IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 August 1926, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN

SEASONABLE REMINDERS

TUI- VEGETABLE CROPS Amateur gardeners were not able to do all they planned for the holiday at tho beginning of the week owing to the drizzling rain. It is to he hoped that those who deemed it their duty to observe the day, by planting'a small patch of early potatoes ,\vilb he rewarded for their enterprise. If the surface soil is dry enough to work without sticking to the feet, pul the cultivator through all growing crops, such as autumn planted cabbages, onions, etc. Remove the blades and use the digging tines, as these will go deeper into the soil, and leave the surface rougher, exposing a greater quantity of soil to Hie action of the weather. 11. would be time, well spent to scarify ail vacant quarters, for not only would this sweeten the soil, but many insects and all weed seeds that are beginning to grow would be destroyed. Culinary peas, like their relations in the flower garden, require staking. "Hilling” lip the rows is also necessary. Plants allowed to struggle in the mud are not given half a chance. If birds are troublesome with seedlings, run a strand or two of black cotton along the rows and about two inches off tho ground. Autumn sown onions can be planted out when the soil is dry enough' for working. While in the seed bed they should be kept clear of weeds. Handweeding is necessary for this work. When the ground is dry enough, planting of cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, leeks, shallots, ajid potato onions can be made. Sow seed of lettuce, turnips, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and radish. Preparations should be completed fori spring planting. All vegetable crops require a deep root run if they are to succeed. When making seed beds at this time of the year, it is a good plan to run an open trench alongside to take away the surplus water. Trie soil from the trench can be scattered on the bed. Asparagus beds should bo cleaned. Now, while ihe plants are dormant, is tho time to clean off all weeds and surplus soil, replacing the soil with rotten manure or somo fresh soil and manure. Clean up and replant the herb bed. Majoi'um, thyme, sage, mint, and the various other sorts are inclined to get weedy if not trimmed up once a year. AMONG THE FLOWERS Thin out seedling poppies, don’t let this plant grow under conditions that are too crowded. Sow a batch of mignonette seed. Make the soil light and rich. Pansies must be looked after. Keep the little plants growing. Keep the surface soil continually loose. Watch for slugs, etc. Don’t prune spring-flowering shrubs and trees until after they have bloomed. When tiie flowers are over, prune fairly hard.

Heliotrope cuttings taken young and green will root under a bell glass in sand. The cuttings will root in a glasshouse of ,under a bell glass or “cloche.” Vallolas are best shifted in spring, about August, as the plant is then making new roots. Do not shift this plant more than necessary. Once established, the vallota gets better year by year. Old clumps flower best. Good snapdragons can always be grown from cuttings. Treat the tips as you would fuchsia or pentstomon cuttings. Use plenty of sand fop rooting purposes. Hydrangeas need pruning every -winter. Shorten the canes by half their length. Seedlings of antirrhinums, stocks, cinerarias, larkspurs, daisies, nemesias, Iceland poppies, scabious, cornflowers can be transplanted in well prepared beds and borders. Bouvardias should be cut back hard and afterwards apply a handful of bonedust to the soil around each plant. Continue the planting of roses, hedge plants, ornamental trees and shrubs. If the ground is too wet when the plants arrive, heel them ip for a day or so till it dries somewhat. Better wait a day, or even a week, than plant in sodden soil.

Sweet peas need attention in keeping the soil around them free from weeds. Also in pinching and regulating their growth. Short twiggy sticks should be placed to the plants .to keep them'oil the ground. '

Beds of anemones, ranunculi, cyclamen and other bulbs should have the surface lightly stirred. When the plants are too close together to work a hoe or hand folk, an old carving or dinner fork will be found useful for the purpose*. Primroses and polyanthus should have a top-dressing of old manure op leaf mould. LAWNS A few remarks about lawns should be timely, for lawns should be lopdressed some time during August or early in September. This work is sadly neglected in many gardens, and the result is a very unsatisfactory lawn. Every lawn should receive an annual dressing of some kind to feed the numerous grass plants that are kept active by constant cutting and frequent watering. The best material for topdressing is good maiden loam from a grass paddock. It is difficult to obtain good, clean soil from another place. There are so many undesirable weed seeds and noxious roots in most of the soil offered for topdressing tiiat it should be examined carefully before using. If the grass is skimmed off about two inches deep, the next four inches should be suitable for topdressing. Don’t put it through ;l sieve unless there are stones. The fibrous material is good for the lawn. Spread the soil evenly over the surface, and work it into the grass plants by passing the back of a garden rake to and fro. Take care to spread the fresh soil evenly. Do not roll it for several weeks. Give the grass plants plenty of time To push their blades up through!, the soil, and then only use a light roller at first, just heavy enough to press down any lumps of soil into tiio grass plants. If soil is not available, give the lawn a liberal dressing with some artificial manure. Basic slag is one of the best, and any other manure that contains a good proportion of crushed bones will restore some of the lost vigour of the grass plants. Small as well as large lawns need feeding to keep them in good condition. No matter how neat the beds and borders are kept, a poor lawn spoils tho appearance of (lie garden.