IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 August 1928, Page 7

IN THE GARDEN

BUSY TIME APPROACHfNG

THE VEGETABLE PLOTS Full advantage was taken by many amateur gardeners of the fine weather on the August holiday to plant early potatoes and prepare' beds for spring sowing. The soil is now in good condition for working, and groinid not already turned over should be done at once in order to get full advantage from the frosts. Vegetable seeds may' be sown, more generally during, this month, but the decision to sow must be governed by previous experience of the soil, locality, and by seasonal prospects. Broad .beans, Early Longpod, Harlington Windsor or any other well-recommended variety may be sown. Feds, either English Wonder, William Hurst, Sherwood, Richard Seddon, Marvel, or Oreenfeast, may be selected. They are all dwarf varieties that may be expected to give satisfactory results. Beet, the globe variety, is the most desirable for early planting. Silver beet and perpetual or spinach beet may be put in for summer use to take the place between the supply of cabbage and cauliflower. Brussels Sprouts are a vegetable that take a long time to come to perfection, and

early sowing is most essential. The seed is hardy enough, and may be sown almost anywhere. Cabbage and cauliflower plants are ready for planting, and should go in where ground is ready. Allow them at least two feet from row to row; spring cabbage does not need so much room as the autumn and winter, varieties. An. early sowing of carrot is well worth putting la. Potatoes should follow crops of A leguminous clwactor, such as peas and })e:tus.

Peas and beans may follow potatoes. Early peas will thrive in a cleared celery trench without further manuring.

Turnips, beet, carrots,' and parsnips will succeed in soil which has been clear of winter greens. B ',- Now is the time to replace sage and thyme. Lift the old block, divide these and replant small pieces, but they must have a little root with, it; plant these deep enough, so as to leave only two or three inches of their tops out of the ground. Both sage'and thyme'may be raised from seed, but the dividing is easier and makes plants more quickly. Onions for salading may be sown in a warm border. A top-dressing of soot once every three weeks during showery weather will push them along wonderfully; bub let the young plants have a good start before applying the soot.

Broad beans, Early Long Pod, should still be planted and the main crop sown now.

Cabbage for late spring use may be transplanted at once, Enfield Market being the most suitable. Seeds of the following varieties may be sot in thin drills or boxes: —Drum"cad, Succession, Early York. ■ Red pickling cabbage is an excellent variety for boiling as well as pickling and will stand well in the summer months. Dwarf early short born carrots may be sown on a warm, border; they will come in. early and prove very useful in November. •' ', ■■; ■ *j ! . .Plant 1 out rhubarb''roots irr rows .'.4ft apart by three. The strawberry beds should be gone over. They" will soon begin to grow. Topdress with manure if wanted. Asparagus v beds should now be 'dug over and begin their annual manuring. Radishes, lettuces, and turnips should be sown to suit requirements. Tomatoes should be sown now under glass for early planting. Cape gooseberry may be transplanted now. Not young plants, but old blocks. Plant deep, so as to protect them from the frost. • . ''MIDST THE FLOWERS Cyclamen ia bloom may be given. ;« weak solution of liquid manure. Old blooms should be cut off to make room for fresh ones. ' digging herbaceous borders can be done so long as it is dry overhead. All ornamental hedges should be pruned now before the spring growth starts. The following hardy annuals may be planted out:—Antirrhinums, larkspurs, statice, Canterbury bells, poppies, neme r sia, primula and carnations. Stocks may do if given a dry situation. Cinerarias are suitable for shaded situations. Lobelia makes a good spring border plant-' ed Bin. apart. Give anemones and ranunculas all possible attention. As soon as they start to bloom they should be topdressed with old manure, Plant or replant all perennial plants. . || The annual scabiosa should be planted now, if early blooms are desired. Root out any old worn-out rose bushes, and replace with some young trees. Better results are obtained from young stock. - : ! , Cover up the early growth of delphiniums and ,gypsophlia to protect it from the slugs. '"' -, v Summer flowering sweet peas may be planted in Specially trenched land setting the seeds 6in. apart. Keep a look out for slugs on the pan? sies and carnations or the plants will become crippled. Prepare beds and borders for/.the planting of annuals to' be planted out during September and October. . Seed of pansies, Ten Week and Beauty stocks, and hardy annuals can he sown in' boxes.

Pansies, require a very rich soil chiefly composed of leafsoil and well decayed manure. ,

Cuttings of i chrysanthemums can. be taken off. Insert them in shallow trays or pots, and place them in a cold frame where they can be kept close and shaded till rooted.

The following seeds may be sown in. the open border:—Dwarf nasturtium; candytuft, mignonette. and Virginian stock. Sow the following in seed pans or'boxes :-r-Dwarf marigold, phlox, pansy, stock's, calliopsis, verbena, hollyhock, and scabiosa.

Cuttings.of geraniums may be made and planted. Also, cuttings of penstemmons, antirrhinums, junks and other Semi-shrub plants. Sow sweet peas for late planting, calendula for spring flowering, and nemesias for spring planting. When planting roses prepare a special bed for tjiem. They are lost when mixed with other shrubs, unless it is a few of the very strongest growing varieties.

The following plants are alll worthy •of a place in the herbaceous bed: Perennial phlox, helenium, solidago or golden rod, rudbeckia or golden glow, heuchera, alstromerias, romnega or Californian poppy. Stable or fowl is the best manure for this type of plants and should . be dug well in before planting.

SLUGS AND WOODLICE As spring advaiices slugs often become troublesome. A garden overrun' with the pest often shows sourness of ground and the garden requires retrenching. Clean cultivation in all parts of the garden is a great aid in keeping slugs in check. Tender subjects such as peas, herbaceous plants, etc, can be protected by placing a ring of lime >and soot mixed in equal proportions round the plants. Fine ashes or coke saturated in kerosene will keep _them back. Dusting rock gardens-in the evening with powdered lime is a good remedy. Watering infested areas in the evening with water to which alum has been added has proved effective. Slugs may be trapped by placing bran in sunken hollows of the ground and covering it with a thin board; they are very fond of this and can be picked up and killed. Woodlice do an enormous amount of damage and often the slug is blamed for damage which on closer examination can be attributed to woodlice. They are easily killed by feeding them on bran or oatmeal to which Paicis green has been added. Place the mixture in little heaps round the garden paths and on the benches and floors of the greenhouse.