THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

ORDER IN THE GARDEN.

The holiday season is now near at hand, consequently the garden and grounds should be got into the best possible condition in order to allow the cultivator leisure to enjoy a few weeks' rest during the Christmas season, and to enjoy the result of his past labours. Lawns and other portions of the grounds that are in grass will require to have their surfaces closely mown, and .n the shrubbery where the grass has been allowed to grow long it will be necessary to scythe it. .. All weeds must be eradicated from the walks and drives and. the grass edging neatly trimmed. Several kinds of plants will require attention in the way of staking and tying up to their, supports, notably chrysanthemums, dahlias and gladioli. Roses should have all their spent blooms removed in order to ■ strengthen the plants and to prolong the flowering season and enhance their appearance. Carnations, pinks, and picotees should also be attended to. They are coming into flower and well deserve a little extra care in tying up the blooms to keep them clean and show them off to the best advantage. Thinning out some of the flower buds is also necessary for the production of finer flowers. Stakes for carnations should be light and neat. Varieties that are given to bursting should have collar rings placed around the calyx of the flowers,

THE FLORAL DISPLAY. Gardens are everywhere bedecked with the utmost profusion of blossoms. Japan, ese and several other varieties of irises are conspicuous vnlth their showy, flaglike flowers, the colourings and shades of colour being extremely unique and diverse in their appearance. The Spanish irises have lovely blossoms, and all are much valued for cutting. Pelargoniums and fuchsias are also in their full glory; both are indispensable ornaments of the flower garden. Fuchsias 'are extremely interesting and graceful in their habit 6f ! growth and appearance, and are most floriferous. They may be grown without any special care and attention and adapt themselves to almost any soil or situation. The list of varieties is now most numerous. Some have huge double flowers that are very showy. The new single-flowered hybrid varieties belonging to the single flowered section are exceedingly graceful. Pelargoniums are admired by all, the regal and decorative varieties are extremely showy, and flowering with the greatest profusion, the plants Deing remarkably healthy and vigorous. Zonal pelargoniums, lor, as they are more commonly called, common geraniums, have assumed their old-time floriferous character owing to their more general freedom from the rust fungus that has been so destructive during recent years, and that threatened the cultivation of these best of all bedding plants.

IVY-LEAVED PELARGONIUMS. The varieties belonging to this section deserve special notice, "They are so easily cultivated and produce their many and "richly-coloured blossoms, both double and single-flowered, if. such abundance that they present a mass of bloom. The climbing varieties when grown against the sides of the verandah and over fences and intermixed with the plants in the hedgerows present such a wealth of bloom as to render them most attractive. They are also admirably adapted for covering banks. The dwatf growers are valuable for planting here and there throughout the rock garden, for this purpose the large flowered doubles are the . most admired. These pelargoniums are among the most suitable of plants for window boxes, and also for pot culture. Honeysuckle* are now in perfection. The flowers emit a delicious fragrance that permeates the garden and lends a delightful charm, particularly daring t}io still summer evenings. Rhyncospermum jasminoides ,is another of those climbing plants that are deliciously fragrant, the perfume extending some considerable distance from where the plants are growing. The large-flowered varieties of clematis • are gorgeous in their appearance, especially the beautiful blue shades. The smaller flowered kinds are also showy in their particular character, as they produce such an abundance of flowers.

PBULADELPHUS OR MOCK ORANGES Among flowering .shrubs the varieties of philadelphus are now in full flower and are particularly attractive, every twig and branch being laden with pretty.sweetly scented blossoms. The climbing" variety P. grandiflora, is most useful for planting in the shrubbery to ramble over some of the trees and bushes. These, like may other desirable flowering shrubs, are somehow much neglected in being planted. Hydrangeas are rapidly coming into flower and will soon be a gorgeous mass of colour. These plants will adapt themselves to almost any soil or situation. They succeed in the open and equally well beneath the shade of trees, and planted in damp situations, and are the best of all plants for planting and flowering in tubs. When in pots or tubs they require abundance of water, and to be well fertilised. Climbing roses belonging to the wichuriana and rambler section are now a mass of blossom. These roses are especially useful and attractive planted in mixed hedges.

PLANTING OPERATIONS. ' Attend to the planting of dahlias and other seasonable subjects as enumerated in last week's notes. Carpet bedding and other colour schemes: The plants for these should be bedded out at once. For this purpose alternantheras, Iresines, fibrous or bedding begonias are employed tastefully arranged to produce the best results.

HORTICULTURAL SHOW. A flower show has been arranged for and piovides an interesting and attractive display in connection with the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show, now being held at the Epsom show ground. Roses, carnations, pansies, are among the leading features of this exhibition, together with a large variety of other cut flowers, notably gladioli, stocks, gerberas, and others too numerous to mention, and affords a rare opportunity for taking names of carnations and coinparing notes for next year's planting.

