THE GARDEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 22 September 1933, Page 9

THE GARDEN.

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

THE FLOWER GARDEN. With the improved weather conditions the task of cleaning up the flower beds has been a comparatively easy one, and in some cases it has been possible to plant out beds of different plants for summer blooming. As long as the soil is dry enough to work continue to plant out as soon as the young plants have been hardened off. If the chrysanthemum bed has not been prepared no time should be lost in doing so as the soil should be allowed to settle down before the plants are set out in it. Even then they will require firm planting. This, of course, refers to growing flowers for exhibition; for decorative purposes it is better to plant later so that the plants do not grow so tall. Another thing is that terminal buds are the most effective for decorative purposes and plenty of these can be got even from plants rooted now. When the dahlia tube re begin to send up eyes the old stools can be divided and a tuber left to each eye. There are some growers who always grow their plants from tubers and consider that they get better results than from green plants. There is one thing we are certain of, and that is that tubers will flower quicker than green plants but we do not think the flowers will be any better than the. others. The bed for the dahlias should be prepared as soon as possible now and given a good coating' of lime. Lime is very necessary in any soil that dahlias are to be grown Delphinium plants must be carefully watched for slugs. These pests will spoil a lot of good shoots if they are not kept down. Dust the plants every night for a week, and then every other night, and the pest will soon disappear. . Asters can be sown in boxes now and next month they can be sown in the open ground and thinned out. They like a sunny, open position and a rich moist soil. Never use fresh, rank manure in a bed where they are to grow. The new double early flowering varieties. 1 of cosmos are superseding the older singles. The flowering period is much longer and the double flowers last better than the singles when they are cut. The French and African marigolds have been popular garden plants for a long time and they still hold their own where cut flowers are required. They require rather different treatment in the matter of soils, the French giving the best results in a rather poor soil, while that for the Africans can hardly, be too rich. The African varieties are often grown to a large size for show purposes and this is only done by making the soil rich and feeding the plants with liquid manure when they have set their buds. When the flowers are being grown for exhibition all the lateral buds are pinched out. Petunias are good bedding flowers and in dry soils will give splendid returns. These plants do not like too much water at any time and watering must bo avoided. They like plenty of soil working and this should be the only way of supplying them with moisture. Zinnias are good autumn bedding plants and will do better if the seed can be sown in the 1 ground where they are to bloom. If this is done next month will be quite soon enough to sow, but if they are to be planted out sow the seed in boxes under glass and prick out as soon as they are large enough to handle. TOBACCO CULTURE. Our tobacco growing expert says: “Now that the plants have been pricked out, it is time to begin preparing the bed for them. .The site chosen should be one that is well sheltered from all winds and yet get all the sun it can. AVind is liable to crack and bruise the leaves and render them useless. I like land worked up from grass, if possible, but this is not absolutely necessary as any good garden soil that is not too rich will grow them well. Whatever the land chosen, work it deeply and well, pulverising the sod and leaving the surface fine and loose. Lime, at the rate of one ton per acre or ilb. to the square yard should be spread over the surface as soon as it has been worked. If the land is poor and has been worked out with other crops, it would be advisable to dig in some animal manure. The owner of the land will be the best judge of the amount required. A light dressing all oyer the surface would be about right for this class of soil, and it can be forked in before the lime is applied. This work should all be done this month and then the bed will have time to settle before planting time. About a week before planting broadcast over the surface scwt. of superphosphate and lewt. of sulphate of potash per acre. The exact amount required . for your plot can be worked out from the above figures; or, if preferred, use half tire above quantity, a week before planting and sow the balance when the plants i are making strong growth. I like, this plan the best and have adopted it for some years with success. No! manure should be used when the plants are put in, but let them get a grip of the soil in a natural manner. The question of shelter is an important one and if there are any parts that are likely to be blown about a temporary hedge of strong growing maize can be sown in a single row and bamboo poles run along each side to hold it in position. The land for the maize can be specially manured in the same way as for early potatoes and the seed sown along the top about the end of October. It will grow faster than the tobacco if it is properly treated and will provide the necessary shelter when it is needed. The other way is to erect fences of brushwood and wire, but these take longer to prepare and are no better than the hedge of maize. “There are not many pests that attack the plants in the early stages. Wood]ice will eat the small plants. Poisoned bran can be laid for them and it is very effective. The black caterpillars are troublesome sometimes and if they are allowed to continue will do a lot of damage. Spray the. plants with arsenate of lead and lay poison about on the piece of ground chosen for planting. I have never found caterpillars or wireworms troublesome, but perhaps it is because I have taken the precaution of digging in napthalene soil fumigant when preparing the land. _ When the cleansing properties of this fumigant are tier understood I think it will be universally used . on all soils where soil insects abound.” The next notes will be about planting out and the subsequent treatment of the plants. THE NATIONAL SHOW. The National Daffodil Society’s show which was held in conjunction with the local society’s show on the 13th and

