag to each clump will do a lot of good towards promoting growth and colour. Thero is one thing that is most important and that is the soil should never bo worked while it is wet. If it does not stick to tho hands when handled, it is quite safe to go a head, but if it sticks leave it alone.

QUESTION. A grower asked for somo information about Gentiana sino-ornata, as ho had found it very difficult to establish. Wo have received tho following information from ono grower who lias got it growing well. Ho says: “I cannot answer for all soils but I havo found that this plant must bo coaxed along for a while in pots of nice sandy loam in which a littlo broken oyster shell has been mixed and tho pots stood in a cold frame. Those in tho greenhouse did not flourish like those put in tho cold frame. I havo also tried manuring it, but tho results havo not been altogether favourable, but at the same time a plant put in tho vegetable garden has done exceptionally well, which I think points to the fact that they like a well worked, fairly rich soil. It is five years now since I first imported plants of this desirablo plant, and I think that in most cases it is well established. I would tell your correspondent to pot the plants up in four-inch pots and to keep them under cover during the winter, but not too wet. In fact, if the pots aro sunk in sand I do not think they will want any water at all. In the spring plant half of tho plants out in various parts of the garden and observe tho results. They do not liko disturbance when established.” VEGETABLES. The onion seed sown last month is coming on well and so are the small weeds. Take tho first opportunity you can get and run tho hoe through them. It will check tho weeds and will also open tho soil to admit air to it, which is most important with the autumn sowings. The heavy ram batters the surface of the ground down I hard, and no air can get to the roots lot plants. AVo havo also found that when the plants are properly grown they aro not so liablo to run to seed. Sow cauliflower seed in boxes under glass now, and prick the young plants out into other boxes as soon as they aro largo enough to handle, lho main thing about growing cauliflowers is to keep them growing from the start and not to allow them to become stunted at any time, and this is only possible by growing them in boxes. Of course during the cold weather or winter tlicy will not como on as fast as you may wish, but as long as they can lio kept growing that is all that is required. Lettuce seed may also bo sown in tho samo way and treated to the same pricking out. When making up beds for early lettuces it is a good plan to havo them raised a few inches above the surrounding soil and plenty or manure worked in near the surface. The young plants when set out in th» and planted about six inches ap-irt can bo used before they have hearted up properly; or if it is desired to set good hearts out out every other one allowing each plant about a foot of room. It is wonderful what can be done in tho way of early lettuces by adopting this method. Runner beans that have been frosted can bo cut down now and the tops burnt. They will probably bo full of half ripened seeds which are not worth saving. Tho old roots should be left in tho ground as they will le quite as good next year as they have been this season, and in somo cases will give a heavier crop. Broad beans can be sown now, but tno soil for them must bo heavily lined. In fact, it is better to sow limo in tho drills with tho seed in the samo way as wo have advised for peas. If the seed is sown six to eight inches “P art it will be quite close enough, and tho rows should bo at least six inches apart. . Leeks and celery should bo earthed up as soon as possible now. Celery in particular, as it will be used when ready. Leeks will stand in tlie ground all the winter and are most useful at all times.