THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15930, 29 May 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Roses are general favourites and largely represented in every garden, no matter how "mall. Places can always be found for a few roses. For cut flowers roses are unequalled, not only for their unrivalled beauty, but also for the delightful fragrance of many of the varieties. In our mild climatfl flowers of some kinds may be had almost throughout the year, notably Safratiot, Killamey, Comtessc Fesletics Hamilton, Theresa, General McArthur, Peace, Lamarque, and others, and yield exquisitely-formed buds, which are greatly prized on account of their rich and beautiful shades of colour. The numerous species and varieties of roses may be employed in many ways for the decoration.of the gaiden. The climbing varieties are adapted for training against bare walls and up verandah pillars for arches, and for furnishing the pergola, and also for rambling wild over trees and shrubs and covering walls and banks. There are dwarf sorts that are well suited for borders' along the sides of walks or drives"; others, again, that are admirably, adapted for introducing amongst the hedgerow or for planting here and there amongst the shrubs in the shrubbery. There are-standard roses that are grown upon tall stems. Somoot the climbers may be grown with umbrellashaped heads, the Dorothy Perkins class being specially suited, to this mode of training. There is a section comprising several varieties of what are termed pillar roses. Preparing Beds for Eoses. The ground should previously he trenched and manured. Basic slag should be incorporated with the soil, applying a j liberal surface dressing and lightly, forking it in. Deep cultivation by trenching enables the roots to strike well down, and also provides a uniform state of moisture during dry weather. Hoses succeed best in a rich deep, modetately-stiff. loamy soil with.ii Kaycy subsoil, Good drainage should he provided by the insertion nf field tiles. When roses are in a weak. i sickly condition the fault may be generally | attribut-'d to bad planting and unsuit- • ability of the soil. In light, dry. volcanic j and sandy soils strong turfy loam should j be added when preparing the beds to in- | sure success. Roses are mostly propagated j by budding the different varieties upon \ stocks that are most suitable. In planting j these they should be inserted ,in the' ground sufficiently deep so that the junction, | of the bud with the stock is level with, or i slightly below, the surface of the soil. Early in June is the 1 best time to plant j roses. j Cinerarias for Brilliance. Cinerarias ate useful plants for the production of a brilliant display of bloom during the late spring and early summer months. Select well-hardened-off seedlings ■ and plant now. The soil requires to be well enriched and well worked. Decayed cow manure should be used. In localities' where frosts are heavy protection must be provided. Nemesias and dimorphothecas are exceedingly showy annuals for present planting. The latter are the hardiest and most easy to grow. Plant nemesias in beds,-or in clumps, arranging the seedlings about 6in or Bin apart. Dimorphothecas cover more space and may given about Sinapart. ■" '.;';■ ••"'•'. Pinsies and Violas. Pansies and'vrolas .are general ■ favourites . for early flowers.' Linarias,, stocks, viscariaj,; antirrhinums, * candytufts,'"' wallflowers, '-, gaillardias,' \ sweet williams, also ' sweet' peas, are all suitable for planting' during tjris and the next few weeks., i Plantings Trult Trees., • • In a few ..weeks transplanting operations in this' department will again be 'in full j swing. Many' Varieties of trees are already in a safe Condition for lifting, the only exception, being some varieties of apples and peats, which,, owing to. tho prolonged dry season, have continued to make growth later in the season. A few cold nights, however, will soon check the growth and cause Ibe leaves to fall. Witt intending" planters, in addition to the preparation' of the soil, there are .many requiring attention .before the work of planting car,' be satisfactorily proceeded'with, such.as planning out the orchard, selecting the most suitable positions for the different varieties, marking the places where the trees are' to be planted-f-in fact, every . detail,, that will facilitate the -planting when once tho work is started. If this is done, and the soil well prepared, the work of planting is a very simple matter. Distance Apart' of Trees. c The distance the trees should be planted apart depends in a-great measure upon the varieties 'grown, as well as upon the soil in which they are planted, if in deep alluvial land,. where the growth is quick and luxuriant, or upon land that produces short, sturdy growth. In all cases ample space 'should be allowed for the trees . to fully '■ develop without the risk of their becoming overcrowded. The tendency! hitherto, at least with many planters, has been to plant far too close, with the result that when the trees come into full bearing they need much more feeding\and' cultivation, or they soon depreciate and become unfruitful. When too 'much crowded the wood does rot thoroughly ripen or the buds properly mature. Selecting Varieties. In selecting the varieties choose such as are known to succeed in the soil and locality in which they are to be planted. Growers who arc inexperienced in this matter would do well to seek the advice of j someone having ■ a knowledge of tho different varieties and.their merits, as well as their' adaptability to the' soil.''When trees are well'planted, and reasonable care (and attention given to their cultivation, i theic will.be little or no risk of' failure. It is in most instances necessary to pro- | vide shelter from the prevailing winds, ' 1 but even tl\is can be overdone, as too dense j a shelter, particularly if too near tho trees, I prevents' wood from properly ripening, i particularly such fruits as apples and I pears. Winter Vegetables, In the cultivation of winter vegetables it is most important that the soil be kept frequently stirred and free from weeds between all growing crops. This, of course, is best done when the weather is favourable and the soil reasonably dry. Cultivation at all times greatly assists growth, but is the more necessary during the wet season, when weeds grow so rapidly that small plants become quickly covered' and their growth checked. At the present time weeds are particularly troublesome, due no doubt to the long dry season, the soil hitherto being too dry for tha seeds to germinate. Attend well to thinning out crops as soon as they arc sufficiently advanced. No greater mistake can he made than to allow the plants to be crowded during trie Winter. The Seeds to Sow Now. A sowing can still be made of onions for spring planting, also broad beans. Turnips ana spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce can still be planted; while the more advanced plants should be earthed-up, drawing the soil up to the plants from each side,'so that when com-