14th inst. was a great success. The wonderful display of blooms staged was a revelation to those who did not know that such varieties were grown in this part of the country. Naturally most interest was centered in the seedling classes and there were plenty of blooms which compared more than favourably with the imported varieties. Mr H. J. Poole, who has seen the big shows in England, said that the quality of the blooms shown here was superior to those of the. Old Country, and gave it as his opinion that m England many of the flowers had to be opened in heat, but here they were not shown unless they opened in a natural manner. Mr W. E. Weightman deserves great praise for the magnificent blooms he set up. Some were from imported bulbs certainly, but the majority were either his own raising or from other New Zealand enthusiasts. Mrs Moorby, who staged the New Zealand champion class, had a splendid lot which in our opinion were unbeatable. Some of the bulbs shown were open to the day and were therefore at their very best. We were glad to see that mere size did not take premier place, .but that colour and form were everything. The flowers entered for the Wilson Perpetual Challenge Cup were a splendid lot and created interest among those who know these white trumpets, and also amongst those who had no idea that such wonderful flowers existed. There were two entries and there was very little to choose between them. The Gibson Challenge Bowl is for large growers and was for twenty-four varieties, three stems of each. When one comes to think of the number of blooms that have to be sorted over to stage a class for this cup, it is a wonder that it is ever done. However, the entries showed that the stuff was to be got and that they were good. The Martin Cup also brought in good entries and some very beautiful flowers were shown. The Rhodes Cup was for twelve varieties of New Zealand raised seedlings, and here again the flowers were splendid. We noticed one vase of Mr Goodson’s incomparabilis Wellington which was as near perfection as anything could be. Taking the whole show it ca.n be said that it was a great success, and a great deal of this is due to the untiring efforts of the local committee under the capable guidance of the secretary, Mr J. Galland, and a very willing band of helpers. The loca.l "classes were not as well filled as we would wish, but no doubt the national part of the show took too much attention awav from this part of it. The next great effort will be the National Show which will be held in the same building at the end of January, when there will be a greater gathering than ever seen here before. OMISSION. In answer to “J.W.J.” last week, the following should have been added after “When drilling the seed sow three parts of superphosphate to one part of blood and bone. About Bcwt. is recommended” : Sow one-tlrird of the manure with the seed and work the balance into the ground when the crop is being worked. Two applications are better than one. Do not mix the manures Until they are required for use, and sow as soon after as possible. QUESTION. “J.H.S.” says: “I would like to know of a variety of bamboo which could be grown in this district for utility purposes, and which is both ornamental and easily kept in check. Also, would it be suitable for growing against a wall, which is a wooden one and about 12ft. high?” There are several kinds of bamboos which could be used for this purpose. Pliyllostachys Henonis is a beautiful variety with green stems that can be used for any purpose. It likes a good soil, fairly rich and moist, and grows to a height of twenty feet or so. The curtain-pole bamboo is P. Henonis blotched. The stems are covered with dark blotches when they are more than one year old. Very graceful. Plastillionis is another that could be used for the same purpose and is very pretty when growing. The stems are striped golden yellow and green and are strong enough and last well as stakes. This variety should suit the situation well enough. P. Aurea, the golden bamboo, is a dwarfer grower compared with those mentioned above, but the stakes are strong. There is one with striped leaves which is a variety of this bamboo, but it is rather a poor grower unless the soil is very, rich. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Advantage should be taken of the fine weather to get all the ground prepared that is wanted for carrots and parsnips. Break it up deeply and rake the soil on top as fine as possible. Even if it is not sown for a month it will not take any harm and can then be well raked to kill the young weed plants that have germinj uted. Sow lettuce seed for succession in well manured soil and as soon 1 as they can be thinned out this should be done. Sow peas in larger quantities now and do not forget ot lime the drill well before the seeds are sown as this is the only way that a good crop can be got. Any gardener who has a good warm garden can make an early sowing of French beans next month, but it is not worth while trying unless the ground is warm and dry. Sow tomato seed for main crop planting. This seed must be sown under glass and carefully watered to stop damping. As soon as the young plants can be handled prick them out into other boxes and grow them steadily without forcing. As soon as they are large enough put them out in a cold frame to harden off and give them plenty of air when the weather is warm and dry. It is better to have short, sturdy plants than those long, lanky ones sometimes seen. Marrows, melons, cucumbers, and pumpkins can be started under cover now and grown in the usual way until the ground is ready to reecive them. The apple shaped cucumber is one of the best for small gardens. It is a very heavy cropper and a succession of plants can be grown so that the season is considerablv extended. They require plenty of water in the dry weather.