THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18629, 9 February 1924, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

SUMMER FLOWERS. \ THE CHARM OF LILIES. Lilies are among the most popular and ornamental of bulbous plants. . Their stately habit, and variously coloured flowers render them indispensable for the embellishment of the garden and grounds. Some of Che kinds are delightfully fragrant: - Nearly all of the species and their varieties grow and, thrive well in our climate; some succeed much better than others. Liliums should be planted in positions that are partially shaded from the direct, rays of ..the sun and sheltered from strong winds. They succeed and show to best advantage planted in clumps and interspersed here and there in the mixed border, , arranging the taller growers towards the middle and back of the border. The soil best suited to their requirements is a well-drained sandy loam that retains a uniform moisture. The soil and climate of Cambridge, Waikato, provides ideal conditions for lily culture. The hardier and what are termed the commoner will succeed in almost any garden soil that is not too dry. la planting the bulbs arrange them in clumps or groups allowing sufficient* room for each to develop without crowding, placing the crowns of the bulbs from 4in to 6in beneath the surface, as they derive their sustenance. .mostly from the roots that are produced around the stem, immediately above the scales of the bulbs. Liliuai candidum and some of the other tall growers, show to advantage planted on the edges of the shrubbery, skirting the drive. By planting a selection of the different varieties that come in at various seasons a long succession of bloom may be arranged for.

LILIES FLOWERING SEASON. Some sorts flower during the spring, others in the summer. Candidum and eximeum longiflorum are well-known spring flowerers. Tigrinum and its varieties are now in full bloom, also the different forms of speciosa, erroneously called lancifolium. The beautiful pure white flowers of albiflorum are specially attractive and useful. Auratum, the golden rayed lily of Japan has just completed its season of flowering. This is one of the best lilies in cultivation, the flowers of which are deliciously scented. Lilium elegam and its sub-varieties, flower in mid summer; they, are of dwarf growth and . have their large showy open blooms arranged on the tops of the spikes. Lilies require fairly rich culture and when starting to flower are benefited by a liberal mulch of well rotted manure, placed on the surface around the plants.

OTHER VARIETIES 07 BULBS. Many varieties are fast corning into bloom nofably the old favourite Bolla donna lilies which throwup their flower stalks "Before the leaves make their appearance. The vallota purpurea or Scarborough lily produces showy amaryllis like - orange scarlet blooms. Nerines or Jersey lilies are beginning to throw up their flower spikes, they produce fheir leaves immediately after flower. Zephyanthes canddia bears & profusion of snow white blossoms. Sterbergialatea, the aufumn flowering crocus produces lovely yellow blossoms Brunsvigias are stately autumn flowering bulbs. Several species of crinams are in flower. Hyacinth candicans is just completing its season of flowering. Montbrettias, notably some of the newer kinds, are valuable for rarden decoration and cutting at this season. Lilies and other bulbs now in flower are benefiting by liberal mulchings and waterings. SPRING FLOWERING BULBS. Now is the time to thoroughly dig or trench plots intended for hardy, earlyflowering spring bulbs such as anemones, ranunculi, fresias, etc., to have same ready for planting in the early part of March. The soil being in a very dry state enables running and deep-rooted weeds to be eradicated and the soil to sweeten and to receive a liberal dressing of lime with a little soot added to kill numerous grubs and .other insects. Turning over the ground by forking helps to get rid of the larvae of beetles that do so much damage to roses, fruit trees, etc., during the spring. Trenching to renovate worn-out soils should be proceeded with at the present time. In every garden, both flower and kitchen, there are always portions that have become exhausted and plant sick and that require to be treated. Deep trenching and manuring will invariably bring such soil back to a good state of cultivation, particularly if, after the trenching and manuring, they are sown down in prairie grass, vetches, lupins, and other suitable crops to dig under in early spring to enrich the soil and add humus. For this purpose prairie grass is one of the best, as it grows freely throughout the winter, forming large tufts or plants with free root action, keeps the surface soil from hping battered with heavy rains, and when dug under, lightens and adds humus, of which there is always a deficiency in soils that have been in cultivation , for a long time and kept free from weeds. ROUTINE OPERATIONS. Beyond keeping the various beds and borders and the rock-garden free from weeds and scrupulously tidy ? and attending to the tying-up of dahlias and regelating their growth by thinning out some of the side shoots that crowd the plants and picking off superfluous flower buds, it is. only necessary to attend to chrysanthemums, taking the buds as they appear, pinching out those of the terminals that surround the top bud, and pinching off superfluous side-shoots. Caterpillars are much' in evidence, especially upon dahlias and chrysanthemums, holing into the undeveloped flower-buds and necessitating timely remedies by hand picking or spraying with arsenate of lead. The leaf-roller species are very destructive. They are mostly very tiny, and being encased within the rolled up - leaves are ' difficult to reach with a spray. Hand picking by squeezing the leaf between the finger and thumb is the most effective means of killing them. Many of the annuals are disfigured by caterpillars, notably asters, zinnias and several others, which it will pay to spray to save the . plants and blooms intact. GROWING GOOD FRUIT. NECESSITY FOR SPRAYING. Spraying is still a very necessary operation not only for protecting fruit from the late broods of codlin moth and other fruit-eating pests, but in keeping tree 3 free from leech, beetles and other destructive insects that play such havoc with the foliage if spraying is neglected. Even after the fruit is gathered spraying should be continued as long as these pests are active, especially such varieties as plum, pear, quince, and others subject to the attacks of leech or other destructive insects. To grow fruit successfully is no longer a simple occupation, but is a laborious and costly undertaking, as thff numerous insects and diseases ' that fruit, growers have now to combat before sound Fruit is secured necessitates almost persistent spraying throughout the whole growing season. In addition to this, wiuter and spring dressing is equally essential in trying to destroy fungoid . diseases. ■" \. ■■''■■. J - •'. COMBATING FUNGOID DISEASES. Some fungoids are even more destructive and more difficult to deal with than insectpests, especially the disease usually termed brown or black rot that is so destructive to the fruit of nectarines, peaches, and plums. This season especially, fruit has suffered severely from this disease. ; In many, instance* nearly every fruit has been

