GARDEN FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6628, 15 August 1931, Page 11

GARDEN FIELD

Koutine Work in the Borders As soon as tho soil conditions permit, loosen the soil around all growing things, especially anemones, ranunculi, exhibition bulbs and early planted annuals Firm tho soil around all recently planted shrubs and perennials. 1 lace an invirted flower pot over hyacinths f or a while in order to lengthen tho allm k anner of shrubs and roses, shelter trees and hedges. Prune-roses and top-dress the beds. Plant out edgings of catmint and thrift. Sow seeds of all hardy things. ~ „ Loosen the soil among the tulips, working in a littlo basic slag, well decayed manure, or bone meal. Givo exhibition bulbs a-good topdressing of wood ashes to help the colour of the blooms. / ' Sow all kinds of hardy annuals. Divide any clumps of perennials requiring this attention. The present is a good time for the removal of any large evergreen or deciduous trees. The Vegetable Garden Give special attention to all growing things. Heavy winds have loosened tho soil around autumn-planted cabbages and cauliflowers. Use tho hoe be tween them if possible, and slightly mould them up; a little fertiliser placed around each plant before this operation will help them along immensely. Sow seeds of all salad plants and plant a tow of esehallots for early use. Sow tomato seed under glass. Plant the first early potatoes and tho first early peas. Plant out strawberry plants on a well manured plot. Complete the digging of all vacant land. Planting Large-flowered Roses on Walls and Pergolas People are waking up to the fact, •when considering what kind of roses to plant as wall covers, .that showy as the ramblers are when in bloom, their season is so short and their growth so exuberant that .something more is wanted in a garden. To this end, much attention is being paid to the climbing forms of hybrid teas that flower for a much longer time and, what is more important, give fragrant blossoms. In the near future many more of these “ever in bloom season” roses will be grown. In small gardens something more than a huge mass of flowers is wanted, for when the petals are shed we have perforce to wait for another year for a like : display. Though among the hybrid teas we get fewer flowers, they arc spread over a longer time,rand the wall or pergola is a more attractive place. Where there is not much room for cliniibers, those about to plant would do well to consider the advantages to be derived from the type of rose men-.

Specially written f° r Times by Loma.

tioned, which usually goes under tho heading of pillar roses, and there are now some very beautiful varieties and colourings among them. Autumn-sown Sweet Peas

These are now making rampant growth, and if the growths are not already thinned tho work should not be delayed any longer. From one to three is the amount of laterals left on each plant where exhibition blooms are wanted, although for ordinary garden display tho growths should bo thinned somewhat, too, which results in liner blooms. After thinning, tie the laterals securely to their supports and loosen the soil along the trench. If slugs are troublesome, give frequent dustings ot soot and lime. Whether growing for display or exhibition, the distanco between each plant should not bo less than six inches, and a foot apart is better still for the latter. Sweet peas arc gross feeders, and where the giound has been trenched deeply their roots will penetrate every inch P 111 their "search for nourishment. Whore their roots can get well down, the plants do not suffer greatly during a spell of dry weather. Apples for ornament There is really no place too small for a good-sized apple tree. From the palace to tho cottage there is scope for apple planting merely for the sake ot ornament. How picasing to tho traveller are those cottages whose entrances or gable ends are covered with apple or pear trees. At all times such trees are both ornamental and useful. An apple tree in blossom is one of tho prettiest sights imaginable, especially if it be carpeted beneath with blue tiag irises, which coincide with their biooniing season. In planting apple trees for ornamental purposes those .with tree and vigorous growing qualities should be chosen; a stunted one would pass muster iu an orchard, but would have to be removed in those positions mentioned.' Tho Blenheim orange, Worcester pcarmain, Wellington and beauty of Bath arc all good in that they produce beautifully coloured fruit. In planting have the sites properly prepared so that the trees may have a chance of growing away freely from the first. For purposes of ornament tall standards, grafted on tho crab apple and capable of developing a large head, should be planted. Beauty and usefulness is combined in the planting of these; the result will not be seen at once as, like many other good and desirable things, it must be waited for. Trees planted within the shelter of the homo surroundings, in consequence of their favoured position, bear better crops of fruit than can bo obtained from the trees planted in an exposed orchard. Even a quince may be trained to grow into an ideal tree where shade in sum-

