GARDEN & FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6806, 9 January 1929, Page 4

GARDEN & FIELD

The New Year Garden. The new year has commenced favourably for the gardener. Frequent showera have given him every opportunity to stock borders and ail spare spaces with plants that are destined to make tray the autumn months. With the abundance of moisture, a flowering plants are in a fl °“ nshl ”? condition, particularly the dahlias and chrysanthemums, which are needing good deal of attention in the way of staking, pinching out surplus sideshoots, etc. , Many complaints are rife re the dam age done by slugs, the showery weather having furnished this pest with further opportunities of exterminating many favourite plants. Land made ready for sowing should be cleared > slugs first. Lime, salt, soot and nitrate of soda are certain slug killers. A good dressing of salt or lime is easily and quickly accomplished. Another method of using quicklime is to put a quantity in a large barrel o water, stir the mixture ,and after it has settled, draw off ffthe clear liquid for watering any spot _ infested with slugs. This treatment is deadly to the vermin and advantageous to tho crops- ' • . In situations where wire-worms arc troublesome, lime and salt should be freely used in the compost heap. Heaps of rubbish provide a good breeding place for these pests ,and as they arc said to exist for some four or five years in the grub state, their oppor tunities of injuring crops are extensive. Potato Blight. The damp weather has brought with it another pest in the form of the dreaded potato blight. The favoured time for attacking the plants seems to be at the flowering period. Where possible, weekly sprayings of bordeaux mixture should be applied. Do not wait until the blight has made its appearance —prevention is always, better than cure. The above remarks apply also to the tomato crop which is subject to the same disease. .... The presence of the blight is indicated by brown patches on the leaves, followed by the curling up of these, and finally by their becoming . black ana decayed. In tomatoes the disease penc. trates the cells causing decay of leal and fruit. Onion Mildew. This is another disease which is more troublesome in old established, garden! than on virgin soil. Where it make! its apeparance onions should not b< grown in the same spot for .some threi years. The fungus appears in yellow .«h patches, followed by a white, thei

(Specially written for “Times” by Lorna.)

a greyish mould. The the leaves to shrivel and tho bulb to be stunted. Soot applied weekly while-the dew is on them is a good preventitive; also a mixtu e parts of slaked lime to one. of sulphur, applied in the early morning. It » best to promptly burn any infected plants. . Bordeaux Mixture. For use on crops in leaf the following strength is recommended, six pounds of bluestone, four pounds fre«h limo, and 50 gallons of water. Three wooden or earthenware vessels are needed. , . The bluestone is powdered, put w pi... * »» d di “ 0l r ” d t ‘£.H the water. The lime is first djeo by adding a little boiling, water later Jakincr it up to the remaining 35 gal lons of water thus forming a creamy liauid When the bluestone is dissolv fsti the contents of both containers and pour at the same time into the larger vessel. Thorough straining s necessary to avoid choking * 0 ?°f ase of the spraying apparatus. I has not made its appearance an ap plication of tho mixture twice or thrice is often all that is necessary during tho growing period. Seasonable Work. Lift anemones, ranunculus and freesias, and members of the narcissus family * Where large blooms are. wanted new beds should be prepared m readiness for replanting in March. Where decayed manure is not avail able, it is advisable to prepare the trench for the autumn sowing of sweet peas. These should always be sown at the end of February, or not later than March. , Frequent diggings along the trench will help mix and decay manures used in rather a fresh state. For anemones and ranunculus nothing is better than well decayed manure and leaf mould, with a dusting ol blood and bone fertiliser. Sow seeds of anemones, and ranunculus ,also freesias and irises. Bcmovo dead flow r ers from the borders, also tho seed heads from choice flowering shrubs. A late planting of gladioli corns may be made, also dahlias. Sow seeds of hardy perennial plante: geums, antirrhinums, wallflowers, violas for late bordering; forget-me-nots, primula malacoidos, and- anything required for the brightening of the early spring garden. ■ Vegetable Garden. Cucumbers, pumpkins, etc., are growing freely. Take out the tips of the runners when a few feet in length, to

encourage the growth of sido runners. More fruit will be obtained than if the main runners are allowed lull swing. . . Continue plantings and sowings or all winter greens. Plant celery and leeks for early rwpplies , Sow carrots, beetroot, turnips, swedes peas and beans.

