Garden

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2346, 16 January 1926, Page 4

Garden

(BY "LORNA.”)

Gardens and gardeners, one and all, will welcome the recent beneficial showers. All growing things wore badly in need of moisture, and it was only those plants which had had the surface of the soil constantly kept in a loosened condition that had made any headway worth speaking about. This emphasising the need of surface tillage, take for instance, a hedge which has been planted with the idea of gaining quick shelter. If the hedge has been hoed at intervals and its growth compared with one that has been left to take care of itself, the former will have provided the necessary shelter required some years In advance of the latter. Mulch any shrubs that were planted last Spring where they are showing the least sign of distress. Some varieties do not root very deeply and may fade away for the want of a little moisture. ■ Also sow any varieties of hardy perennials in a shady spot. Cuttings of carnations may be struck in a sandy compost being careful to keep moist. It is rather early In most cases to commence layering as the plants are still blooming freely. Cuttings of geraniums and pelargoniums are easily rooted at this season, during the winter and early Spring months they have a tendency to decay. Prune the roses down to one half their length as they finish blooming. Dalhias are making rapid growth, give the plants a good mulching to help retain this week's welcome moisture. This should help carry them well on through the growing season. Do not let them grow too much wood, in cases where good blooms are wanted. Chrysanthemums.

Chrysanthemum growers will heave a sign of relief over the improved condition of the soil. Watering becomes rather & severe task to the grower In hot weather by keeping the soil Well loosened and free from weeds, the plants will need little attention until the time arrives to take the "bud” which is usually done some time during February. Taking the "bud” means tho removal of all the growth shoots which form around the flower bed, the bud which forms at this time usually develops the best flower for exhibition. Where only required for garden display, It is still advisable to disbud, letting tho plant develop all its branches, but only leaving the centre bud on each growth The blooms of these are beautiful and just a nice size for all cut flower work. Tho Vegetable Garden.

Nowhere will the rain prove more beneficial than to this section of "gardening.” Brocoll, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, etc., are all watting to be planted out, and the operation will now be a pleasure In cases where gardeners are quick to take advantage. Never putting off for to-mor-row what they can do today. So far the troublesome cabbage fly has not made' Its appearance, but a constant watch should .be kept over the plants and spraying or dusting with tobacco dust resorted to when necessary, treating the plants "in time” will make a wonderful difference to their well-being. Seeds of dwarf beans, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, etc., may be,sown., A good crop of oarroti pftqn results from a sowing made at this time; It la as well to pinch out the tips of the runners of marrows an pumpkins when they have grown tho desired length, as the heaviest crop is produced from the side shoots, which branch off the main stem.

Stocks. Everyone loves these scented favourites. The Brompton, Beauty of Nice, and the -variety known as the Ten Weeks are all equally fragrant. To get nice early Spring blooming plants the seed should be sown now of the two former varieties mentioned either in a roomy seed pan where the plants will have ample room to develop or in the open borders, where they may be transplanted later to permanent flowering quarters. The Bromptons take a much longer period to come to the flowering stage than the Beauty of Nice. The plants are much stronger in growth, taller, and develop larger spikes of bloom. The Beauty of Nice is a valuable early Spring and late Winter bloomer, wonderfully prolific, blooming for months with a wide range of beautiful colourings. Stocks revel In a loamy soil on. the light side but it must be well drained, a low damp situation does not suit them. Seed Saving.

Seeds are ripening on the early Spring blooming plants which should be watched and gathered at the right time. There are always complaints to be heard on all hands of seed failing to germinate, or else coming up in very small numbers. The only way to remedy this Is to save your own seeds, much could be done in spare time In this way ,and money saved which could be expended on novelties in the way of seeds and plants for the “garden." When you have decided what seeds you would like to save, choose the finest specimens and gather seed from tho largest flowers. Most of our garden plants are crossed from one to another and cannot be expected to some true to colour, but a largo proportion will be found to be satisfactory, one pod of seed will often contain a dozen or more colours. If the seed is labelled with the variety, colour and the date, to ensure the sowing of freshly gathered seed, the results are often very interesting. It is not generally known that the chrysanthemum germinates readily from seed, also blooming tho first season. Dalhlas are also very easily grown, coming to maturity the first season. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and many other shrubs not usually associataed with seed saving, prove delightfully interesting to the amateur gardeucr. The Worcester Berry. Very interesting are the notes on the Worcester Berry, grown at Worcester. This berry is the result of a cross between the gooseberry (Whinham’s Industry) and black currant

(Boskoop Giant). Described as a cropper far in excess of either of its parents, fourteen pounds of fruit being picked off two three-year-old trees. One of itu peculiarities Is, that when the fruit Is picked at gooseberry time, one gets the pronounced flavour of the gooseberry. If the fruit Is allowed to stay on the bushes a month or so later they assume the flavour of the black currant. Ordinary gooseberry thorno are half an inch to three-quarters of an inch in length, on the Worcester berry they vary from seven-eighths to one inch. The foliage is similar to that of the gooseberry. and the fruit is entirely hairless. Being easily struck from cuttings, combined with their remarkably quick growing and heavy cropping qualities, this new fruit should quickly win popularity. When tasting the fruit gathered at gooseberry time, the gooseberry flavour is always followed by the black currant, and vice versq-