THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15700, 29 August 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

The most important work at the present time is the digging over of different liedls and borders ami general spring cleaning of the garden. The ground wlieio practicable should bo deeply (nig, as it is sadly in need of a good turning over. Where the plants arc close together it is impossible to do this without disturbing the loots too much. The operator must he guided by circumstances, and work the .soil accordingly. The surface should b« left rifi gh at first, exposing it. to t.he ameliorating influence of tlie atmosphere.

Treatment of Still Soils. Frequent rains during the winter Jiove rendered ttiff clayey soils sodden and sour; considerable time will elapse K'foro these tan be again brought into good working order This can only be affbeted by proper treatment at, this season. As advised, Iho surface when digging must he- leit rough, to sweeten preparatory to b-eaking the lumps, and raking or Sightly forking it over to produce a neat- finish in readiness for sowing seeds or bedding out plants-

Treading Upon Damn Soil. On no account tread upon the newlydug soil before it has had a few days to dry. No matter how urgent ib« need may 'he to have this or that •noft-ion sown or planted, it is much more important for tho sake of the land to leave the vacancies unfilled tor a few days at least end the surface rough and uneven. hen sufficient time has elapsed for tho soil to dry and conditions are favourable.- the whole should bo gone over and the rough lumps broken; this is best done by a light forking to bring them to t/io surface. Light norous volcanic and cthi&r naturally friablo soils are much more easily treated.

Chrysanthemums. Tho old stools that were tajken up and placed in frames or iti beds ..should have made sufficient growth to provide pool cuttings. Theso should be tai.cn off and inserted in a cool frame to stt-Jke, in order to haVb good sturdy young plants for ] lanting out early in October. Suckers taken off with roots attarhrif are, equally suitable; they require to be .grown under natural conditions and not fprced, < tlicrwlso they grow too quickly and become too tall.

Planting Operations. Tho planting of trees, shrubs, roses, and other permanent subjects should be hastened 011 and completed by the end of the present month; hardy annuals and biennials, according to requirements, reserving the more lender varieties, until the proper tini". There is a season for everything, and to keep the garden fully stocked with a continuous succession of bloom and foliage discretion is select those kinds that are suitable for tho purpose, and rot plant indiscriminate! v.

Varieties lor Present Pianthg. Tho following are all suitable Pansies and violas, antirrhinums or snapdragons, stocks, all varieties, cinerarias, remesias, dimorphothecas, sweet scabious, candytufts, cornflowers, calliopsis or coreopsis, linarias, poppies, campanulas or Canterbury bells, gaillardias, Sweet Williams, mimulas, or monkey flower?, larkspurs, and a few others.

Snapdragons Popular. Antirrhinums or snapdragons have como greatly into favour 011 account of tho lovely colours that have been recently producc-d, quite different to tJio oldfashioned shades that were dull and ineffective. Now there aw glorious pinks, lovely old golds, afid various other shade?, including pure whites, that make tho oldfashioned flowers most attractive. They are of different heights, tall-growing sorts, intermediate, dwart, and Tom Thumb varieties, tho latter are very dwarf, compact, and most lloriferous, and specially adapted for bedding. Antirrhinums are excellent rockery and wall plants Stocks.

Stocks are special favourites with everyone ; there are quite a numbor of varieties under the different sections or headings. The dwarf ten weeks' stocks are most generally grown, The Beauty of Nice, or Beauty stocks, as they are generally called, arc great favourites. The large-'flo'.vered, tail-branching ten week stocks, intermediate or East Lothian, winter or Brampton stocks, are all indispensable they are very hardy, and succeed fairly strong soils.'

Flanting Nemesias. Nemesias and dimorphothecas are valuable additions to early flowering annuals; they are of comparatively recent introduction. The former, although not quite ys hardy as exported, the occasional frosts experienced this winter and so much moisture have affected those that were planted early, those that are planted now will give tho best results. Dimorphothecas are much more hardy and have Buffered no ill effects from the wintei weather. They are exceedingly showy, producing an abundance of brilliant yellow and various other shades of colour.

