IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 23 November 1928, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

RAIN WOULD BE WELCOME

THE y.jtt;K'l'A}t|,ti PLOTS The continued dry weather tlr.s mouth -less than half mi-inch of rain has so far fallen.—ling made it necessary fw many gardeners to resort to the hose and the: watering-can. The soil is very dry and plants need a good deal of attention. A night's rain would do a lot of good. Plant a succession of runner beans. Plant out Brussels sprouts and broccoli.

I'lant humerus and sow lei luces

Rhubarb which may he sending up (lower or seed heads "should hi: broken oil close down. 11 is a common thing at this time: of the year, bill when they are broken off they will not give trouble again this season.' Sea kale heads should he treated in a similar manner. Sow French and runner beans. Sow also peas for .succession, and stake tall growing kinds before they become entangled, after which they are. belter Jeft alone.

Asparagus, being in full supply, should be kept regularly cut, and the beds kept, free from weeds. Young seedlings of asparagus should he thinned out whilst quite young.

Successive sowings of dwarf beans should he sown now.

Lettuce should be sown once every two or three weeks and planted oift as soon as ready. This is the time to prepare space for broccoli for winter use.

Hoe between standing crops. Any crops which require thinning should receive attention.

Sow cauliflower and cabbage ior planting after Christmas. Early planted tomatoes are now making good growth and should be securely staked. From this time onward they will need frequent attention in removing superfluous growth. Training on the single-stem system is the best, allowing only the leader to grow. If not planted in too rich a soil the branches will form freely and at short distances apart, and Hie fruit will set and develop more freely than when a number of leaders are allowed to grow. If the stopping is kept well under control nearly every blossom will set fruit, while the branches, being more exposed to the sun, will develop and ripen finer fruit than when covered with superfluous growth. A sowing of carrots can be made. Well manured ground is necessary for a supply of saladings during summer. Small sowings and frequent are required. Stable manure, when obtainable, is the best of mulch, as it contains manurial properties that will be conveyed to the roots by rains; failing this grass clippings, partly-decayed leaves or other material will be beneficial. Before applying the latter, however, a sprinkling of superphosphate or other stimulating plant food should be applied to the rows. The onion bed should have the surface kept loose by hoeing; care must be taken, that the small bulbs are not damaged with the hoe. If flower heads appear break them out at once. Earth up potatoes as they require it, also peas before staking. _ Frequent loosening of the surface soil is particularly necessary during periods of heavy rain, when the surface gets beaten down and caked.

Destroy all rubbish either by burning ©r burying. Rubbish heaps provide harbour for all sorts of pests and diseases.

Pumpkins, marrows, rock, water and pie melons that have been raised in the open ground should be thinned out as soon as they are in the rough leaf, leaving not 'more than three of the strongest plants to each plot. These will'be benefited by mulching as soon as sufficiently advanced. Sweet corn, when successfully grown, makes an excellent change in vegetable diet. It succeeds well in almost any reasonably good soil, providing it has been deeply worked. A sowing made now and two othss sowings at intervals of three or four weeks will provide a crop till late in the summer. Though there are several varieties in cultivation, the Golden Bantam and Country Gentlemen are both popular and satisfactory kinds to grow, the first-named being the best for the earliest sowing. If the cobs are gathered as soon as the grain is developed, but before it begins to get hard, it makes a delicious and nutritious vegetable. Celery may be planted into trenches as soon as the plants are sufficiently strong. The weal her for them lias been ideal for planting, as they cannot endure extremes of boat and dryness at the roots.

Plant cabbages and cauliflowers as circumstances demand.

'.MIDST THE FLOWERS

Bedding out can be continued. Antirrhinums, salvia, balsams, petunias, French and African marigolds, cosmos, zinnnias are amongst the varieties that, can be planted now. Tulips may be lifted when their foliage is withering off, but not before. Portulacea seed can be shown. This plant, does well in hot, dry positions where scarcely anything else will grow. Pansies should have the blooms picked off once they begin to fade, otherwise, once they set seed the plants go over. A mulching of cow manure will help the plants to continue flowering. The roses are doing very well this season, and arc flowering exceptionally well. Keep faded blooms picked off, and at the first signs of aphis spray with nicotine.

Chrysanthemums can still be planted. Those planted earlier and which are beginning to grow should have the tops pinched out New beds of violets may still be made, but the plants will require to be kept moist during dry weather until they take root. Old violet borders require weeding, and the runners to bo removed. If neglected, the beds become overcrowded and the resulting blooms are unsatisfactory. Delphiniums and some of the taller subjects should be staked. It spoils the effect of a border when one or two of the taller subjects begin to fall about in an. unkempt condition. Thin out the growth of perennial phloxes. Michaelmas daisies, and other herbaceous plants of similar growth. Four or five of the strongest growths are ample, for each clump, all others being pulled out. Better results in every way will be obtained by this somewhat drastic treatment.

Iceland poppies should not be allowed to set seeds or they will stop flowering. Some of the early (lowering bulbs, such as lachanalias," anemones, ranunculi can be lifted. If the foliage has not quite died off day the bulbs in a spare piece of ground, covering die bulbs lightly with soil. Cosmos. French marigolds. salvias, phlox drummondi should all be pinched back a couple of times to make them branchy. They will make a better display in late summer or early autumn than if they were allowed to run straight into flower.

Sweet peas should be kept fastened to their supports. Remove all spent blooms at once_before thev have time to form seed. At the first sign of mildew, sprav the plants with lime sulphur or sulphide of potassium. The spray spoils existing blooms, but it' done early, will save the plants.