GARDEN NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 23 July 1941, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Tho planting season is growing shorter and it behoves all wilt) aro going to plant to got on with it whenever tho soil is in a lit condition to work. Roses should ho got in as soon ns possible beeuuse they aro already showing signs of new growth. tVhen planting rosea ut this tiino ol tho your it is not a good plun to prune them bdore setting them in the ground. Ruthur plant them lirst and then in a’ monili or so they will be showing sign* of growth; then they can lie pruned. We are iieijuentiy asked if newly-planted roses shouiu bo pruned tile first year; arid to this wo emphatically, answer “yes.” The only exception is the ease ol climbing sports, which need not be pruned the lirst year. We do not know the reason for this, but we do know that many of them suJk and refuse to make climbing growths. 'There are Lwo of these climbing sports which so far have not shown any signs of sulking whatever is done to them. 'They are Sinn Bilk and Caroline 'Tostcut, which are probably more than climbing sports.

Hedge plants should bo got in as soon as the soil is ready. To make it ready it. should be double dug, and if it is at all poor some manure should bo worked in. The best is some old well-rolled shill which can be well mixed into tho soil before planting is done. It is a wonder that those who want a hedge to grow quickly do not. always realise tho importance of working tiro soil well boloro the hedge is put in and keeping it well worked ufter planting. It is just as important that tiio ground round the hedge should be kept in a good condition bo that it will keep moist.

Daffodils and many other bulbs are coming through tho ground in good style and care must ho laken not to injure these tender shoots. If there aro any weeds umongst them they can ho eurufnlly julded out and taken away to tho compost heap. Sumo growers lind it a good plan to pluco clean straw along tho rows between bulbs to keep tho soil from splashing up on to the flowers, If this is done now the bulbs will come up through tho straw und will be Kufc from injury. 'The only trouble about doing this is that the straw provides a biding place for slugs. A little meta-bran sprinkled along the rows when tho weather is dry will keep the slugs at bay. Pansies like good soil und plenty of cultivation when the soil is dry enough to woik. Keep (lie flowers well picked from The plants so that they will have a long blooming season. Polyanthus primroses aro beginning to make good growth now and can be bellied by having a sprinkling of blood and bone manure worked into the grefund. Borne very line varieties are to be found in the various mixtures and it is well worth going to considerable troulilo to muko the blooms as strong as possible. It is quite possible that new seed will not bo available _ for sonic years now, but for all that it is quite easy to save good seed for tho next season’s sowing. There arc a number of gardeners in this country who aro capable of raising good seed, and oven improving oxisting varieties, both in colour and form. NEW ZEALAND PLANTS.

A friend says: “I have just received a letter from Western Australia asking if we have any more plants like the large manuka railed keatleyii. He says that this plant was sent to him by the parents of one of tho boys who was travelling with New Zealand soldiers and who happened to be one who was allotted to him for for showing thp sights. This lad happened to notice that lie was interested in flowering shrubs and asked his parents to send some plants or seeds of New Zealand plants as some sort of recognition for the kindness shown him. The friend goes on to sav how delighted he is with this particular plant and lie would like to get other seed? of thing's that would bo likely lo do well. His soil is a light sand, but lie lias an unlimited supply of water, when required. - < - - ;■ ' '. Wc print the above in ease similar eases occur and New Zealanders wish to make a present of something that would please the recipient. Although our flax is comluon enough to us, it is highly valued as a guidon plant both in and South Africa. The mountain variety is the best to send abroad, because it will stand fairly dry conditions and can easily be raised from seed. The bronze variety docs not always come true from seed, but a certain percentage of flic young plants will be a variation of the strain and seeds are worth sending. QUESTION.

“hirtl I .over” says: “I am anxious to plant somo trees which will attract birds. L have a piece of ground away from the S un which is useless from a garden point of view. Two hellbirds have been hero and aro delightful. What trees do they like?” You eon grow any number ol trees that will attract birds, in tho case of hellbirds they are very iond of the mountain flax (pliormiuin Colensoi). 'Jins will -row on the drier parts on tho outside. Tree lucerne will also attract thorn, bow the seeds of this where tho plants are to grow thin the trees cut to four or live feot apart and allow them to -row naturally, lioth eucalyptus CampbeUii and fieifolia will attract (hem when they are in bloom, t>ut llcifolia must not he planted in cold, frosty ground. Feijoa Seiiowiana is another plant they favour. Other birds also like this; the little wax-eyes will eat tho bracts from tho flowers and come hack for more. Other birds can lo attracted by planting berry-bearing shrubs. Tho crab-apple Gorgeous seems to keep its fruit tho longest of tho crab kind. jnit as soon us they are ripe they will be eaten. Several ot the colonoastws are heavy bearers of fruit and birds wi I llock'to them when they are ripe. Spindleberries are eagerly sought alter by some birds. It scorns' "that tho.o plants are hosts to aphis and that is why fantails take such an interest in them ut certain [icriods of the yoar. The native titoki when it gets age will berry freely and is another Useful tree for the purpose. HOSES.