pleted a trench or drill is left between the row*.' Kumaras if not already lifted should be at one* taken and stored in a dry place. Pumpkins, pie melons, and vegetable' marrows should be harvested. These, too, should bo removed to a dry place, where there is protection from the frosts. A good plot of ground should be prepared for the planting-out of potato onions. These are best planted during the early part of next month. Many growers, however, defer planting until about the shortest day, though any time during the next month should give satisfactory results. As soon as any ground is cleared of its crops the soil should at once b 3 broken up, and if not required for immediate cropping sow down in oats, so that when again dug it will return humus to the soil.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

J.H., Green Lane: Names arc: No. 1, Aster microphyihis alba ; No, 2, anemone Japouica white; No. 3. Dotubeya Africans.

" Myrtle," Marlon : Some varieties of apricots are much more prolific croppers than others. Newcastle, Tilton, Quillin's Early Peach, and MoorparK are the most regular croppers. In some districts all variety of apiicots are shy; whilst in others tluy bear abundantly. Give your 12-year-old tree another chance. Apply a liberal dressing oi salt on the surface around the tree. It may have the desired effsct.

T.J.1., Tokomaru Bay: There are two classes of spinach, one known as summer, with smooth seeds, the other, winter, has prickly seeds. The summer is grown most extensively, and'to provide a succession should be sown fortnightly or at longer intervals, in deep rich soil in a moist situation. For the winter crop select a warmer and dried position, for which two sowings will be sufficient, the first early in April, and tno second about the middle of May. Sow the seeds in drills about lin deep and 15in apart. To produce good-sized leaves thin the seedlings out to 4in apart as soon as they are large enough. In nicking take off the largest leaves, eepecailly during the winter, the plants continue to develop and provide tregb leaves for successional gatherings.

".Amateur Gardener:" Scion from apple tree is not diseased, but has been pierced by the insect cicada as a repository for its eggs. This insect does considerable injury to the shoots of young fruit trees, the insertions often causing the branches to break off with the wind. Older trees are not much affected, the branches being numerous : those that are attacked are not missed. Localities near the natural bush are most affected. There is no remedy that the writer knows of.

A.F., Saraficld Street : Bones from the kitchen may be utilised for the garden by dissolving them to a fine powder. To decompose bones in small quantities pack layer by layer in a- barrel, covering each layer with some wood ashes. Do not use coal ashes. Keep the whole moist but not wet. In a few months the bones will be reduced to a fine powder, forming bonemeal. The bones may be broken into pieces before beiup; placed in tho barrel. This will hasten the process. Bones in large quantities are dissolved by adding sulphuric acid to them.

