THE GARDEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 43, 18 January 1935, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

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

THE FLOWER GARDEN. The ilower garden is beginning to look very much ireshened up alter the ram ana plants seem to be growing freely again, but it is only where uie soil nas oeen kept well siirred with the hoe to stop moisture from evaporating too freely. When the soil begins to get dry underneath again a judicious watering will keep tilings going, but we believe that poor cultivation with watering on every available occasion wifi do more harm than good. Zinnias and the marigolds seem to like the conditions prevailing at present. Someone has kindly sent us a bunch of the new .dahlia-tiowered zinnias, which are splendid. Several oi the flowers measure live inches across and about three in depth. They are from plants grown on a specially manured bed anti if this should meet the eye of the sender we should be glad to know what sort of manure was used and in tvliat quantities. Chrysanthemums are now sending up their first crown buds and these should be nippeod out and one of the shoots on eacli stem allowed to grow lor the next Lud, which will he a second crown, and which is very similar to the first in appearance but in the majority of cases it gives the better bloom. Those blooms from first crowns are ragged and coarse, but seconds give a inucii more finished product. The difference between second crowns and terminal buds, which follow the second crowns is that the second crowns are surrounded by shoots, and the terminals by a cluster or buds. Second crowns may be ••taken" any time in February. 'liie nun has brought the dahlia plants oil well tile last week or so and att-eiicion must be paid to disbudding and disbranching tnose which are intended to produce big blooms. l'or garden purposes it is a good plan to uo some disbudding also, or the plants will grow flowers at the expense or grow ill. Flants that are being gro» n to produce large flowers can be helped considerably by having liquid manure given to them once or twice a week tor a start, but liquid must not be given when the ground round the plants is very dry. If it is dry, give them a good .watering and allow it time to soak in bemxo putting the liquid manure on. Attend to tying beiore the branches get too heavy. The present time is a good one to sow seeds of perennial plants such as delphiniums, and so on. By getting the seed in early you are assured oi good plants for setting out before the winter. Delphinium seed does not keep too well, and the sooner it can be sown alter it lias ripened the better it will germinate. Lolyantha and primrose seed is the same. This should be sown now and kept fairly moist until it begins to come up. It is fairly slow at the best oi times, but fresh seed should ..begin to show signs of growth in about three weeks from the time it is sown. Old .beds of primroses and polyanthus can be taken up now and .the plants divided, and replanted. When the plants have been lifted dig the bed over well and give it a good manuring with some well rotted manure, if possible. If this is not obtainable, use whatever you can and get and also some blood and bone at about two ounces to the square yard. When the divided plants have been put hack in the soil give them a good watering to settle the soil around them and to start them into growth. A LETTER. “A Gardener” has written the following letter, which speaks for itself: “On Boxing Day I went away with my family to the beach for a fortnight and did not return during the fortnight as I had originally intended to do. When I got back on the 9th I was surprised to see what that fortnight had done. Runner beans which I had left hardly up the stakes were hanging over and in some cases the beans were too old to use. My rose beds, which I had carefully cleaned up on Christmas Day, were again in full bloom, and I am sure that the blooms were better than those I had in the spriug. Weeds had sprung up everywhere and one would think, to look at some parts of the garden, that it had not- been cleaned for weeks. All this occurred in the

