GARDEN & FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 249, 22 October 1935, Page 3

GARDEN & FIELD

Routine Work in the Borders.

Coutiuuo with tho planting of all annuals and perennials. Dig soil very deeply for all of them aud incorporate manure. Tho greater depth of soil loosened means a much greater amount of moisture available for the plants during dry weather. Sow sweet peas for summer blooming where they are to remain.

Take cuttings of pansies, violas, primroses, aubrietia aud carnations. Sow' seeds of all half-hardy annuals.

Sow seed of hardy annuals iu the open borders, thinning out to the required distance apart when large enough. It is important that all uewly planted shrubs and roses be mulched, so that the surface soil does not dry out. Liliums will all benefit from a good mulch of strawy manure or leaf mould.

Continue to piaut gladioli corms, mixing somo superphosphate with tho soil Keep tho surface of all borders worked to a lino tilth.

Prepare plots for chrysanthemums and dahlias.

Sow new lawns and renovate bare patches iu existing ones. Topdress with sulphate of ammonia.

The Vegetable Gaxaen. There is much to bo done in the vegetable garden now', as all manner of vegetables can bo sown and planted. Continue to sow peas at fortnightly intervals.

Sow French beans iu the warmest and best drained place. Plant tomato plants against a warm wall or sheltered nook.

Plant more potatoes, and mould up those which have just come through. Sow carroth, parsnips and mangolds for main crops.

.Continuo to plant eschallots and other onions.

' Prepare plots for pumpkins, marrows, etc., digging in manure. Sow seed of celery aud leek, red cabbago and succession cabbage. Plant early cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce. If plenty of good rhubarb is wanted, give copious, weekly applications of liquid manure; this also applies to asparagus and strawberry beds. Make sowings of radish, cress and lettuce at intervals; salads are always appreciated. Sow plenty of turnip seed. The young tops aro always useful as greens. Stir the soil around fruit trees and mulch newly planted ones. All fruits benefit from a topdressing of manure w'orked into tho soil. Sow more spinach, as this crop matures quickly. It likes plenty of moisture and rich soil in tho growing sea-

reeding Plants. What is our object in feeding plants? Very briefly, wo may say this important work is undertaken to secure a crop that is- economically profitable, and every gardener recognises that all plants, whether fruits or vegetables, ornamental trees, foliage or flowering plants, are greatly benefited by the ap-

(Specially written for tho “Manawatu Daily Times” by "Lorna.”)

When to Apply. In applying plant foods, it is most important to givo tho dressings at tho right time. It is useless to apply a plant food at a time when tho crop can obtain no material benelit from the application. For example, it would be money wasted to apply basic slag to a quick-growing crop iu the growing season, because tho phosphates iu basic slag aro not readily available and the crop would be harvested before the manure had been able to give tho iffant any soluble phosphates. It will be readily understood that those plant foods which aro not readily available must bo applied when tho ground is not occupied with the crops; the plant can then obtain full benefit from the dressing.

plication of proper fertilisers or plant foods. No matter how perfect is the general cultivation, that crop will not give tho best return if tho soil is lacking in an essential element of plant food, aud it should be the object of overy gardener to see that the soil is sufficiently provided with at least three substances, namely, potash, nitrogen, and phosphates. A fourth substance, lime, is also necessary, but it is not applied directly as a plant food, but more because of its physical effect upon tho soil.

Quick-acting manures, such as sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, etc., must be applied wheu tho crop is growing, for, if applied in winter or early spring, the soluble food would be washed away by the rains before the plants could derive any benefit from their use.

Tho slow-acting manures should be applied in autumn or winter, during digging operations. Superphosphate, another plant food supplying phosphate, is moro activo than basic slag and is applied in spring and early summer when the plants aro being forked or hoed around.

Potassic manures, such as muriate oi: potash aud kainit, aro fairly active, and should bo applied now. Sulphate of potash is readily soluble, aud may be applied to a growing crop with benefit. Manures may also be applied in liquid form when they are even more quick-acting, but caro must be taken to uso them iu a very weak form, and applied weekly after first watering with clear water, as if the soil is dry the liquid manure would sink below tho reach of the plants. It should also bo carefully used so that leaves and stems are not touched.