" Inquirer :'' Australia and some of the adjacent islands, including Tasmania, New Guinea, Timor, and one of the Moluccas is the native habitat of the eucalyptus family. All but a few of the kinds are found on the continent of Australia. Eucalyptus have been widely distributed throughout the world. They were introduced into Southern. Europe about 1850, and are now extensively planted, so much so as to change the aspect of the landscape, especially around the cuasts of the Mediterranean. It is too cold for them in Northern Europe. .■ " ; K.EPOS. HINTS! TO * GARDENERS. .• Many gardens, need lime occasionally;! for it sweetens the soil and helps to make plant food available. Unexpected results are often obtained from five bushels for a garden 50ft by 100 ft.

Transplant primroses and polyanthus, but not violets. Violets should not bo disturbed at this time except for special reasons. After flowering in spring is the correct time to- move them. : Nitrate of soda is a fertiliser that acts almost immediately, and is used chiefly for foliage plants and where quick- growth is wanted. It : is a fine stimulant for rhubarb, asparagus,' spinach and kale. No fertiliser will at one for carelessness and neglect., . •'• A, compost heap should have-a place in 'every garden, any way. fit is made simply by throwing in a pile all the leaves and garden refuse which conies to hand, wjth the addition of some manure, including that from the poultry yard. It may be turned occasionally, and; when thoroughly decomposed, spread on the garden. -Make good sowings of .hardy annuals f.iid perennials, and see that ..the plants from previous sowings are well thinned out; when crowding occurs the flowers are small, and the plants present a \>oov appearance. Of all tilth annual plants the swest ,ps» is the most popular; for fragran-.e, purity, and grace it may be considered tlw queen. Outdoor Coats. In most of the new outdoor coats—those, used for wear over riding suits and ordinary day dresses— coat.that is almost exactly, and sometimes . is, of masculine cut is the favourite. Tweeds and loosely wove,, worsteds are used to make them. The tailoring is beyond reproach. The cut flares out largely toward the hem So that the coat hangs in heavy godet-like folds about the figure. Masculine revers and sleeves, cither set in or Raglan, are a correct style feature. In the French sport coats there is a new detail. Tins is the illness at the back below the left. The seaming of this is covered by a belt voss the back of the coal. These coats flop between knees and' ankles. The collar is large and loose about the neck; often it is cut with a standing roll. The revers arc made so they will lap over to make a double-breasted'effect that closes i»i to the neck. There is also a godet coat that hangs from the neck. It seems in cut tike a very full circular capo in the body part, and the sleeves arc cither set in or shape down imperceptibly from the body of the coat. These coats button up to the neck and have a hUh sailor collar of fur or plush that 1 s'arts from the side of the neck rather ( Mian the front. They are sometimes dimmed with ruffles abc\e the hem.' White Roll Collars. White lawn collars that roll in charming flowerlike shapes about the neck are one of the pettiest trimming features of the year. They are worn indiscriminately lon silk, wool, or cotton dresses. In the [latter models they arc accompanied by ! matching narrow cuffs that roll back for a couple of inches over the cuff edge of the sleeve. They are cut after the Medici idc'i, hut have =. tenderer to roll back over themselves like an Incrovable collar and i'"e often .-unnorted bv white wires' very fine and pliable, that 'allow them to be twined into any fanciful shape. These foundation wire supports arc not put on the Bide of the collar next to the neck but on the under side. Lawn, organdie! chiffon cloth, chiffon doubled, or wide ace are used for these collars, but the thin, white, transparent law,,. for some reason, seems to be the most effective. ; A dark blue dress had one of these white rolling collars that was verv large and shaped not unlike a sailor collar excepting for this rolled over look. Well starched" it held its shape without the need of the wire supports. It was overbound by a contracting lawn, dark blue in this case, and white lawn cuffs, rolling back over the three-quarter sleeves, wrrc o\erbound in the same manner. The other trimming of this blue serf" dress was a plaid sash, which appeared on the centre front of the belt, passed under the corsage and appeared again at the back, where it was -tied in two fairly long loops.