THE ORCHARD.

INSECT PESTS.

Tiio time has again arrived when the work of the orchard will chiefly consist of fighting the various insects and diseases that attack the trees in various forms. Almost every variety of fruit trees is subject to the attack of some pests, so that every possible means should be taken to protect the fruit and foliage from being injured or destroyed by these destructive enemks. Pests such as codlin moth, leech, beetles, black aphis, woolly aphis, mussel and ether scales, as well as fungoid diseases are all injurious to other fruits or foliage unless kept in check by thorough and systematical spraying. Some pests, it is true, can be more effectively dealt with during winter and early spring, while the trees are dormant and the materials nan be applied at greater strength without risk of injuring the buds, especially some varieties of scale, and the various forms of fungoid diseases. Up to recent years the codlin moth, leech and other insects were the most destructive pests the fruit grower had to contend with. Now, however, much greater losses results from both stone and pip fruits being attacked by destructive fungoid diseases, such as ripe rot, black spot, bitter rot, and other insidious fungoid. Some of these are so deceptive in their actions, that even after the fruit is

: i i j matured it is often difficult for the T «x- *£ "J. perienced grower to notice any 'I " i until the fruit has been cut or brokea " '• open. Leaf and fruit eating insects 'V far less terror for the commercial orcjj, * - : ardist as by regular and sysf«m;4i a i'M/4 spraying his trees and fruit can. be ktftfc . ' practically immune from these pests. - fvf "• * a in very many instances the '* growers that makes little or no attempt Iff to control these pests, with the results ' W\*i that not only is most of the fruit ren' « ' ; | dered unfit for use, but the trees ar«; often so checked in growth that their « cropping capabilities are impaired. Most; / ' »> of the fruit and leaf eating insects can be' • > $ kept under control by spraying the trees every few weeks with the arsenate of ]«*} ;'•£& solution. This not only applies to trees that are carrying crops of fruit, but even.' young trees that are subject to attacks ;t I of leech or other leaf eating pes« cam ■> '■ be kept comparatively clean by judicial • spraying. ...

WOOLLY APHIS. ,3: The woolly aphis or what is more often * called American blight is more difficult ta deal with. Spraying no doubt assists ' ; in some measure to keep it in ch*ck • ' though the insect is so well protected by its woolly covering that it takes greater force than is usually applied in spraying to penetrate and destroy the?.* •['/■ i.ifects. As stated in previous notes the !v :' nHhod of cultivation has much to dc with the attack of tt esc pests. Ti«\\j .*% that make a lot of weak, sappy, unripewsd 'l' ] ivooa and if at ail subject to" aphs nr« the first branches to be attacked, whil» " the well ripened wood will be comparatively free. This '<• where the advantages of summer pruning is seen, as a/1 such weak, inside growth would be removed, allowing freer access of sun and * air, so that the wood can more thoroughly ripen. As soon as the insect makes its® appearance the affecte3 parts should bo painted over with methylated spirits, kero- ; sene emulsion, red oil, or black leaf emulsion. This should be applied with a fairly stiff brush so that everv insect is A affected by the material used. '

CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL. In addition to spraying, thorough Cultivation of the sojl is important. Dry weather appears to have already set in, and as mulching the trees is in many instances impracticable, the next best thine is to keep a nice loose surface. Trees especially that have not been long planted should have every attention in this respect. AJter the heavy winter rains the soil naturally become beaten he surface becoming caked, and unless broken up cracks open as soon as dry weather eet« in.

THINNING iOTJT. At this time too, some attention i-£buld be given to the thinning out of crops. : t Almost every season there are certain \ varieties of trees that set more fruit than '0 the trees should be allowed to carry, sv'; Thinning in such cases is really economy >: for when overburdened, they not only pro. duce fruit of inferior quality, but the ener-, -igies of' the tree are so overtaxed anJ : the growth so checked that little or 110 fruiting material is provided for the • following sermon's crop. Inferior fruit in any case, is no longer in demand, so / that whether grown for market purposes -*r r . or for home consumption the aim of the growers should be to produce only the { vi* j best, and this is best attained by thinning -p out instead of overburdening the ir«j #4. with fruit. In private gardens especially., .. : j the aim of the grower should be to obtain 2'p: the finest and best flavoured fruit, .so ;«***' that the spirit of moderation should • always be allowed to predominate in . ■ arriving at a decision as to the quantity .-A of fruit the trees should be allowed to \,-V carry.- In this the condition of the trees } and their capabilities must be considered. Healthy vigorous growing trees can naturally carry t and mature more fruit without their energies being overtaxed /.!^- than specimens that have been more or -isv/r. less exhausted 'by previous cropping. , In : every case, however, the trees should be CX.given the benefit of any doubtc. A

THE GREENHOUSE.

