THE HOME GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Herbaceous calceolarias should be sown at once in seed pans or pots in properly prepared soil. Cover the seeds, which are very fine, with a light dusting of soib place a pane of glass over the seed pan or pot, and shade with a little moss placed on top of the glass. A second sowing of cinerarias should be made also brompton, intermediate, and beauty stocks, Keep a constant watch for caterpillars upon first sowing of cineraria seedlings. Spray with cataklila or other effective insecticide. Recent heavy rains have enabled the planting of perennial gaillardlas, petunias, penstemons, verbenas, and celosias to be made for late flowering. Gaillardias, planted row, flower throughout the winter. Marigolds, both African and French, should have all the spent flowers picked off, also zinnias; this greatly prolongs the flowering.' Stake hollyhocks that are throwing up their flower stems, and spray with a combined mixture of Bordeaux and arsenate of lead to kill caterpillars and fungi. Proceed with the budding of rases. The warmth and moisture in the soil have given the stocks a fresh start, enabling the bark to lift easily. Rudbeckias or golden glows are tall growers that require staking to prevent the flowers breaking down. Michaelmas daisies or perennial asters also require supporting. Some of the earliest are already showing flowers. Bouvardias are not flowering as well as usual. Cutting some of the early flowers off makes them more floriferous. An artificial stimulant in the way of plant food scattered around the plants, and watered in, greatly increases their growth, A light top-dressing of sulphate of ammonia evenly spread over the surface of the lawn, will greatly assist in killing rib grass, and other weeds, and at the same time be a fertiliser for the grass.

POPULAR SUMMER FLOWERS I

PENSTEMONS AND ASTERS. ! j Penstenioiis in hods or groups arc .splen- j did summer flowering plants that rnakfi i a brilliant iitid plo;jsing display 1 hroughout | the summer and autumn. They arc good I dry weather subjects and ut the easiest! cultivation, requiring no special care, j

i Thev take a good deal out of the soil with their fibrous roots and require liberal I manuring with organic or artificial stimu- ! In the improved large flowering j .strains tSie old objectionable magenta shades are almost entirely eliminated. I The cclours include pure white, pink, j rose, crimson and scarlet, with pure white ; and prettily marked throats. Although | perennial in growth they succeed best I planted annually. j VARIED ASTERS. j of all the summer Doweling annuals. I asters arc the most lovely, not only tor ! ffjirden decoration, but are such charming J subjects for cutting. The different types | give endless variety in shape and colours I of the flo\ver>, and are ol various habits j~f growth. Unfortunately, during the j last' few years, the presence, of collar rot j has presented such difficulties that many | planters have given up in despair in their I attempts to grow them successfully, the I wilting and suddenly dying is most dis- | appointing, although in some gardens they j thrive and ilower as of old. Ihe in* gredients nt the soil must account for i success in some places and total failures )in others. Watering the plants with ! ('hesbunt compound and chist ing lime near j the base is claimed to lie a preventative j ~f collar rot and other damping off I organisms. However, every endeavour i should he made to grow these general | favourites successfully, and no pams i spared to discover a remedy for this i disease.

FLO\YHIfIN(< SHKL'BS.

I OLEANDERS AND HEATHS. i i Nonsuits or (Meanders are at present in lull flower and art.' most .showy. 1 hey I flower best in dry hot weather. I hey j are easily grown, being very hardy here. | There are several very ornamental flowering varieties, some with lull double blossoms, others single. In some instances they arc subject, to the attacks of aphis and some species of scales. These may he, controlled bv timely sprayings. Friendly insects and a species of fungus also assist, in keeping the bushes tree of these insects. They have one drawback, the leaves and flowers being of a poisonous nature and are fatal to animals who eat them. ERICAS OR HEATHS. These are an exceedingly useful class ol (lowering shrubs. By a judicious selee tion of varieties flowers of some may be had throughout, the entire year. Boweana, with pure -white tubular flowers, ! may be termed a perpetual flowerer, the j varieties C'harlesleyana, lnjtnrmedia, | Hentyana, are, seedlings from Boweana. | Wilmoreana is a great flowerer. Cavcm - ! dishii, tin; best of all the yellows, flowers in spring, also the favourite hybrida, a red. There are also the small-flowered, hardy kinds, and the lovely Melanthera.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

VEGETABLE GROWING.

HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS, The splendid rains of the past week have again thoroughly soaked the soil, and ground that has been properly worked should now he in the best possible condition lot' the sowing and planting of . ... ... ~-

autumn and winter crops. Usually February is one of tin? hottest and driest months, when . the work of the garden chiefly consists in hoeing to keep vccus under control, and when frequent watering is necessary to maintain anything like reasonable giowtli. Throughout the present season, however, with the exceptionally favourable conditions prevailing. there has been little difficulty, where reasonable attention has been given to sucefissional sowing and planting, in keeping up a good supply of healthy vegetable crops. PEAS AND BEANS. lYas and beans have rarely at, this time produced such an abundant supply, whi I e later-sown crops *ook remarkably healthy and promising for an extended supply. A sowing can still Pe made of peas and dwarf beans, with every chance of securing a late crop. Seeds sown at this time germinate and grow very qu>e k1 y, 'he heat and moisture in the soil forming a veritable hotbed. The same conditions, however, result m the rapid growth of weeds, necessitating almost constant attention to woe* ling and hoeing to keep them under control. This is especially necessary with

anv seedling crops that are not- far advaiu <•*). as the weeds quickly rob the plants of too*l that is so essential tor the growth of the crop.

