IN THE GARDEN

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1935, Page 6

IN THE GARDEN

[BY “TAINUI”]

| OPERATIONS FOR JULY. ❖ ❖

❖ THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 7 V X■, , • •"4* Plant out onions; also cabbage, early cauliflowers, and lettuce. - V Sow a few dwarf peas in a sheltered, sunny position. ' *4 Plant early potatoes. See that the tubers are sprouted and greened before planting. Give a sunny position and good ♦J* drainage.. .. Put potato sets in boxes to sprout, for later planting. X Give the soil about growing plants a dusting with, super. ' ♦? .. . - % ' •' £ THE FLOWER GARDEN. 4 . ❖ T A few -primulinus gladioli should be planted in a sheltered X position for early -bloom. The main planting should be in 4* a few' weeks’ time. 4* Prepare the ground for, planting gladioli later. If the soil is poor, V dig in- well rot-ted-manure or garden refuse at a spade depth, X so that it will not be hear the corms when, planted. Make : -the ground firm'after digging. ❖ y The old dried corm and outer covering should be removed from - X - the gladioli corms. They should then be soaked in formalin solution, using about , one teaspoonful of formalin to one . *j* gallon of water. Leave in the liquid for about an hour. Then ■ plant about 6in. deep in light soil, and rather less in clay soil. Late autumn flowering gladioli will be ready to lift now. Leave : the foliage on until it turns brown, and is easily removed. X ’ The main planting of trees and shrubs should not be delayed, «|« unless the ground is too wet. Frost-tender plants sold in pots are better planted in the spring. 4* In all but the most sheltered situations, trees, shrubs and roses , X that are planted will need a stake to keep them firm until the roots have taken hold of the ground. Shrubs and trees | like to be firmly planted. , X Hedge plants may be planted now. In frosty districts, Tecoma is better left until later, when all danger of frost is over. Well hardened off seedlings of the following may be planted out "Y in sheltered gardens:- Canterbury bells, aquilegia, coreopsis, X carnations, stock, pansies, antirrhinum, lobelia. X If rose beds did not have a dressing of lime in the autumn, they ❖ may have lime sprinkled freely over the ground about the X plants now. Manuring should follow in a few weeks’ time. *Bo* ft »x« c« »:»<♦>*

Uncommon Shrubs.

There is no doubt that shrubs- are rapidly coming into their own, and the demand fOh something different is eloquent evidence of the fact. To meet this demand, enterprising firms are introducing more and more hew shrubs. Although a number of these may be disappointing, most of them have been carefully selected, so that they should readily acclimatise themselves to our conditions. Following are listed, some of the newer shrubs that have appealed to me as desirable and suitable subjects for our soil and climate.

Abelia Schumanni: This shrub reaches about the same height as the better known A. floribunda. Its growth habit and general superficies are the same, and like the more common species, it stands dry conditions well.

The main difference is in the colour of the flowers, which in the newer \ species are of a soft rose-lilac shade. Banksia grandis: The Banksias are Australian plants, and like many of their compatriots, are distinctive looking. There are 46 species in Australia. B. grandis is quite a big shrub, almost a tree. Its distinctive foliage is heavy and noble, and its large cylinder of orange-yellow flowers make it look lilce Paul among the people in the mixed shrubbery. A very uncom-mon-looking plant. Banksia speciosa has long, narrow, toothed leaves, rather resembling those of our rewa rewa. The flowers are yellow.

i Beaufortia purpurea is a small, freeflowering shrub of the myrtle family. "The flowers are small and purplish red. A very attractive little shrub of : about 18 inche§ in height. •*. Beaufortia sparsa: This is also a ’ small shrub, with longer and larger brushes than B. purpurea. The flow,ers are bright red. The species are •West Australian. Bowkeria triphylla: This is . a South ■/African plant, a low shrub, reaching about 8 feet to 10 feet. The leaves ' are in threes. The flowers are Satiny white and strongly resemble calceolarias, to which they are related. A good shrub, ‘and different from anything vte have; Callicarpa purpurea or C. dichotoma is a shrub averaging about 3 feet in height. The flowers are pink. The shrub is very attractive when in berry, opposite clusters adorning the stems over a great part of their ; length. The berries are lilac-violet. native of Japan and China., ’ ■ , Ceratostigma Willmottiana: This is one of the most popular of the smaller shrubs. The flowers are a clear bright blue. The plant very closely resembles ,plumbago, to which it is directly related. A native of China. , Chorizema ilicifolia: The flowers are red and yellow shaded, small peaflowers. The leaves, as’the name suggests, resemble those of the common Jholly. A nice little shrub. A native of New South Wales, where it is the only one of 15 species distributed over Australia. Daphne Genkwa: The lavenderblue flowers appear before the foliage ;,in this plant. Quite a small shrub, , about 3 feet in height. No scent. A native of Japan. Fremontia Mexicana: A beautiful free-flowering shrub, with rather small lobed leaves and large yellow flowers appearing in profusion. Native of California.

Perooskia atriplicifolia: This is a low-sprawling shrub suitable for the rock garden, border, or bank. Has an aromatic, sage-like odour when bruised. The blue flowers are arranged in scattered whorls in slender spikes. A handsome shrub, the blue flowers contrasting nicely with the silvery grey stems. Likes a sunny position, and good drainage. Native of Thibet.

Photinia glabra rubeus: This photinia has distinctive red foliage in the younger stage. A smallish shrub, to about 8 feet. Proteas: These are excellent shrubs that do very well here. They possess that little difference that makes them attractive. Among the best are P. grandiceps, flowers pink-shaded; P. neriifolia, with deep rose-pink flowers; and P. Susannae, with red flowers. Natives of South Africa.

Hhus Atropurpurea: This is like the better known Rhus Cotinus, but it has purple foliage. Formalin Spray for Roses.

The control of several diseases that infest the garden rose is very difficult, but during late years some success has attended the use of formaldehyde, or formalin. The liquid is a powerful disinfectant. It must first be diluted with water, but as it mixes readily, there is not the slightest difficulty attending its use. Use about a tablespoonful to a gallon of water. In all cases the fungicide is applied as a coarse spray in such a way as to thoroughly wet the whole of the bush, and the ground under it as well. Formalin is not suggested as a cure-all, though it is often a first-class preventive. Careful and thorough treatment in the spring is a long step towards immunity for the season. Spray now during dry spells. “ Early Vegetables. No time should be lost in hurrying along the vegetables so necessary for spring. A little lettuce seed may be sown in a box provided with a glass cover, and *kept in a warm place. The seedlings may be pricked out into boxes of good rich soil, and carefully planted in the garden when well rooted. If slugs are not troublesome, the sowing may be made in the garden. Peas. For early peas, deep trenching is important. The trench may be half filled with grass or garden refuse mixed with soil and lime. Tramp the whole to make it firm. Fill in with good soil to which a little super and wood-ashes have been added. Sow the peas about 2 inches apart in a double row for the dwarf varieties, and about 4 inches apart for the stronger growing and taller varieties. Stable manure in the undersoil is excellent. The fermenting matter adds warmth to the soil, thus stimulating rooting. Plenty of black cotton threads stretched along the rows and fastened to sticks at each end will keep the birds off. It is a good plan to plant both tall and dwarf varieties; then the tall will come in when the dwarfs are over. Answer. The green-flowered herbaceous plant is Helleborus Foetidus. It belongs to the buttercup family, and is not unlike a green buttercup. It is a native of Southern Europe, but has become acclimatised in parts of England.