attacked. The condition under ; this disease thrives best seems ■ *M define. In seasons when frequent «*> lIP heavy rains have been experienS*,^''M spread of -this disease has been attraKSSrllP to excess of moisture. This season '''fc» £ ever, it can scarcely be ascribed to&£ :: p cause, yet stone fruits have rarefefcSSra more badly affected. Moist, huimdlSf St? ditions, and heavy dews, no ■'." fgi? assists the minute spores to germinate to*-'ft' spread quickly when once they have If* on the fruit, which in a short time j£2p IB trates the skin, and spreads : ftssP|f! through the pulp. . v«y||:;. ! KOHTttTG BROWN EOT. ■- Y fi* -■■■:V£VP3JS«| Every possible effort should be unit fa i" stamp out this disease, thoroughly Bpi»S§fi' ing "with Bordeaux mixture dunrig;«|t 1 autumn, after the fruit is gathered § again thoroughly dressing the trtes £ 1 winter with lime, sulphur, and salt aoUr 'fit tion applied at full winter strength trf'rl then just before the buds bn'st in »|rtto B spraying again with Bordeaux miiiw 1 The caustic soda solution too, is 1 cellent winter dressing. Th 6 spraying M to do any.good require to be thorough]* 1 and persistently applied during the winter Hi as such a destructive disease rwrftJt i drastic treatment. Every affected, frajt If; should be collected and burnt, and gjSjfS \$ the foliage that fails prematurely i be safer collected and placed on .the'•-&■''i>? to destroy any germ that may be lurkfoa m upon them. * '. "^^r'R RED SPIDER PEST. j The red spider is another ■ pest which plays havoc with the fofygttll of various trees and plants, liJorae varie^j ' -M of apples are very subject to iti*Vij*i|S tacks, especially during hot, dry weather, f§ Once the foliage is attacked they soon sil t| sume a sickly brownish colour, which |1 examination with a microscope- will Be found to contain on the under side of the leaf large numbers of these minute insects, which in a short time sapttSepl'l vitality, from the foliage, causing them toll fall prematurely. This insect luxuriates in hot, dry weather, and as it is usualk at its worst just at the time when tha £ trees are in full fruit, solutions at anffi. cient strength to destroy it can scarcely.fcjil applied without injuring the fruit. 1 oughly spraying the trees during autazm/i as well as a winter and spring dmaa* with kerosene emulsion or Red Ofl.wffl?, destroy most of the living insects as well as the eggs. '^h^M SUMMER BUDDING. j The budding -of any trees marked for- § renewal by this means should be ccm* 1 pleted while the stocks are in a workable I condition. Budding to be successful must I be done while the trees are growing §1 8 freely and the bark can be easily lifted | for the insertion of the buds. I GROWING GRAPES. NEED OF MOISTURE. , Y The excessively hot and dry weather, experienced for several weeks past,,#i**p : again proved the necessity of ' having.. a\ plentiful supply of water at hand, so that - j the requirements of the vine borders as -. well as the atmosphere of the house.<£&.> be fully met. In seasons such as iht t present it is no easy matter to keepttSfe' grapes sound until they properly mature m and ripen unless the roots can be kept well supplied with water. This, in fact, is one of the most important matters in ... grape culture, for no matter how j good the borders may be or how carefully '.' the vines may be attended to inside the :'. house, they cannot perfect a full crop o|yfruit without an ample supply of moisto?* at the roots. ''V: ' J AMOUNT OF WATER FOR GRAPES. '. The amount of water required to be : j applied will naturally depend upon the I weather, the condition of the soil and j the season of ripening. Late starter j vines, as a rule, are not sufficiently watered f j at the roots during the dry summer i-i | months; growers in many instances.tnwt| j 1 entirely to the natural rainfall. A dry I j border and a moist atmosphere in the j house are often fertile sources of decay of the fruit, and should be carfully avoided. ||; As frequently stated, the borders should ■ j in no case be allowed to become dryer | this vines to become : checked ■ throogh' .insufficient moisture, and in a well prepared and properly drained border there g will be little danger of its ever becoming! y too wetat any rate during the growing;,• and fruiting season. DRAWBACK OP OVER-CROPPIM/ Very often grape vines are. heavily; laden with fruit, being allowed to cany j full crops with little or no : being given. Over-cropping is .at any time, and with all fruits, a mistake, ta*;i* when vines, which are under artificial treatment, are so cropped they should at least have all the assistance that* ciips||| j given to assist them to develop their j fruit, and judicious feeding in great measure mitigates the evils of over-crop-ping, but does not remove them. The fruits of well-watered and tended vines I are always larger, better coloured, mora < juicy and crisp, and keep much longeron the vines than those that save &§*; scantily supplied with moisture. .: In*, best practice is to keep the borders mew ; j so long as the foliage remains gwec> j Every effort must be made to keep m foliage healthy and clean until natural i decay sets : in, and the foliage falls titn the return of the sap. - 1? - v 0ft Continue to shorten back " sub-iatem ( growths so as to allow of the free circa<: 4 lation of air, but not so as to expeae the -, bunches to the direct rays 'of^the : t«fesi| The bunches,- too, should be occasionally looked over and if any of the too tliickly crowded or*showing any op* of decay they should be relieved ty throwing out. - - ?', ' TO CORRESPONDENTS.

