IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 December 1933, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

WORK TO BE DONE THE VEGETABLE PLOTS The rain which fell on Sunday last and again a few days later, freshened u garden plots ami lawns. A gene rai tidying up in preparation to the holidays has been done in many gat ’ dens, which look all the better for th extra bit of attention. Continue planting sweet corn in drill and thin out the plants to one foo apart. Thesp are often used for growiti; round marrows and pumpkins for slid ter. Spray any signs of rust with lime am . sulphur, tomato wilt and mildew witl 5 bordeaux powder, aphis, red spider am green fly witli black leaf 40, two tea spoonfuls a. gallon. The following may bo set now —Pea 1 and beans, broccoli, carrots, parsnips radish, beet, turnip, parsley, lettuce cucumber and marrows. Plenty of water will be required as th young seeds germinate, otherwise th fertility may be burnt out of the plants Backward crops can be hastened on witl liquid manure, and constant hoeing be tween the rows will keep the soil loose The points of the running shoots o pumpkins, etc., should bo pinched ou to cause laterals to form. Tomatoes must be kept staked or sup ported. Side shoots must be pinchei out and the plants sprayed. It is bes not to apply much water or manuri until the fruit has commenced to set 'Make a. small sowing of sweet corn, v' few seeds is sufficient for the averagt garden. Sow every week or ten days. Preparation should now be made foi the setting of next winter’s crops. Tin ground may bo set with oats for greet manure while the plants are bein': raised. Sow for next winter’s crop borecole or curly greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, red pickling cabbage, savoy, drumhead cabbage, leeks and celery. Deep cultivation by either hoeing or forking between the plants is essential to success at this season of the year. Hoe between the rows and draw the soil up to the. plants. This gives more loose soil for the roots to work in, and also acts as a mulch and a support to the plants. ’MIDST THE FLOWERS Creepers may now be ulanted. Nothing can disguise an old fence or tree stump like a creeper. The following varieties are all hardy and easily grown: —Doliches, asparagus, mandevillca, mina lobata, bignoiiia-, akebia and clematis. Salpiglossis are now ready for planting. They require a warm spot and do well in any soil. The flowers are beautifully veined and marked and the colouring gorgeous. Plant about 18 inches apart. Clear away any plants that have done flowering, fork over the soil, and replant with some autumn flowering plant. Bulbs that did not flower well last year or those that have been in the ground for some years, should now be lifted and cleaned prior to replanting. Most of the bulbs will now be dormant, and 3 tile sooner the lifting is done the better. For planting underneath trees and shrubs on the lawn, petunias are splendid subjects. They soon cover the ground, growing in semi-creeper habit and yielding masses of cup-shaped flowers. A little water now and then is all that is required. Plant twelve inches apart. Rhizomateous irises can be lifted, divided and replanted once they have finished flowering. To prevent rhizome rust treat the ground with fertiliser. If watering is being done, let it be thorough, one good soaking is better than a whole lot of light splashes. After watering loosen the surface of the soil by hoeing or working to prevent undue “evaporation. One good water should last a. week. In many cases plants have to do without any and survive. Bow the following seeds for late autumn flowering:—Phlox, petunia, celosia, cockscomb, marigold, cosmos, portulacca, amarantlnis. Tf you wish to keep your plants flowering, spent and dead blooms must be removed to prevent seed pods forming. Lobelia cardiualis is a plant of recent introduction and one worthy of summer planting. The foliage is a dull red colour growing about 1 foot high and producing spikes of scarlet flowers similar to a delphinium. The foliage dies back in the winter and comes un early spring. Chrysanthemums will need attention to staking, etc. Should apliis appear spray at once. Any good nicotine preparation will be effective. Disbud border carnations. This is necessary, even if the flowers are only giown for cutting. Keep the blooms supported to prevent the stems becoming