mer is required. Its foliage, flowers and fruit are all ornamental. Hints on Arranging Flowers Nothing is more interesting or pleasing, whether it bo in mansion or humble cottage, than the arrangement of flowers. A few flowors naturally arranged give a much more charming effect than a crowded arrangement of tho same flowers. While a mass of flowers may appear more elaborate to the eye, it lacks originality. Preference should bo given to using unequal numbers of blooms, such as seven instead of six, as one is more apt to avoid symmetry and unequal balance, which arc hardly ever found in nature. In choosing receptacles for floral arrangements it is essential to study the colouring of tho rooms and furniture so that they blend as harmoniously as possible. Much depends upon tho right senso of proportion and lines of the natural growth of flowers and foliage. All low, dwarf-habited things should be arranged in low bowls, and tnll-stcmmcd things vico versa. Iu using a tall vase, the flowers should stand a few inches higher than the height of tho vase itself, in order to get tho correct proportion. Every arrangement of flowers should have some buds or half-open blooms. The reckless cutting of flowers or stems which seem out of place must bo avoided. Bather wait until most of the flowers arc in the vase, and then take time in deciding which !flower or leaf must bo sacrificed. The ibeauty of your arrangement largely depends on this. If the foliage hangs low, always bear in mind to have the tips bend slightly upwards, as it is only tho natural tendency to grow towards the sun. This can easily bo accomplished by rubbing and slightly bending the tips with the thumb and forefinger for a few seconds. By the same method, flowers such as the singlo chrysanthemums will have a natural droop for a dinner table decoration and givo a vory artistic effect. Colour combinations greatly depend upon the surroundings. Frequently a bold splash of crimson or dark blue will give a delicate arrangement an individuality of its own. For dinner table decoration tbo low centrepiece with openwork tablecloth showing the surface of tho table -allows much more freedom for original ideas and is more restful to tho eyes than the formal silver vases with a stiff white tablecloth.

Some Plants for Heavy Soils. The disadvantages of heavy clay soil seem many when in comparison with a soil which at all times is easily tilled and cultivated, and those gardeners with this same heavy soil are rather inclined to be envious of their friends’ nico friable looking borders. But a heavy soil has some, even many, advantages, among them that of responding more generously to lime and labour and leaf mould than do those specious sandy soils, which swallow up whole cartloads of manure and still remain poor. When we have by hard labour and perseverance reduced tho stiff, clayey soil to a reasonable condition of tilth, we are liable to be discouraged when we find how many desirable plants require that "light art friable soil,” which is beyond our provision. Yet, there are many good plants which actually prefer a

heavy soil. The English iris enjoys a damp, heavy soil, as much as the Spanish iris dislikes it. The flag or bearded iris also does well, if we raise -their beds and give them plenty of attention and exposuro to sunlight. At homo in this soil, too, are the members of the helloborus (Christmas rose) family, and these should be grown freely, as they provide an abundance of bloom at this'season when flowors are appreciated. The r colours range from blackish purple to pink and white. Paeonies offer a vide range of beauty, slow to become established, but afterwards giving) of their best on heavy soil. All the varieties of primrose, polyanthus, and cowslip like heavy soil, and give us nowadays an immense variety of form and colour. Tulips and narcissi are both managed easily, and then there are the roses, which are a host in themselves. Daphne mezoreum is a capricious plant, flourishing in one place and failing in another apparently similar, and often dying suddenly when seeming t-c bo in full health, so that it is not “easy to find out the conditions it prefers. It is worth noting, however, that bushes some fifteen to twenty years of ego are to be seen growing in heavy May loam. Bcrberis bealii, which is beginning to be appreciated for its handsome leaves and early sweet scented flowers, also loves tho heavy soil, together with many more garden subjects. A Succession of Cauliflowers.

Not only to those who have a partiality for this vegetable is the subject of interest, but also to any whose work it is to maintain a continuous and considerable supply of vegetables through the year. The cauliflower is important to fill in with other vegetables, but it requires a little experience, to have a sufficiency at any period .without havjng an excess. Just here, it may not be generally known that cauliflowers will hold out lunger if the plants are pulled out bodilv and hung head downwaids from the'roof of an airy. shed. The earliest supply to come in after the spring broccoli arc over, are thoso which were planted out ill autumn, and these must bo an early maturing variety such as London, or all the year round. Seed of these same varieties should also be sown in the late autumn, and again in early and late spring. In the late spring or early summer months, seed is again sown of broccoli, and types of cauliflower which take seven or eight months to mature. These come in previous to tho broccoli. A little seed at a time and at frequent intervals will give a supply of cauliflowers throughout tho year. A great, point in growing this vegetable well is not to allorv tlio plant to receive a check at any period, and it is preferable to prick out tho seedlings from seed box or bed if they i.ro on tho thick side, into other boxes or rows in the garden as soon as the secoid leaves are formed. In this way vory sturdy plants are available for setting out, with a good ball of roots attached. The land for this vegetable cannot be too wrell cultivated or enriched, and if the hoe is frequently used between the plants and water supplied when necessary, the grower will bo rewarded with good specimens. Plants of early varieties set out now will head up about Christmas time.

Culinary Peas For Succession. Where a good supply of this muchprized vegetable is in demand for early and late use, small fortnightly sowings should now be made. There seems to be two methods of growing these, one of which is to supply them with more than they need, and the other -in giving them just sufficient for their needs. In digging a trench and using a lot of manure, peas make far too much wood, and are also later in maturing, with a tendency to contract mildew diseases. Given a deeply trenched soil containing a sufficiency of lime, which peas are groat lovers of, and just a moderate amount of manure will produce vory satisfactory crops. There is always a tendency to sow tho seed too thickly. A row thiiily sown will produce a much larger quantity of geren peas than when row which is overcrowded with plants. Dwarf habited varieties mature a few weeks earlier than thoso of a tall habit of growth. Also, the gardener whoso time is limited, appreciates tho fact that stakes are not needed for the former. Seed sown in early spring should be sown on the shallow side, afterwards slightly moulding the rows to allow the moisture to run off. During the summer the reverse method is followed, leaving a depression for water to run into.