GARDEN NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 24, 27 December 1945, Page 8

GARDEN NOTES

THE FLOWER GARDEN. f Daffodils that are to be lifted 'this.Reason can be taken up . now and .carefully dried off in the shade. As- each variety is ta_ken out of the ground be'careful to see that it is logibly labelled. Jlven though the variety may bcN.a good one it loses its value as soon as it loses its name. Those who have surplus land can make good use of it by planting their surplus bulbs in it. Skim off the turf. to a depth of three inches and break-up the soil below k«o that the bulbs can be pressed into it and then the grass can be replaced. Although bulbs grow well in such positions and give plenty of blooms they cannot be expected to produce • blooms to the same degree of perfection as when they are cultivated in good soil. As. soonas they are out of the ground set about the preparation of a new bed to plant them in. Tho soil must be deeply dug, that is to say, about two feet to give the roots room to. go down into tho cool. If the hind has been in'garden for some years work in some good old turf and plant in this. The'first lot of rose blooms should be over now and flic time has come to give the plants a gentle clean up and remove all faded blooms and hiiSs from the plants. Whon cutting the old blooms off cut down to a good strong eye, and a-new growth will spring from it almost at once. After this has boon done give the bed a light covering of compost. or even ■clippings from a lawn and lightly work 'this into the soil. A little sulphate of potash given to each plant will help the plants to ward off disease. When, the plants can be kept healthy and growing they are not so liable to contract any kind of disease. This is the best time of the year to choose new varieties for the now. bods that are to be made this winter. It is not always the plants that one sees on the show benches that make the best garden plants, and it is only by seeing the plants growing that one can find what they want for tho best show in tho garden. Roses are likely to be scarce again this year, and the sooner the selection is made the better chance you have to get those varieties you want. Sow Iceland poppies, primula malacoidcs, primrose-polyanthus, wallflowers, stocks, and any pansies and violas that you can get. Iceland poppies down now should be ready to bloom during the winter. Make up a good bed for them and give it a good dusting with lime. These plants like lime and will not do well in ah. acid soil. Stocks when planted out in the autumn will givo good useful flowers in the early spring when flowers of any 1 kind are appreciated. Anen'ioncs and ranunculus can be planted out in fresh soil. They make useful beds , or can be used for borders. Seed sbwn earlier can be pricked out into boxes, and grown on until they are large enough to ' be planted out in the open. Polyanth&s- < primrose seed should be sown as soon as it is ripe. If it is kept for any length of time it takes a long time to germinate. Prick them out as soon as they are large enough to handle and give them a semishaded position. They like this sort of position even when they arc planted out in the open. Old beds can be taken up and divided for replanting. As long as each plant is divided up with roots and a good crown it will soon make a good plant when put into its permanent position. Tho cosmos is a fine flower for cutting and seed sown now will give a fine lot of flowers before the cold weather comes on. The chrysanthemum" plants will soon bo showing the "break bud" and this should be nipped out or the plants cut back to induce them to send up extra shoots which can be selected and tied in to produce show blooms later on. Tie tho dahlias to their supports and when the centre bud shows up pinch it out to induce the plants to send up other growths. QUESTIONS.

"R.T." says: "How long should the stems of newly planted roses bo cut?; I have been told to cut them as short' as possible. Should any dieback that aire showing up now be cut away, or shall _I wait until next season before doing this?"

The length of the stem will depend oh the amount' of growth you have got t on your plants When cutting a ' bloom 'see that you cut just above a good stout cjre or bud whether tho stem is a foot or six inches in length. Cut away any diebficlc as soon as you see it and do not wait for pruning time. In connection with this a "Rose grower" says, "When I find 'dieback I cut it out at once and on the end of the cut I put some wet sulphur. Mix the sulphur up with a little lai'd and it will remain in position for a long time and I am sure that it saves tho situation." No doubt one of the wettable sulphurs would serve the same purpose. "Amateur." The broad parsnip referred to- is "Model" or "Oxhcart." It is a large broad topped parsnip, wedge-shaped, and remains in tho ground all winter. One advantage it has over the long one is that it can be grown on heavy land and is very easy to dig. Wc have tried it and arc satisfied that the flavour is all that could be desired.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. One of the. plants that can be put out now is celery. If the 6oil it is to be grown in is a deep one the making of trenches, offers little difficulty, but in shallow heavy soils it means a fair amount of "work. To make the trench deep enough it is often necessary to remove some of the clay and replace it with soil and manure. If good old well-rotted manure can be got the plants can bo set out in it. They are one of the few plants that will grow in manure, but if the manure is fresh it would be better to cover it with good clean soil to a depth of two or three inches and set the plants out in this. A trench wide enough to take two rows of plants from ten to twelve inches apart should be enough. On shallow land the trench can be on the surface as long as some boards can be placed in position alongside the rows to hold the soil when the time comes to put it round the plants for blanching purposes. There is another kind of celery that is known as the golden self blaneh ; ing. As long as it is grown between two boards it will blanche itself without the air of soil. Set the* plants out as soon as they are ready and if the weather becomes dry give them plenty of water and later on supply them with liquid manure. Ccleriac is. a good substitute for celery particularly when it is grown on hoavy soil. Set the plants out about a foot apart in a well manured soil and from time to time give 'them liquid manure or work some poultry manure into the soil between the rows and hoe it into the ground. These plants are not deep rooting and it generally follows that water must be given in the dry weather. Tho larger the roots of this plant can be grown the more tender they will be. The leaves can also be used in soups and stews and give the same flavour as ci«lery. Savoy cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts can be set out now in well worked and manured ground. The best f rops are from these plants when they are planted in fresh clean, soil recently dug from fresh pasture.. Potato crops are showing signs of disease and gardeners would be well advised to get J them sprayed as scon as they can. When i spray'ng them pay particular attention to the undersides of the leaves and'see that they get a good coating of the stuff. It does not take long to dry and when once on the leaves it takes a lot of water to \vs»Ji it off. Sow lettuce seed in the open ground now in drills and as soon as the plants can be handled thin them out to about a font apart. If in the hot weather a position partially shaded during the hot part of the day can be given them they rarely run to seed. When plenty of compost or good farmyard manure can be got work it lightly into the surface. These plains are not deep rooting and must be kept moist in' dry weather. Tomato plants are making good growth and must be attended fairly often to keep the side shoots pinched out; 'As soon as the first bunch of fruit has set spray the plants and keep it. going every two weeks. Those who missed sowing carrots last, month should make a sowing now. The place where tho new potatoes have been dug from will suit them perfectly. Make the drills about a foo.t apart and sow the seed thinly and even then thin the plants out to about two inches, apart. Old soot is an 'excellent manure for ~ carrots and sliould be. sprinkled along the rows and hoed in. Salt is a good thing to use; it, can he sprinkled along the row at the rate of one tablcspoonful to every twelve feet of row. Make another sowing of pc£s as soon as "the last one is about an inch high. We wish our readers and correspondents a very happy, and prosperous, New Year and may the garden bring you the best of:.everything. - .-.-..:.■ ~ '.- ..-•.