Sciibiosa (sweet scabious): The large size of the flowers and lovely shades of volours have brought this hitherto ordinary species into prominence. The improved varieties are of bushy, dwarf, compact habit, very floriferous, producing popular shados of mauve, rich reds, crimsons. while, rose, and other colours. Scabious are very hardy, immune from slugs, and come in early and last throughout tbo year.

Sweet Pea Culture. Sweet peas require special attention at this season to preserve them lrom slugs, which are most destructive. On this account, many growers prefer to raise their plants inside and transplant them into p-.is or boxes before planting them into their places in 'the open ground when the weather becomes drier in the spring «uul they can better protect them from slugs. Autunm-sowu sweet peas in the open (ground have not dene as well as usual, the weather having been too wet and cold. Intense cultivation a:id inter-breeding has. liko so manv other subjects, affected the constitution of the sweet peas, and various bacterial diseases are reported, notably a, disease called streak tb.it turns the stems and foliage yellow.

Rose Hedges. Rose hedges are most attractive and suitable for planting to divide the two garden from the other portions. For this purpose China roses are specially adapted, the old monthly rose. Laurette Messiny, Madamo Eugene Kesal, and other Chinas; also the nigosa varieties, Grass iiu Toplitz, several of tho single and semi-double-Uowered varieties.

KITCHEN GARDEN.

Benefit ol Raised Beds,

During the nejt- few months this department will need almost constant attention, what with sowing, thinning out crops, keeping clown weeds', and protecting the crops from the ravages of slugs, birds, and other pests, the operator will

bo fully employed. At no season of the I year are slugs so numerous or so difficult to destroy, as lime or other -preventive measures applied are so soon rendered useless by the frequent showers. Birds, | too, ]lliiy havoc, with seeds just coming through "the grouud, while peas are attacked in the green stage. To protect seeds from the small birds, no remedy is bethr than stretching a few strands of black cotton along the rows, fastened to sticks about four r.: live inches from, the ground. This v,!l protect almost any seeds from the 'a'tacks of small birds. To assist in protecting the young crop from the ground should be kept free fr< m weeds and frequently stirred. For all eailv crops there is no ques'.ion that crops succeed better when sown on raised beds, as it prevents excess of moistip oif the soil is kept worked, while it allows the air to penetrate and add warmth to the soil and assist root action. No opportunity should be lost in sowing crops for sin crs.-ion; also transplant a few rows of autumn-sown onions for early US'',

THE ORCHARD

Sowing Tomato Seed

The present is a suitable time to sow tomatoes fur tho general crop. Where there is not the convenience of a green - .bouse, a good plan is to wcuit a. few barrowloads of good fermenting manure, in which a temporary frame or larg? box can be plunged. In this place the boxes or pans in which the seeds arc sown, and cover with glass, or a covering made of calico will suffice. As soon as the plants appear above ground, gradually admit air to proven •, them from becoming drawn. The same means ran be used for raising cucumbers and vegetable marrows. With these, however, it is better to sow in pots, placing threo or four seeds in each. By this means the plants can be turned out with the roots intact, and will receive little f>r no check when planted out permanently.

Grafting Fruit Trees. A few weeks ago, in notes on pruning fruit trees, growers were advised to secure ail s.'ions required for grafting purposes while the trees were in a dormant condition. If this has been done, grafting may now ho proceeded with on somo of the most advanced stocks. The time of grafting, however, must be regulated to some extent by the size of the stock and the method of working adopted. ]f the stork and scion are any way nearly of a uniform size such varieties as peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, in fact, nearly all stono fruits, can be at once worked. The best and simplest method ot working all smaller stocks or branches when they are anything like corresponding in- si?e is what is termed whip or tonguegrafting.

The Tonguo Graft. This is done by making a Binooth upward cut- in the stock aboutl-Jin long and a corresponding cut in the scion. A slit is then made near the top of the stock, and a similar one in the scion, so that when inserted downward in the stock a tongue, is formed and assists to hold the scion linnlv in posit'o#. In working large stocks, however, rind grafting is the simplest and best method to adopt, particularly fur tin? amateur. Bind grafting can only be done when the tn-es are well advanced and when the bark can be raised freely from the wood. Grafting is a very rimple operation, and success depends more upon tin condition of the scion and stock than upon the skill of the operator.