Ornamental Plants,

Bold groups of large-leaved plants in the garden are wonderfully effective. A plant of grand foliage and noble aspect is ideal for using in connection with any kind of masonry, walls, steps, or massed as a l nekground to the rock garden. For instance, the g'-'.y-bluc tints of the giant ‘eryngiums (alpine thistles) arc seen to great advantage nea ror against any concrete work, the coloirv Of tho leaves toning in beautifully with the stone. The handsome, deeply sorrated leaves are beautiful at all times, and at the present the plants arc covered with wonderfully attractive buds, long in opening to a soft wedgewood shade of blue. The giant one of the tribe has the darkest blue flowers; another, named c-planum, has foliage of a more dainty type and flowers of a light blue, while the true alpine thistle has lavender flowers. They are al lworthy of a place in the garden, and those who have littJG time to spa-re and vet wish their gardens to present a charming appearance, sl.ci.V make use of plants of this type, for they cover a bare si>acc C[ti’cWy r»no need little attention. _ Where a deep green is desired the acanthus is one of the best of hardy •plants. This is t.o be bad in three varieties, and all have beautiful glossy foliage, quite as large as that of tho thistles. Acanthus mollis is the largest of the family, with long spikes of whitish flowers, backed with purple bracts. In a. spinosissimus the foliage is more sharply cut and more spiny. A. spinosus is also a handsome plant, its leaves being a beautiful shape and when mounted with long flower spikes it looks decidedly handsome. December is their month for blooming. This family of plants is said to. have given rise to the corinthian stile in architecture. Again, there is the handsome foliage of the funkias (plantain lilies). These may be associated with groups of arum lilies and like these plants will grow in partial shade. Tritomas (red bot poker) and agapanthus are splendid for covering up a large space of ground, and very little weeding is necessary where, such things are grown. The flower spikes of each arc most effective. In a damp, place tho giant-leaved rhubarb is often grown to advantage. This has probably the largest leaves of any perennial plant, being rhubarb shaped and of a rough, tough texture. ' Nothing is finer for filling spaces between and in front of shrubs that are near a lawn Or drive than a grouping of bold foliage plants. Gannas, too, are ideal for a summer and autumn effect, but need manuring and better cui-

tivation, and for months of the year leave bare spaces which need to be kept free from weeds. Those plants which are ornamental all the year Tound ,with an added glory at blooming time will be appreciated at their true worth by the busy man or woman A bright touch of colour given by a few masses of low-growing plants placed m clumps hero and there is all that is I needed in connection with noble foli'age plants. Autumn Flowering Lilies.

These are now throwing up strong; flowering spikes. The liiy family isj a very large one, and from early summer to late autumn its members beautify our gardens with their choice blooms. None, however, are more appealing than those which fletwfer m the autumn months. Amongst these, 1. auratum is one of the finest, and, it given a moist rooting medium, is not at all difficult to grow. In sandy coils little preparation is necessary, but in heavy soils large holes should be opened, well drained ,and filled with a rich porous compost such as leaf mould, sand, and peaty loam. Rhododendrons and azaleas are things which should be given a space to themselves, away from other shrubs, and it is among these that lilies should bo planted. Rhododendrons do not take over much from the soil and provide the shade and cool root run that lilies aro so partial to. Here, too, they arc protected from -dd winds in the early stages of growth. The more robust kinds can be planted among the fastest-growing rhododendrons, _ while those of more delicate conshtuvion may find a place among the choice varieties. Liliums are not usually planted deep enough. Most varieties have an upper rooting system from the stems m audition to the roots which come from the base of the bulbs, hence deep planting should bo practisd to insure that the upper roots, which help to nourish the growing stems, are well under the surface of the soil. The tiger and speciosum types should be from six to eight inches, while ten inches or even twelve is not too much in the case oi 1. auratum. , ... Spikes of liliums are alan to the queenlv Darwin tulips, the one being as highl yprized in the autumn as the other is in late spring. Spikes of lilies are valued as cut flowers as they will often last for weeks, each bud gradually unfolding and giving of its beauty.