GARDEN NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 49, 26 January 1944, Page 6

GARDEN NOTES

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Summer flowering annuals should be growing strongly. Unfortunately, most of them have a rather shallow root system and therefore cultivation cannot be deep. To keep moisture in the ground, a mulch can be nut on between the plants. This will retain the moisture and keep the surface cool. The best form a mulch can take is lawn clippings, well rotted cow manure, or humus from the compost hoap. Spread this evenly over the soil between the plants and it will keep the roots' cool. Tall-growing marigolds and zinnias may require staking, but in order to make the plants bushy, the first flowers coming froni the main stem should bo 'cut away to encourage lateral branching and produce a belter effect later. Some of the hardy flowering annuals such as marigolds, stocks, and petunias will continue to flower well into the winter when the conditions arc not too cold, for bulk of winter flowed. Iceland poppies can be sown now and planted out as soon as the plants arc large enough to handle. Primula malacoides should be got into the ground as early as possible. Generally soedlings that can be planted out in February can be trusted to make good growth before the cold weather sets in. Antirrhinums planted out in February will bloom in the winter'if the soil is not too wet and a good dressing of limo has been worked into the soil. There are some splendid varieties of calendulas that are worth a place in any "•arden. Seeds of these can be sown now in the open ground and the plants thinned out to give them room to grow. A friend says that he has found the best place to plant calendulas is on the odgo of a brick path which runs the whole length of his garden and he asks why this should be so. We cannot sav what is the cause of their good growth, but expect that the roots do not get too much moisture and keep cool. Next month is the time when chrysanthemum growers are busy tying the plants to their supports and selecting or taking the bud-s that arc to grow the show blooms.' As soon as the bud has been “taken” and has sot, liquid manure can be given to the plants two or three time.s a week and this js kept going until the buds begin to show colour. Vary the manures in the liquid tank as much a« possible, but always keen a bag of soot in it. When using the liquid, break it down by adding two gallons of clear water to every gallon of the liquid. Never give liquid manure when the soil round the plants is very dry. Dahlias are not coming on very fast, but as soon as water can be given to them do so with a liberal hand. Keep an eye on the roses and if they show the least signs of mildew spray them at once. So far this season thc-e plants have been very free from all kinds of disease and in spite of the dryness of the sf>il are showing s:gns of strong growth. If water can bo -spared for them the bed should have a thorough soaking now and they may not require another. The autumn blooms arc always more colourful than the spring ones and this can be helped by the use of a little sulphate of iron which can bo sprinkled on the soil and heed in. A dressing of good farmyard manure spread over the beds at this time of the year will help the plants. It can be lightly forked in to stop it from drying up. The now bed for sweet peas can bo got ready as soon as it is possible to work the -iound comfortably. Sweet peas are deep rooting plants and like a cool, rich root run at all times. The seed need not be sown until next April, but it is a good plan to get the trench ready and then give it a good liming.

TIIE RAIN. The rain of last week came when it was urgently needed and relieved gardeners of much worry. However, gardeners must not think that all is well. As soon as the surface is dry enough to work, put the hoc through it and work it up to a silky like texture. The more fine soil you can have on the surface the longer it will take for moisture to evaporate. Rose beds can bo improved by a dressing of well-rotted manure worked into the soil and the more it can be mixed with the soil the better it will be for the plants... It would also be a good plan to go over the plants and cut away any useless wood, cutting each stern back to a good fat-eye or bud. With a sharp pair of secateurs this does not take very long. Vegetable gardeners can get busy with liquid manure now. Leeks, celery, celeriac, lettuces, tomatoes and runner beans will benefit at once from some good applications, and fowl manure will come in handy to make it. One shovelful of fowl manure that has been kept dry is enough, if some other animal manure is used at the same time, to a 40-gallon barrel of water. To every gallon of liquid manure use two gallons of clear water. .

QUESTION. “Lemon” sends specimens of lemon loaves and asks when and what to spray witlnvith. Your information is quite correct. Spray in February with white emulsified oil in water. Use it at a strength of ono of the oil to 80 of water (2ozs to thp gallon) and use warm or hot soapy water to mix it into. Tho tree sare dirty and it may be necessary to spray two or three times at 10-day intervals. " TIIE VEGETABLE GARDEN. .

There are plants that must he attended to if you want to get the most out of them. Tomatoes must be sprayed and all side shoots picked out as soon as they are seen. When five bunches of fruit have set on each plant tho tops can be nipped out. Some readers aro very much alarmed because the lower leaves are drying up and they want a spray to stop this. There is no need to worry about this; take the dead leaves away if you like and burn them. The main thing is to keep the hoe going as a means of keeping a dry mulch round the plants. It is not necessary to water these plants as long as the dry mulch is kept up. When the rain comes and tho soil gets moist some liquid manure can be given to them to help tho late fruit along. Lettuces are about the only plants that must bo kept moist. If this is not done they are liable to run to seed prematurely. When planting out leeks, celery, or any of the cabbage family, some water must be given to them to start them into growth or at least to allow them to take hold of the soil, where they can wait until it rains or other means aro found of making them grow. Another troublo that gardeners aro having is that peas are not growing, but wo are afraid nothing can be dono until it rains more. It will help the late potato crops if you go over them and remove all weeds and draw some more soil up to the haulms. As long as tho haulms remain green the plants will be alright. As soon as the onion plants begin to mature it is a good plan to bend the tops over to hasten tho formation of tho bulbs. Those who are saving their own seeds will need to keep a careful watch on tho various plants they are saving from. As soon as they begin to ripen the whole head or heads can bo picked and placed on paper to finish drying. When dry, clean it up and put it in clean dry tins with the name and date and when saved place on top. The white butterfly and diamond-backed moth are beginning to do their deadly work on plants of the cabbage family and the plants should .bo sprayed or dusted as soon as the pests are seen. Although arsenate of lead is a poison it can be used on these plants in their young state without any danger. It will be necessary to spray the plants every two or throe weeks during tho warm weather. In the case of Brussels sprouts it does not matter much about the spraying because the sprouts arc formed after spraying has ceased._ Seed of silver beet and perpetual spinach can be sown now in well-manured soil.