CROPS TO SOW NOW. Sowing should be made of carrots, parsnips. turnips, spinach, round beet, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, parsley, also sueccssii'iial sowing of mustard, cress and radishes for salads. For deep-rooting plants such as carrots and parsnips, the seed should be sown in ground that has been deeply-worked, and well broken up. so that the roots can penetrate, deep in the soil without check. With seed sown nt this time there is not the same risk ot their being effected by dry weather as when sown earlier in the season. r lhe deeper the ground has been worked, howover. the lojis liable they are to feel the effects of a dry spell. ATTENTION TO SEEDLINGS. Thinning out oi seedling crops is a matter that should in no case be neglected, and if performed as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle there will be no check to the plants left to form the crop. Cabbage and cauliflower, sown now, will provide plants for planting out in autumn and winter. Select a fairly rich soil that has been well broken up and that has previously been enriched with manure so as to obtain as rapid a growth as possible. GENERAL WORK. Tn procuring plants for immediate plantnig select those that are as free, as possible from fly and before planting dip the plants in a solution ot arsenate of lead. Treated in this way they will be but little affected before the plants become well established. Tomatoes are now ripening rapidly. Spraying, however, is still necessary to protect the unripe fruit from the ravages of the caterpillars. In saving any of the fruits for seed, the greatest care should Vie taken in the fruit selected. The t'ruit should in no rase l>e taken iroin .plants that are'the least affected by disease as there is no doubt careless selection is the cause of the disease being so widespread. h i> important that the most, perfect fruits should be selected from plants that have proved to be the best cropping and (he most profitable varieties. HARVESTING CROPS. Special attention must given to the lifting and harvesting of all matured crops. Potatoes, especially, should be. dug immediately they are ready for lifting. In Mich weather they remain but a short time inactive and if allowed to start again into growth their keeping qualities are impaired. Onions, for the same reason, should be patted • up and stored.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. The soil should never be allowed to lie long without stirring. In cropping, the greatest success is attained v/hen the so.J is in a free, sweet, rich state, it should be free so that the roots of plants should not be impeded in their quest for food; sweet that the food may be wholesome and rich and that there may be no defect in nutriment. The value of vegetable manures lies in the fact that they open the pores of the soil, and lighten it by loosening its particles, they supply organic food to the roots of growing plants, and yield saline and earthly matters to the soil. Green crops ploughed into the soil are most efficacious for this purpose. Nothing tends more to benefit the soil than a judicious rotation of crops, for plants of different constitutions, not only strike to different depths, and in different directions, with their roots, but the terminal fibres or feeders of the roots appear to take up separate and peculiar constituents of the soil, and to be indebted for support, to some property imparted by the soil in very different degrees. Sicce the late heavy rains, every portion of the garden should be deeply hoed or dug over. This is not onlynecessary for the destruction of weeds, but, also, to maintain healthy growth of crops. Seed sown at this time when there is plenty of warmth and moisture in the soil germinates quickly, and usually succeed well. At any rate, there is not the same risk of their being affected by dry weather as with earlier sown crops. Celery is not only valuable and much in demand as a salad, but since its medicinal properties have become better known, it is equally prized when served as a vegetable. It has the advantage, too, of being in season when other vegetables are often scarce. Rock melons that are approaching maturity, wilJ ripen better, and be less liable to injury by insects* j* placed upon pieces of glass, wood, or other substance.

THE GREENHOUSE.

SUPPLYING PLANT FOOD, At tin's season of the year all heaithv, rapid-growing plants will he greatly benefited by an occasional application of some stimulating manure. It is at this time that plants need most attention, and when neglect is most harmful. Failure to water, or to keep the plants supplied with the necessary food, -will soon result in deterioration. At this time the pots are usually full of roots that ouieklv absorb the moisture from the soil, so that frequent looking over and keeping their needs supplied is especially essentia!. LIQUID MANURES. It is at this time that liquid manure can be applied with advantage. It is when the plants have made rapid growth, and the whole of the soil is well permeated with roots that, lite feeding properties are si,on extracted from the-soil, and unless increased pot-room and fresh Foil is provided, the food must- be relumed to the soil in some other form. This can he done by occasional and judicious watering with liquid manure. Fresh horse droppings, with a little soot added, make an excellent manure water if placed in a bag and allowed to soak in a tub of water. The strength to apply must naturally depend upon tint strength and condition of the plants..- Another excellent food is clay plant fertiliser. This is sold in tins or by the bag; it is a powder and can be applied in the dry state before watering, or made into manure water. It is a splendid food and can be applied with advantage to almost every variety of plants, whether grown under glass or in the open borders. STRENGTH OF MANURES. Whatever material is used for. manor* care must be taken not to apply at too great- a strength. It is far better to apply at a weaker strength and more often than risk injuring the plants. Onc-e a week is generally sufficient, to maintain healthy growth.. Recently potted plants should in no case he given liquid manure, as such applications only tend to make the soil sour and distasteful instead of aiding plants' growth. Caterpillars at this lime are often a source of annoyance, and play havoc with the foliage of many tender foliage plants. Hand picking is the safest and most effective method, hut requires very careful scrutiny, as the grabs usually assume the same colour as the foliage, and on this account are often difficult to detect.

