IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 28 June 1935, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

MIDST THE FLOWERS!

WET WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEGETABLE PLOTS Ah was the case in June of last year, wet weather conditions are being experienced this month. With half the year gone it will bn only a comparatively short time before gardeners will be turning their attention to sprit!*' vegetables and flowers. In tlip meantime plenty of odd jobs can bn found to occupy one’s spare time. Autumn-sown onions need to be kept free of weeds The boo must be used between crops whenever the soil is dry enough. Attend to the earthing-up of cabbages and others of the brassiest, family. Draw the soil up to form si ridge, as this assists to keep the roots drier during winter. Onion, cabbage, cauliflower and sil-\c-r beet plants may be set at once. Cabbstge and cauliflower should be planted in small quantities every three weeks from now on to give succession crops. Now is the time to overhaul your herb bed. Thyme roots may now be divided and planted out. Marjoram and sage aro necessary for every seasoning. An odd plant of each should find its way into every garden. Sow parsley seed thinly in drills; this makes an exceptionally tifie border round the vegetable garden, Jerusalem artichokes should be, dug up and stored. This crop, even though carefully dug, usually leaves a sufficient number of young tubers in tho ground to provide for next season’s crops. This is a good time to give the various tools a thorough overhaul. They should be thoroughly cleaned, sharpened and oiled. Good, clean, sharp tools mean easier and better work. Winter digging is not popular with many gardeners. It is feared that they are inclined to be retrospective at this season, and to leave the digging till the ground is required for sowing or planting. The- necessity for getting all vacant ground dug at the earliest opportunity after the. crops are off is very essential. Trenching is much better done in winter than left till the “turn of the year. ' Any accumulation of garden refuse may conveniently be disposed of. It is surprising how much rubbish may be got rid of in this way. There is 'no particular need about leaving a level surface as thq rougher it is left the more good will be accomplished by the action of tlie weather. Ihe levelling can be done just before the ground is required for sowing or planting. . Shallots are most useful. In their early stages they are a splendid substitute for spring onions. I>ater on, when fully developed, they are of great value for‘pickling o t * all kinds of culinary purposes for which onions are used, lhe old rule for growing shallots was “Plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest.’’ There is still plenty of tune it the bulbs are available. Late-sown vegetables should not bo neglected or the result may he disappointing. , , , . Young lettuce should be planted out in suitable spots. They can he fairly close together to allow for pulling in a young state. Dust with soot if slugs are troublesome. Complete the thinning of winter spinach and turnips-. ■ . No matter now deep or how shallow you are trenching, always break up the bottom of the trench or furrow With a garden fork. The . same applies when lig'dng for trees or shrubs. Ground for early planting of peas and potatoes’ should he prepared as soon as * Have von arranged a definite place for your seed beds, or are they going to straggle in small. hits here and there over tho entire vegetable ground So many people make little seeds beds just where there happens to be room for nothing else in particular. Cramped m the angles of walls or fences or hedges, or poked, up close to fruit bushes or m Hie seeds start life handicapped. The seedlings that come up m these unfortunate circumstances are quickly attacked by . pests or disease. Mark‘out a definite area, m a sunny spot, where there is plenty o.t room tor all the seeds you intend to sow lot transplanting. The objection o tern raised against that scheme by those who have been in the habit of sowing pinches of seed just where there chances to be a square foot of sod or unoccupied ground, is that a large seed bed wastes space later on. What is to he done with it when the seedlings have all been planted? they want to know. What is wrong with making up the narrow bed there when the patch is finished with as a seed bed? You can be quite certain that the seed bed space will not be wanted after it has done its original job.

Choose a fine day for rose planting and regulate the planting according to instructions. . Bulbs are showing up, and the weeds are also in evidence. A good plan where the bulbs are planted in beds and in rows is to. turn over the top two ov three inches by digging with the garden fork. This buries the weeds and freshens up the surface. Seedlings and small plants that are in beds must he carefully tended and watched. Growth is slow, and a few slugs will soon play havoc with the plants. , Early-flowering sweet peas must 'be kept to the supports. . Lavender, as old-fashioned as it popular, is easily propagated by cuttings. During the winter is the best, time to do this. Pull off medium-sized branches with a “heel” attached. 1 hint, them firmly in a well-drained position, in full sun if possible. The pieces used should be about three or four inches long. , , .. During bad weather, when outside work is at a standstill, is a good oppoitunity for making cuttings ol many deciduous and evergreen shrubs, the. cuttings can he made, and if stood in boxewith damp moss around the bases, they can he kept until the soil is in condition for planting. .Slugs and snails are very numerous and generally reap a harvest during the wot weather. Only ail enthusiast goes out in the rain to protect his hobby from these pests. Reduce their likelihood of destroying your plant by carefully weeding and clearing away any dead wood or rubbish that they may hide under. Sow the early spring flowering seeds i as follows:—Stock, cineraria, pansy, violas, antirrhinums, carnations, nemosin, poppy, sweet pea, etc. Now that the weather is uncertain do not risk sowing seed in the open hods as too much wet may rot the seeds.

For tree and shrub and hedge plantings carefully spread out the roots, place some earth on them and firmly tread. Next fill in loose soil even with the .surface. Stake those that require support.