IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 24 October 1941, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN

SEASONAL NOTES FOR AMATEURS

BROAD lil \\S AM) m Mill I l»l.l S The depredations of bumble bee on broad bean-, which are uov. hi lull flower in many N.boi. garden . appeal In be parlieiiiai !v severe tin reason I): David Miller, eiilomologi.-t In the t'a wllu on Inst ilule ay Hr I tiluto in tune There are two oi thin- specie | plains, but onlv one of llu-e i .. Hr ; hou r ol bean llmvci Tin e bees j come to the llmvci - aftei nectar but they go the short way about obtaining 'it Instead ol dipping their prohosn< inside thev rnp a small hole in the base of the flower from the mit-idr and thus i coder it infer! He The i r ult is that, when the petals die oft. no bean appears. If gardeners look at the flou» r- of their broad beans thev w ill sc** these small punctures on many too nany of them. What to do about il° Their i nothing verv elTeetive that can be done ' I Some trial- have been made with ; spraying the plants with Black Leaf 40 r. some other mixture hnung a pungent odour which will repel the harmful oumble bees. Unfortunately this also teed- to keep away the honey bees, which are so necessary for fertilisa-. Ivl El' mi HOI (.OI\(. So soon as tho ground s dry enough j | to work the early potatoes should be earrned up. Second early and main crop varieties can still be planted Tho soil between tho rows should be kept i well stirred with the fork or the hoc. , Continue to hoe among all growing : crons; in fact, this should be done as | soon as the seedlings are sufficiently j up to indicate the rows. Thin carrots. | lettuce, turnips and beet as soon as the seedlings can be handled. And after j drawing up the soil on either side of i the r nvs of peas prov ide stakes or some means of support. The dwarf kinds do without stakes, but they are better with them, and the medium and tall kinds must have some support. Twiggy branches are the best, but wire netting can be used. Runner beans can be planted at a foot apart to grow against a fence or in a double row in the open, allowing nine inches between the rows and a foot between the seeds. French and butter beans can also be j sown In rows at three inches apart. ! and if all germinate they can be thinned ; out to six inches to nine inches Plant cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce which have been raised in box'es, and sow parsnips, golden ball turnips, beetroot, carrots, radish, lettuce, parsj Icy, spinach, onions, beans and peas J On’ a special border sow mustard and cress. Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauli- ! flower and celery. Early self-blanch- : ing celery can be planted out. and i trenches prepared and manured for the | ma*n crop. Sow seeds of vegetable I marrows and ridge cucumbers on well- | marured specially-prepared hills. Outdoor tomatoes can be planted now. though we may yet experience another frost similar to those last week which did damage to tender outside plants. THE FLOWER GARDEN Some spring flowers are still good, but as soon as they begin to go off the polyanthus can be lifted, and if it is desirable to keep them for another year they can be divided up and lined out in a cool part of the garden. DafToI dils, hvacinths, and tulips can also be lifted carefully, and at once lined out in a bed of sand or light soil. Plant gladioli, antirrhinums, nemesia. calendulas, and also salvias, zinnias, begonias 'both tuberous and fibrous-rooted), fuchsias, cannas, and heliotrope in sheltered places. Dahlias which have , been propagated under glass should not be planted out for a little while vet. but old plants which were left m the ground over the winter can be lifted. divided up. and replanted. Violets can be lifted and divided up. putting back the young runners from the outside of the old plants. The foliage can be reduced and the plants put in firmly in well-manured ground. Plant out pansies, violas and carnations among the roses, and keep the surface soil stirred with the scuffle hoe. Should green fly appear on the ramblers give a good syringing with soapy water, to which some blackleaf 40 has been added. Hoe shrubbery and herbaceous bor- . ders and keep the rock garden weeded ; and tidy Pollenate polyanthus and | primroses and mark the plants from which seeds are to be saved. Sow hardy annuals of all kinds in groups in the j herbaceous or shrubbery border. Roses are making good, clean growth i in -rate of the uncertain weather, and j some thinning of the buds should be | done if good flowers are desired The first of the chrysanthemums should be potted up into five or six- j inch pots, and those intended for medium-sized useful flowers for decorating should have the tip of the stem pinched to cause branching. Three shoots are taken up. and if these are pinched again this should give from six to nine good flowers on strong stems Perpetual flowering carnations raised from cuttings should also have the tip of the stem pinched out to cause branching. Cuttings of fuchsias can also be put in now. The flower buds can now be allowed to remain on the pelargoniums and u little weak liquid manure once a will help them to develop. Shading will be necessary on tho greenhouse and fernery, and this can be provided by the use of roller blinds or Ine roof glass can be painted with thin paint, and stippled with a halfworn brush.