TO COKKESPONDENTS.

CP.. Henderson.—June iuicl July is tits best time to make and plant gooseberry cuttings. July is the best time to prune the bushes. L.E.C.. Masterton.—Some of the varieti:? of Amerieau tomatoes are very shy croppei*. Ponderosa and stone are two examples. This is' the. cause of your? not irnitin? wneu you have given them every care and produced sirens iiealtny plants. Wax." Oamaru.—Ogou plum often produces waxr-fleshed fruits as if sun-scalded. There is 110 remedy. It is probably a sap disease. '1 he insects that are upon your plum and near leaves are the leech or pear slug. Spraying with arsenate' of lead or white hellebore will cleanse the trees of these in.-ccts. Mrs. J.I-'.. Mapin.—Specimen to name is a species ot euphorbia. prohaDiy. slaneo, one of the milkwort family called Spurge esper, but quite different to the common caper 0£ commerce (C'apparis spinosai, which belong;, to another orfier of plants.. 'llie writer canuot say whether the berries or seeds aro ot any value. " Subscriber." Whakatane. —Freesias max be naturalised in the shrubbery wb.ero tho grass is thin and short. Other suitable varieties for the purpose are:--JNaretssi, to several kinds, including suowfhtkes, alliums, belladonna lilies, seiluis. wood hyacinths, ixias, n-manas, sparaxts. hardy gladiots, and a. few otliers. Nectarines as a rule reproduce much truer to the parent trees from stones than poaches, and need not bo budded. Budding is, however, necessary to make certain of true reproductions. C.H.C.. Wellington.—Cheshnnt compound is prepared as foi.cws:- 'lake iioz. of copper sulphate (bltiestonei, reduce io a powder; weigh out lloi. of powdered ammonium and well mix the two together; place in an airtight tin or iar to prevent evaporation, and allow to stand for at least 24 hours before using. Apply loz. of the mixture to the gallon of water. This solution, watered on the growing uoiuts or seedlings, will destroy the damping off organisms without any injury to the asters or other plants. W.C.D.. Arch-hill. —Cuttingrd of clfeacmis and Olearia Jr'orsteri tor striking may Be made any time throughout t.:e winter, from early in June to about, the middle of August- " inquirer," Khyber l'svss. —Aitratc ot soda, and smtpftuto of ammonia shoujd always be applied in liquid form to pol plants; lop. ot each to the gallon of water is a t<4i« dose. For cabbages and other vegetables a light surface sprinkling around the plants or along on each sine- of the rows just before rain, or watering, is the mode ol application. " Flos," Avouduie. 1. Tree tomatoes need no pruning or thinning ot the flowers nor cutting back of the laterals. Petunias may be propagated trom cuttings. Plants that hove done flower,ing should be cut, back at once. They are ot pr.reuni.il growth and will live through the winter in the open. They are, however, best treated as annuals. 3. Arsenate of lead is the best of aII sprays to kill caterpillars. It is better to have the foliage whitened than .dants destroyed by tho grubs. Try making the solution a little weaker. -1. The best red climbing rose is Paul's Scarlet Climber, Mi<s Marion Manifold being next best. The best lemon is Lemon Pillar. " Calceolaria." Kllersiio.—To produce calceolarias such as you saw at the racecourse gardens: Seeds should be suwu at Great care must be taken tn preparing >V ,e soil for the seed pans, boxes, or pots which the fine seed is to be m>v.u v\ cn crock the pots, fill in the compost, web wae:.. and allow to stand until the following to drain before sowing. Press (irmly secure a level surface. Sow the seed -ana cover with a light dusting of fiuely-screer,eo soil. Cover the pot with a nunc o( • with a little moss on too to shade ant) keeP the soil moist and cool. t As soon as to, are large enough to haudle, pric them off into seed pans. Later pot single small pots in fairly rich soil. "f. pot when necessary. Carefully, attend • watering and never allow the. soil to beconi too dry, Green fly is the cr.ief trouble growing calceolarias. As soon a' w® appear, the house should be fumigated. MM. sown now should flower next November early in December. „ . IvKfOS.