Rind Grafting. In rind grafting a smooth upward cut is made in the scion, similar to that made in whip grafting, but without the tongue. A slit is tVn made in the bark at the top of the stock, and the bark raised on one side only, and the gnilt inserted. The most important, thing in •grafting is to rut the scion and stock so that the bark of each fit 1 ! closely together, and a quick union results. Another important thing is to tie firmly anil cover the wound with grafting-wax, prepared clay, or other mateiial that will excludo the air and moisture until the union is complete.

GARDEN HINTS. I Manures in the Garden. No gardener can oxpect to grow gord vegetables without, using fertilisers. Garden fertilisers can be bought already mixed in snmll bags, and is generally useful for sowi ig with all crops, but it is advisable to have in hand such manures as basic slag, sulphate of potash, and sulphate of ammonia. The first contains phosphoric acid and lime, the second supplies potash, the third nitrogen. Besides the manures mentioned which may be usually obtained in largo or small quantities through seedsmen or grocers, it is well to liaro lime, sulphur, and sulphate of iron. Basic slag assists the development ol: peas, beAns, and all legumes. Sulphate of potash improves the size and quantities of fruit, potatoes, and most vegetables. Sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda benefits wood growth, leaf growth foliage generally, and is of great assistance m the raising of crisp lettuce, tender cabbages, etc.

F.ox Begonias. Hex Begonias prefer n shady spot, and dislike draughts and hot winds. They can with advantage bo grown amongst, ferns. Old leaves of this variety pegged down in sand will scon produce an abundance of young plants from the stems. A further supply can be bad if the main ribs are cut through with a knife.

Chrysanthemum Culture. Chrysanthemums want weak liquid manure, or a mulch, and plenty of water. Tn growing "monstrous" flowers, pinch out all latent shoot , and when the Howcr heads begin to show pick off all but one flower bud upon each shoot. Watch carefully for caterpillars and grubs. The bushy varieties should have three light sticks placed around them, and a string should Le passed from one stake to the other under the stems to keep them off tho ground when loaded with bloom.

Sand in Gardening. Clean sand is of very great value in the garden and conservatory. It is used to mix with loam to make a light potting soil to put around bulbs when planting iu heavy ground, and to strike cuttings in. We dibble into sand shoots of colons, crotons, lobelias, hydrangeas, roses, fihrubs, carnations, ericas and many other things, and in a lev days roots are produced, the contributing elements beint; beat, and water. The same sand can be used indefinitely if occasionally soaked with boiling water when void of cuttings.

Seeds artd Soil. Tho great seed-growing season being at hand, a !«w remarks may bo given on sowing seeds. Careful attention to tmall natters is verv impottaut. Perhaps the condition of the t>oil is most important of all. The snrf. ee that is to reccive the sirds shoul 1 bo hroktn down to a very line tilth; the finer the better. Should tho .soil be inclined to be hard, put it through a t-icvu to prepare u. good seedbed. It is not of;i'ii this is necessary, but the soil for covering the seeds should !>?• prepare 1 and brought to a condition in which it will not form a crust or "cake," and then crack, but remain line and | friable. Heavy loam and i layey soil will form quite a hard crust; so hard that the liny plants cannot lift their heads through it, and consequently perish. Another advantage from having a quantity of prepared soil for covering the seeds is that thev can lr sown at any time, oven if the'ground is wet and too sticky to rake. Tli" seeds .H'e sown, then lightly covered with the pre we i soil, and the work is : done. Anv light, triable material can be i used; old potting f>oil, leaf mould, rotted j turf, peaty lyam, ashes from a smother- j fire —<iuv of these, put through a quarter- | inch sieve tnd thoroughly mixed, will make ,an excellent compost for covering the seeds. | " Kei>os. i