THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

The splendid rainfall and -welcome change in the weather has well soaked the surface soil, cooled the atmosphere, and produced a magical effect upon plant life generally, by washing the dust off the foliage and giving the plants a fresh start just at the time they most need, it, besides having a beneficial effect in destroying innumerable aphides, • caterpillars, and other noxious insects, as well as doing away with the necessity for artificial waterings for a short time at least. Dahlias and chrysanthemums are most benefited by a good drenching with rain _water, especially after so long a period of drought. For no matter how regularly and. well artificial waterings may be applied they are but a poor substitute for the natural supply. After so many weeks of enforced rest from sowing or planting anything but bulbs, and little to do beyond ; ; keeping the beds and borders and other" portions of the garden free from weeds and the surface soil regularly stirred,' and the picking off spent blossoms ~and regulating the growth of the plants, staking, tying up, mulching, and other routine work, including the clearing away of annuals that have completed their flowering, and the digging and manuring of any unoccupied places to sweeten and be ready for refilling. The. Sowng of Annuals. : The season has again arrived for the sowing of the different varieties of hardy annuals for winter flowering. The soil is in the best possible condition for the purpose, being friable and mellow. Virginian ' stocks, candytufts, acrocliniums, rhodanthe, linarias, mignonette, wallflowers, sweet scabions, nemophilas, calendulas, linarias, collinsea, lupinus, sUene, saponarias, etc., are all suitable subjects for sowing in the , • beds and borders. The ■ soil being moist and warm the seeds will germinate quickly, and the seedlings will have ample time to make growth and establish for winter flowering. The sowing. of sweet peas should also be proceeded with. As previously advised, the soil for sweet peas should be specially prepared. When grown for more than two years in the same place the old soil should be taken out and replaced with fresh earth. In.' many gardens the parasite " Orbbanche " is most troublesome; it invariably locates amongst the sweet peas, attaching itself to the root stem, and in time strangling the plant. Seeds sown early in the autumn escape slugs, which do not make their appearance until later. Birds, however, must be guarded against •by covering with wire netting or stretching a double line of black cotton over the rows. A good old remedy to protect seeds against small birds is to coat! them with red lead.

Planting Bulbs. Recent rains have started daffodils and other bulbs that have been dormant into fresh growth. Nerines are flowering profusely ; also Brunsvigeas and Amaryllis belladonna (the belladonna lily). Sternbergias are also in flower, notably the variety lutea, or yellow autumn crocus, as it is commonly called. Another batch of hardy spring-flowering bulbs may be planted whilst the soil is warm and moist, notably the different varieties of daffodils, anemones, ranunculas, Spanish iris, ixias, freesias, tulips, sparaxis, scillas, and others. Vallota purpurea (the Scarborough, lily) is now in full bloom and most conspicuous with its handsome red-dish-scarlet blossoms. It should be grown in clumps to be most effective. Vigorous Growth of Dahlias. ,;_ Favoured 'by recent rains and longer and dewy nights dahlias have assumed a much more vigorous appearance, tho plants being in active growth. Thin out some of the superfluous shoots, also some of the flower buds, and keep the plants tied up to their stakes. When properly grown each plant should have three stakes; by this means the branches may be properly tied out and arranged, whereas when only one stake is attached they have to be drawn in too closely. Dahlias will be about at their best during the coming week. Later the writer will enumerate a list of the best varieties in each section for a choice collection. Other Flowers. The early flowering varieties of Aster dumosus, or Michaelmas daisies, are exceedingly showy, and most useful for cutting. Heleniums are also in bloom, the variety "Riverton Gem" being most attractive, with bronze, crimson, and old gold coloured flowers. The various beds and borders require a thorough overhaul. Herbaceous plants and some of the ornamental grasses that have done flowering should have the old flower stalks cut off. Several varieties of annuals that are past require to be cleared away and their places refilled 'by sowing seeds of the hardy sorts recommended above or by planting bulbs. Verbenas should be cut back, also petunias. Zonal and other pelargoniums should also be cut back Violets have suffered considerably during previous dry weather. In many instances the foliage has become infested with red spider. When in this condition cut the leaves off and burn them, and spray the plants with McDougalTs insecticide or ; Gishurts s compound.

KITCHEN GARDEN. The splendid rain that fell during the early part of the week has had a most refreshing effect, upon everv part of thegarden. Unfortunately the'rain came too late to save late sown and planted crops that were badly attacked with fly, such as turnip, cabbage, and cauliflower. The stronger plants of the. latter, however, are . already pushing into fresh growth' and will soon be able to resist their attacks. The soil, if treated as directed,

and exposed to toe action of 'the sun and air, will now bo in the best, possible condition for sowing and planting. Vegetables/of almost every description are unusually scarce and of poor quality, nor is the roots crops, that have been grown through the dry . weather, likely to improve. Carrots, parsnips, turnips, and other crops of like nature, partially mature during the dry weather, and after the first heavy rainfall make a secondary root action, which rendered them hard and unfit for table. After a prolong drought there is always a tendency to. run to seed instead of maturing. Planting and Sowing. For this reason planting and sowing of all varieties suitable for autumn and winter use should be at once taken in hand. The planting of cabbage and cauliflower, if plants are procurable that are reasonably free from fly, should be done. Turnips being essentially a winter and sprint; vegetable, and are always at their best at this season, sowings should be made at intervals to keep up the supply; also carrots, spinach, leeks, and lettuce should be sown. In carrots the intermediate and shorthorn is the best for autumn sowing, as they ,come into use much earlier than the long varieties ; in sowing be careful not to cover the seeds too deep. Tomatoes. Tomatoes will still require frequent trimming, removing all lateral growth so that the fruit can be exposed to the sun as much as possible. Caterpillars are unusually plentiful, and soon play havoc with the fruit if left unmolested. Hand-picking is the only safe method of protecting the fruit at this stage of their growth, as spraying with any of the insecticides strong enough to destroy this pest is unsafe when the fruit is Tapidly ripening. Celery that 19 now sufficiently advanced should be earthed up; any of the ground not required for immediate planting should Le roughly dug over and sown in oats. This not only prevents the ground .becoming overgrown with noxious weeds, but prevents the soil from becoming hard and caked by heavy rains. While if the crop is not required fpr use, dig it back into the soil, and humus, which is so essential for healthy plant growth, is returned to the soil.

THE GBEENHOUSE. Although this department is still bright and well furnished with ferns and foliage plants, which are still growing vigorously, the fine display 'of flowering plants that have greatly assisted to keep up the display are rapidly on the wane. Probably no flowering plants are more extensively grown or more highly appre dated for greenhouse decoration than the tuberous ' begonias' and gloxinias ; their flo:iferons character, under seasonable cul "ivation, provides a display of flowers scarcely obtainable by any other plant. decay of such free flowering plants na: jrally causes a blank not easily filled. To keep up a display of bloom during thi autumn and winter every available flo ering plant should be brought into use Primulas, cyclamen, pelargoniums, fuchsias, bouvardias, shrubby begonias, and other hardy flowering varieties shoild be pushed on to assist in keeping up a display. Bulbous and tuberous plants showing signs of decay must be sparingly watered until the tops fall naturally from the tubeTS. Free-growing plants still require careful attention in watering, especially those having the pot« well furnished with roots- In potting, always provide for free drainage. Newlypotted plants require careful watering | until the plants become established. ; Kepos.