What Crops Need. Each element of plant food has a particular work to perform, and is applied for a particular purpose. Eor instance, beans require phosphates and potash for seed production. Cabbages, lettuce, etc., need nitrogen for leaf production. Celery needs nitrogen and potash for leaf and stem production. Potatoes need potash and nitrogen for leaf and tuber production. Turnips require phosphates and potash for root formation and for the manufacture of sugar and starch.

Plants for Hanging Baskets. Baskets of firie-foliaged and freeflowering plants are very beautiful during the summer and autumn. Some plants, owing to their habits, are better fitted than others, and it is advisable to select only those that will cover the framework quickly. Under no conditions are ivy-leaved geraniums likely to show themselves to better advantage than when grown in baskets and moreover, they will stand up to the heat of sunny porches and verandahs. Petunias are not usually considered in the light of basket plants, but if they arc grown specially for this purpose, by pinching out tho leading shoots and encouraging the growth of laterals, one may have well furnished plants. The same remark applies to verbenas. Pail to stop them, and the result is never so satisfactory as when they are pinched in the early stages. All three mentioned are especially good, as they do not easily suffer from dry conditions. The creeping rock verbenas are ideal for baskets. If a basket of fragrance is desired, there are few more suitable things than the heliotrope, which will thrive in either sun or shade. Bogonia3, lobelia, and the trailing campanulas are all suitable for shady places. Perennial plants of great value may be used iwith various kinds of mesembryantliemums, ipomea mauratanicus, rich in blue blossoms; fuchsia procumbens, with quaint, upturned green flowers and lovely cerise berries; tho double blue periwinkle, and artotis daisies, all of which thrive in heat. Dwarf nasturtiums are also largely used, and where dwarf, low plants are required there is nothing better than portulaca and Livingstone daisies. Give the baskets a good lining of moss, and use plenty of well-decayed cow manure with tho soil, as this helps to retain moisture over a longer period. Annuals For a Dry, Gravelly Soil.

In this typo of soil it is often difficult to maintain a display of bloom during tho hottest months of tho year and it is waste of time to try anad grow those things which only flourish under happier conditions. More things can bo grown in this typo of noil if plenty of farmyard manure and decayed garden refuse is dug in, but if this is not feasible it is wiser to grow only, those things which will at least make a pleasing show of bloom. The following varieties will prove satisfactory: Dimorphothecas, which aro bright and showy and flower over a long period; linnm, giving plenty of dainty blue flowers; lava-i tera, with large pink petunia-like flow-1 ers; ursinia, with multitudes of yellow

Saponarias,

and orange daisy flowers; artotis, large bright orange and yellow daisy-like blooms; scabious, tall and splendid foor cutting; gaillardias, which supply the garden with vivid masses of colour; linaria, dainty and pleasing when grown in the mass; portulaca and Livingstone Daisies, where something low and bright is needed; nasturtiums of all kinds; cornflowers and nigella, giving plenty of blue shades; shirley poppies flower well, although not so largo as on good soil; statice, and everlasting flowers of all types do well and provide plenty of bloom for drying.

These beautiful trailing plants arc now giving a wonderful display of pink on the rock garden, and there are few plants winch give sueh a wonderful display of bloom in so short a time as do the saponarias. They should be made much more use of for rough banks anu old walls, and also make good plants for hanging baskets. Very few plants about a roek garden get into their stride quicker once rooting has taken place. They will grow four feet across with thousands of pretty pink blooms, and the seed pods are most attractive. If these latter are sacrificed, however, another display of flowers in the autumn will result. Saponarias will grow in any ordinary soil, but particularly appreciate that of a sandy nature. Tlieir trailing habit renders them invaluable for overhanging the steep face of a roek, and when grown in combination with campanula laurii fhq effect is most pleasing.