From this time onward watering is on# W-h of the most important operations in ; in- yas". door plant culture. In weather such as we are now having, the soil in the" pots ' » ' dries up so • quickly especially tif: at all exposed to the action of the air, as to necessitate watering once or twice each day. In this, however, some judgment must, be exorcised, as plants vary much .<• in their requirements, according to variety *Jand conditions in which they are grown, that no hard and fast rule can be laid V-;. down. In such weather a nice genial shade should be maintained during th«;|||§ day while free ventilation must be given.J;-:. It is at this time that plants grow rapidly .j and quickly suffer if allowed to become so dry as to caua\ ihe wilting of the foliage, "jpT besides being more liable to fall a prey to insects and diseases. The safest plan during the summer months is to coyer the benches with some suitable material that will assist to retain the moisture. In any case a genial moist temperature |||i should be maintained by fccc£%ionallv sprinkling the plants and damping the floor of the house. The repotting of all growing plants must have attention. ■ -■ This should be done as soon as The pot v, becomes well furnished with roots, but • in most instances the shift should only be made from one size pots to the next, and so on until the plants attain the size '$k required.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. g '■ "Riverview." Katikati.—Specimen,. with 'ua fruit attached, is one of the species of Fragaria., or strawberry. The fraits are <- .jifijjj very handsome and non-poisonous. . ' They -j, : are, however, unpalatable. This plant » of trailing habit, and, when kept in control, .sy. is very pretty in the rockery when covered gs* with the bright red fruits. -.i$J " Waotufl." —Cabbage leaves to -A;, hand. They ar? badly attacked with a . species of fungus. Remedial measures at \\* this staire of their growth are useless to > stay the disease: besides, fungicides would be dangerous. Pull up and do away with all that are badly diseased and those that are only partially affected. Pull on the -yy-; outer leaves until you come to those that are sound. 'J " Nectar," Cambridge.—Nectarine being . 1 ' hard, shrivelled, and malformed denotes the attack of some species ot fungus, for which there is no remedy in its present state. rjui any such fruits off and burn them, lhe usual spraying with Bordeaux nurture or j lime sulphur in the autumn and again with « Bordeaux when the flower hods are showing in the spring should act as a. preventative, ••:. and also control leaf curl. ,f #i P. 8., Epsom.--Specimens to name are; ;«v' No. 1. Rhyncospermum jasminoides. a dalJci- ■»*: ously sweet-scented climber that may., D ? grown almost in bush form; an excellent rockery plant. No. '2. Rondeletia specioeft. f-; also a Rood rock pls.nt. No. 3. A t species o.i cotyledon. No. ,4. Echeveria. metauca. 5. Abutilon vexillarium r*o- «>• • ■ Fuchsia procumbent syn Kirkn. «<>.'• ?■- Melianthus major. No. .8. Philadelphia ,-vm gerbo d.'or. No. 9. Euphorbia spiendenfl. 1.i.T.. Devonport.—Artemisia abrotonum i* the name of the' old-fashioned plant commonly called southernwood and old man, so common in all British garden* and so ■< sweetly scented. This plant, is esteemed tor r-f old associations' sake, and is easily, propagated from cuttings. The other specimen .is .•% peppermint (Mentha piperita), and ~ quite ; different from the ordinary common green . or spearmint that is so much in ,^ <ine ' -.i for flavouring and for mint sauces. renny- - royal is known under the name of Mentn* pulegiuro. •';* "Enquirer." —Specimen, with "V*"' flower attached, is Verbascum thapsus, one of the species erf mullein, .known ijj Briwii under several popular names, includelßS 4 Aaron's Rod. Adam's Flannel. Jacob 3 stao. : Cow's SuHQ-wort, Torches, etc. This .V'? n has become naturalised in several lociJiiieti. , but is not aggressive. It was common on the northern slopes of Mount Eden' some' > years ago. It is most distinct and exceedingly pretty, with its tali, stout stems mm. ;•££ yellow blossoms. The leaves are alternate. « A native of Europe (Britain). . " Anxious to Know," .--The dajh* derives its name from Dr. Dahl, a Swedishbotanist, and was first introduced into WW: ; r . land from Spain in 1789. This first and i,}: another importation were lost to cultivation. . v«i A third stock was afterwards brought lrom France. The original etiecies are natives « '.;Lg Mexico. Nearly all the varieties of - th« common garden dahlia have originated «w» Dahlias cccinea, mercki and variabilis. cactus dahlia, now so generally grown, ::/£■&s their origin to Dahlia juarciiu a r ionn u»» originated under cultivation, in Mexico *J» is still a pretty flower. - yitjja. -