J.P.. Te Kuiti.— of plant that aft**, ♦.lie stems of your red clover is >J*vK#J irifolii. a leafless : twig parasic hero,-■tg' monly called dodder. , The stalks twj»*. sending out a number of thread-like <*JPre'jj& which attach themselves to the suj>?ort»3 plant. This i.-> a pernicious parasitical *•» . - that attacks a. number of Plants. ♦£ £ -'.. ! becoming all too plentiful, and is dime®* w extirpate- ■ .. \Vs*s v"j - " Conifer." Mount Albert.-The P>a*_#£ >rith the round spreading head.. otw«EJ you send a cone of, ;s Prons pn»s. *£ seeds of thin are- edible. .The- «S*SiSSSEwJ is one of Pinus cinancnsis. a °'? o £i»\"-long-leaved variety. Pinus W I W* B . very email cones. The "? ru H ll: V.i?ita» , with seed vessels attached |S v cupressoides. a very. graceful. fffi¥jffi,Jll/', conifer. No. 4is Chllitns <W*< b > v «,fe£» sis Abies nordmanniana. No, % vjwW"|E torulosa. . No. 8. Juniperus &%*£2%X*,-:,-Virginia juniper. No. 0. Tnnjopa» «" -.^ brata. '''feistA.C.. Newmarket.—Name of leaves to- identify m Biyorhyljuni• «**%. turn, from bryo. ito sprout) »?.;Mslpllll leaf). In allusior to tt«& «g£&33M»' ins from the notches of th *i» m «T>«* air or life plant. vown " <?"<&*,"s $»i terestinr curiosity: Leaves that o*°?s a* lay on the soil produce young PW" W ' ■ stated above. - «-«•«« #'"-" ; " Inquirer.'' EPsom,-Aeropyron.r»F^:.;'..■>. the name of the running- rooleo. «««*s£* ..v, that you find sorb a. """""^Xt9l tfc* ■ garden, and so difficult to Aroh» roots . penetrate .uncut the r0 „s*>#:and other plants. It is J^ *°b u £& raiment lawn and pasture »'»? ;:? pest in the garden., ™« on'?.**y„ot»,, it under is to fork it out W "%■. .y.^„' wherever it makes its ; s * ranC Vv (te^» . ■ " Sweet Peas." Mount Edea^^^« is the name of the paras*te twt * { itself on id the roots of PC- nig» th**- - ; sweet peas, and strangles »£g 6 ?Kii;S* to turn yellow and die. The «»»T? »*J M describe is an horticultural 1 onlyi remedy ia * ff\lufc'*!B& the brown l*ofless shoots «»|M| auce at .the .sides of .the P 1 &*£ , destructive in the ;to^hft M^!^l»S^ ; fefe crops, *nd nlao very *«•*- pastures. These are «P* cieß various plants. , tsW«S*l^ i - : T.W.. Carlton Gore EoadHg»HS*spinulousu* ayn. *ta»W£i the dwarf-nrowjag .MS,' duces y:fcn«K.vs;'^«i^^aßsHffi^fi; flowers.. -- It is a. aat.ve <» f Mountains of America. » * . j and utfal rockery *«. S** ■'-•• J V .. ,i" ?Ss?