A eorresjiondont says; “I have ft bone to pick with writcis on gulden subjects. In the first place I never see some of the beautiful climbing roses we have suggested as good sorts for exhibition purposes. Where can you get a more beautiful rose than Mr Henry Morse in the climbers? Fifty per cent, of the blooms are large enough to show anywhere, and I only have 01.0 plant and "have picked twelve good blooms on ouo day. Clg. Mr G. A v. Hosacm gives better blooms than tho dwarf; they are not only large hut are of bettor form. Paul’s Lemon Pillar is sometimes mentioned hut seldom seen. It only blooms in the summer, with a few autumn blooms, but is reliable. Clg. Golden Dawn may even be a better one to gro.v. I huve had some blooms this year which have teen all one could wish ior. So far Countess of Stradbiooko has been my best red, but it is making good growth now and I shall expect something hotter in the near future. Clg. Mattel Morse lias done well and is a beautiful yellow hut must liuve plenty of good food und water. I have sho.vn tig. Shot Silk, the most beautiful of all roses; tl.o flowers on the climber are a bettor colour than the dwarf. Clg. Souv. do Mine lloullct and Clg. Mrs D. Best are two 1 am trying out and they promise well. Fragrant Pillar is another good one that can he depended upon.” THE ONION. The humble onion has occupied a very prominent place in the news during tho last few months. It lias even been the subject of questions in the British Parliament. The trouble lias been caused in Britain hv the low price of tho imported article which lias made its cultivation rather more of a hobby than a business proposition. Another trouble is that it has created a shortage of seed, which will still further reduce the area cropped in the present season. Tho ltoyal Horticultural .Society has issued detailed instructions about the cultivation of tiiis article of food. It insists on the necessity for deep digging in both light and deep soils and suggests autumn digging and manuring for this crop. Tho leaflet goes on to show that tho surplus onions can he given to Hod Cross organisations to sell in order to increase their funds. The controlled price last February was 4 id a pound and they

jwero not always procurable at that. The leaflet also points out that there arc certain districts where excellent onions can be grown and makes an appeal lo tlipse in these districts to give particular attention to the crop. One of the principal -manures recommended is old soot, which is worked 1 into the soil between the rows. It mentions that treacle was once recommended, ! but as this is scarcer than tho onions ( themselves they advise frequent hocings ; and give plenty of liquid manure when ; tlie crop is growing. As soon as the crop begins to yellow all cultivation can cease and the lops can be bunt over to assist the crop to ripen. 'THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. When cultivating vegetables it becomes necessary ut some lime to use manure on the ground, especially ill UitXsO gardens wnero these plants have been grown tor years. The sizu ol many sections will stop the owners lrom us.ng a Irtish piece ol gruund eueii year. \\ hen the soil is fresh it will probably grow plants without uny manure for the lirst year at least, when it becomes imperative to give thorn extra lood to lake the place ol liiut which lias been, taken out of the soil. All kinds ol plants do nut need tho same ueatment in this respect. A novice, if lie can get it, will give the whole ol the garden a good dressing of manure and will proceed to dig it into the soil. After doing this ho wnl mark oil' the ground and proceed to sow or plant anything that takes his fancy. 'I nore are some tilings (his way ol cropping may su.l admirably, but when it comes to loot vegetables such as parsnips und carrots they will fork badly when sewn or planted on ground that lias been recently manured If the land bus been manured lor some previous crop the whole aspect will be quite dineronl, because the life will be taken out of the manure If it should be necessary to glow either of those crops on a recently manured soil, choose one of the stump-rooted varieties of carrots and in the ease of parsnips dig out a trench about lii inches deep and lill tin’s wall clean, lrcsli soil which lias not been recently manured ; sow on the top ol this. Long led beet can bo grown in the same wav, but most galdonors and cooks seem to prcler the round or globe varieties and they do not present any dillieullies in this respect. Aloft of the other crops that are grown can be sown or planted in a recently manured soil. ll uv soil you have lo deal with is a virgin one or one that has been down in grass for a number of years, it ean be expected to give a reasonable return without the aid ot any farmyard Stull; but a crop can often lie improved by the judicious use ut artificial manures, choosing that kind /rich is most suitable for the variety being grown. We have an iJea that mo.-t soils aro deficient in potash, and this is actually borne out by analysis. '1 here may be potash m the soil, but it is not available lor the immediate u.-o of plants. I’eus und beaus aro plants that will respond to tlie use of ]kjlush, and a little sprinkled along tlie row at tlie unto oi solving will certainly do good. Thu asparagus und rhubarb plaids should have a good manuring now with animal manuie and the asparagus should also be given a dressing uf salt, using about a pound to tour square yards. Cabbages and cauliflowers ean be planted now on raised beds. Laler, when the plants begin tc grow, mulch the ground around and between them with some old rotten straw. This may seem to be contrary to the usual practice of keeping the surface of the soil well stirred, hut it acts and niakts tlie plants grow wonderfully. Gather all the fowl manure you can get mid put it in boxes in a dry slic'd, adding some dry soil. Keep (bis until later, when it will come m as a lop-tire-sing for onions and leeks —two crops w’hicli revel in this class of manure. Dig in all green cover croixs now and leave the ground to settle so that it will bo ready for cropping next month or laler.