course of a few days; certainly a good rain had fallen in the meantime, hut I did not think it was possible that such a change could have taken place in such a short time. When I went away I had an idea, that my garden was worn out and wanted re-marking and manuring, hut I have come to the conclusion that all that is required is moisture. Some marrow plants which had just begun to run were covering the ground round some apple trees and there were five or six good marrows on them which were large enough to use. Only once before in n:y gardening experience have I had ripe tomatoes in the first week in January, but this season my fruit has begun to ripen and I have picked four already. 1 must say that I am agreeably surprised, and pleased at the change which lias come over the face of the land in a fortnight.” QUESTION. “Farmer” says: “Could you give me some information about hedgehogs? Are they useful in the garden or not? They are getting very plentiful ltund our place just now and I was wondering if T should destroy them?” Hedgehogs from a gardener’s point of view are most useful in the garden, especially if slugs and snails abound. They are scavengers and as they seek their food at night they hunt for snails and slugswhen they come out from their hiding places. Poultry fanciers do not always inive a good word to say for them as they are rather partial to eggs and young chickens, but oven here they do not always take the eggs, as we know of one case where one of these animals took up its nightly abode in a,box where several hens were laying and no eggs disappeared. They are generally found under trees where there is plenty of leafage to roll up in or around the bottoms of haystacks. They are very fond of milk and will come every evening to drink from the saucer pur out for them, 'they are not found in the clear open spaces, but where there is plenty of cover. '.[Tampers on tile Tararua Ranges say that they are to be found almost anywhere on rhe ranges where there is any cover. Of course when they become too plentiful they may become a nuisance to any game birds which nest on the ground, but at the present time we tiiink they do a lot more good than harm, and many gardens would he all the better for a lew of them roaming about. Slugs and snails are a greater nuisance and destroy a lot more than the hedgehogs do. ANEMONES AND RANUNCULUS. Anemones and Ranunculus. can be planted out now and successive plantiiigo can he made tor some time to come. It is a good plan to choose a fresh piece of ground, each season and not to replant either of them in beds in which tliey have been grown beiore. There is no manure that suits either of them so well as good oid turf that has been stacked up and well rotted. If new ground is being used trenches can be taken out and this put in below the tubers and some coarse eand on top to plant the tubers into. The surface soil can then be raked over the tubers. Some growers treat their anemone tubers to a baifi of formaline at the rate of one part to four hundred parts of water and they say that this ie a detriment to rust, to wiiicii they are very prone. It is not important to dry them before planting, but do not steep them for more than a couple of hours. Anemones like a soil that is ■rather on tho light side, with good drainage in the cold wet weather. Ranunculus on the other hand seem to revel in a soil that is on the heavy side but at tht- smile time they must never be waterlogged, or they will rot in the ground. When planting ranunculus be careful to put the tubers in with the claws pointing down and put them in a layer of sand, which keeps them moist, but at the same time will keep excessive moisture away from the centres. Both plants can be raised in boxes if the ground is not ready and planted out when they have made some top growth. Lift them with a good bad of soil. CINERARIAS. Cinerarias are most useful plants for sunny or shady positions where hosts are broken. They will do well under the shade of trees as long as some soil can be broken up for them to be planted in. limy like a rich, light soil and if this, together with a little water, can be given to them to start ; them growing, they will not need much attention afterwards. The seed is very fins and the soil to sow it in should lie made as fine as possible and the seeds sown on top of it and simply pressed into the soil. Give the box a good watering by immersing it in water for a while, but take care that the water only rises to the surface. When thoroughly moistened put it on a bench and [cover with paper to stop evaporation. It does not take very long for tho seeds to germinate, but they always are slow at growing after germination takes place. When the young plants are large enough to handle put them into other boxes and prick them out at least two inches apart so that they can have a ball of earth round their roots when they are to be planted up. Get some good well rotted leaf mould to mix with the soil they are pricked out into. This seems to be the thing they like best., even better than rotten manure. Keep the plants growing steadily, but do not force them along too fast. ’When they are about three inches high they are ready for planting out. Plant out about a foot apart and when established a sprinkling of blood and bone hoed in around them will be enough. They will take care of themselves. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Tomatoes should he sprayed regularly with Bordeaux mixture; about every fortnight should be enough to keep them clean. Caterpillars will be getting bad very soon now and a spraying with arsenate of lead will he necessary to check this pest. The arsenate of lead can eitlier be mixed with the Bordeaux if desired but it is better when sprayed oil independently about three days alter the Bordeaux. " When tomatoes have reached their fifth hunch of flowers the plants can have the tops cut out. Five hunches are all that most plants can manage. Plant out cabbages, broccoli, celery, leeks, cauliflowers, and sow winter turnips now. Lettuces planted out in well manured soil will come on quickly, but they will want some water'to keep them growing through tlie dry weather. A sowing of French beans 'can he made now, but one of the varieties immune from rust should be chosen. Keep the soil stirred between all growing crops as long as there is room to work. Later on, when the leaves spread over the. rows, they will keep the moisture in without much trouble. 'When celery is well established a dusting of nitrate of soda along the row will help the plants considerably. If any falls on tho leaves wash it off at once, or they will he burnt. Celery requires plenty of water in tlic growing season and frequent stirrings of tho soil between the plants until such- time as they are large enough to earth up. When earthed up they must he watered, so that the earth does not get washed down to the crowns of tho plants.