THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Pruning roses should be started about the twentieth ol this month and completed about tho same time in August. All roses should be more or less pruned when first planted, slightly trimming the roots at the same time and cutting o2 any that have been injured by the spade in lilting. In applying fertilisers to trees and other plants at the time of planting, thoroughly mix the bone-dust or other manures with the soil. An excess, immediately in contact with tho roots, is injurious. In digging holes preparatory to planting permanent subjects, throw out the top soil, fork up the subsoil, removing some to allow additional top soil in tho refilling to give a greater depth for root action. Staking newly planted trees is necessary in many instances to hold the tree firmly in position and prevent the action of the winds interfering with its roots and working a socket round the stem. Wistarias should have the long trailing growths near the ground cut oS. This greatly increases the production of flowers on the main branches. The present is a busy time in the sowing of seeds, raising seedlings and pricking them ofi when ready into trays to grow on and establish for early spring planting. The propagation of bedding plants must be attended to, to provide ample supplies for bedding out at the proper time. In the lawns and the various other grass portions, especially thone that have been recently sown and where the grass is young and sappy, special attention must be paid to cutting, otherwise duriftg the very wet weather and heavy dewi3 the stronger growing grasses choke out the finer. The first mowing should always be with the scythe.

PLANTING LILIES. DELIGHTFUL BULBS. As now is the best time to plant liliums reference to their utility and mode of propagation and cultivation is seasonable. The species are among the most beautiful and ornamental of cultivated bulbous plants, their stately habit of growth and variously-coloured flowers, many of which

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

are highly perfumed, rendering them indis-J pensablo in every garden. Nearly all the j kinds are hardy here. The commoner and ! hardiest of the varieties, namely, candi- ! dum, the forms of speciosum, also tigri- I num and the more recent regale, may be employed for grouping and naturalising, being most effective on the edges of plan- ] tations skirting the walks or drive. Many j of the kinds are excellent border plants, and attractive in mixed arrangements if | properly placed as to ( heights. They aro _IA fyf a ' so most attractive whcn S rown in P° ts 5 and in flower. PROPAGATION OP " LILIES. l. Propagation is cffected. by seeds, by offsets, and by the small bulblets which form in the axils of ' the leaves of tigTi- / nuni and some other 111 species. They thrive *u best in a deep, loamy, \ well-drained soil, X they delight in peat mixed with the soiL 6 and likes to be well mulched with rotted £ manure when tlieir Ck flowers stems appear. 1| From 4in. to 6in. JJj below the surface is a »// suitable depth to plant, as a number of roots proceed from around the stem J above the bulb. A Y less depth would not ' allow their being covered with soil. For pot culture use a compost of loam and €5 peat, with a little jv sharp sand. Use 6in. I flower pots; place the Y bulbs so that the top ' of the bulb is about 2£in. below the rim of the pot. When the . bulbs begin to root and form a shoot in the centre fill up with rich soil. Deep potting is essential to 'i allow the npper roots / to come in contact 'J | with good soil.

LILIES FROM SEED. 1 Seedlings planted where soil conditions have been effected bv tho recent heavy rains, and the surface battered down, will, as soon as tho surface become sufficiently dry, require to have the soil around them lightly stirred to break the hard crust that "invariably forms. This is necessary for the well-being of tho plants, and must not be neglected. CULTIVATION OP BULBS. Anemones, ranunculus, cyclamens, and other bulbs should have tho surface soil around them lightly stirred when it is dry enough for the purpose. Where the plants are too close together to work the hand fork, a carving fork will be found an excellent article for the purpose. Mulching has a wonderful effect upon the growth of the plants, it aerates the soil, sweetens it, and give the beds a much better appearance. Beds planted with pansies need the same treatment, and aro benefited with a mulch of manures. SPRING CROPS. \ —■ * PREPARING THE SOIL. In preparing land for spring croppings, especially ground that has been successively cropped for any length of time, manuring and trenching is tho surest means of obtaining satisfactory results. Ground-that has simply had the surface soil turned over time after time as required for cropping soon becomes exhausted, while a hard unbroken crust "invariably forms immediately Mow where tlie ground has been dug. Crops sown or planted in such ground have in no case tho same chance to succeed as when grown in soil that lias been deeply worked so that the roots can penetrate and extend unchecked. Trenching Methods. In trenching the simplest method is to work the ground in sections, the soil taken from tho first trench being placed where it is intended to finish. The trench, for the convenience of working, should bo two feet wide, tho depth being regulated by the nature of the subsoil. In soil of a stiff nature the subsoil should in no case bo brought to the surface. Bastard trenching in such soil is the best practice to follow. This consists in breaking up the ground two or three feet in depth, without reversing the positions of the surface soil. Manuring Trenched Ground. As the surface soil is removed, the bottom should bo deeply broken up and a good layer of manure placed over tho soil. If animal manure is not obtainable, grass, weeds, or other garden refuse can be applied with advantage. This done, another trench of the same width should bo opened out, tho surface soil being turned over to tako the place of the soil removed, tho bottom in each case being broken up and treated as at first. Liberal manuring is important, and manures should be well mixed with the soil as the work proceeds, for where this important essential is deficient in the soil tho production of good vegetables is no easy matter. In such cases the judicious use of artificial fertilisers, specially prepared for vegetable culture, will do much to improve the soil.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. As soon as the weather permits the hoe must be ireely used between the rows of all growing crops. The lrequent and heavy rains have so beaten and solidified the soil that deep hoeing and loosening up the surface is especially necessary after such weather. At this season seed beds need constant cleaning and weeding. Weeds must be kept under both by hoeing and hand picking. Crops should be thinned out before they become too largo iso as to give them every chance to develop strong sturdy growth. Plants differ largely as to the amount of food required according to the growth made and the time taken before they mature. The quicker ind more robust growth a plant makes the more food in the shaoe of manure it requires. Boot crops, such as carrots, parsnips, beet and other deeprooting plants, produce better and cleaner roots when the manure is placed deep in the soil. If on tho other hand it is placed near the surface, there is always a tendency fcr them to produce branched irregular growths instead of clean straight roots:. The ground for the planting of fruit and other trees should be thoroughly prepared before planting, ?nd be provided with free outlet for surplus moisture. At the time of planting the branches of nearly all fruit trees should be pruned, cutting the branches back to within six or eight inches of the fork. The roots, too, should be trimmed of all bruised or damaged Toots. Provision should now be made for the winter spraying of all permanent orchard trues. Spray mixtures for the various pests and diseases, with full direction what strength to apply, can be obtained at any of tho leading seedsmen, so that there is little excuse for not making an effort to control these pests. THE VINERY. PRUNING GRAPES. Tho pruning of all vines under glass, i] not already done, should be completed without delay. Under present weathel conditions even tho very latest varietiei should be quite dormant, and may ht j pruned without risk. The pruning, how. ever, should have been dono as the vine! ripened" and matured their wood, and should in no case be deferred until tht latest varieties are ready. In almost every instance indoor vines are trained on the rod and spur system, so that tht pruning is practically tho same who* trained in this way. Directions have al ready beeen given upon how to prunl under this method of culture. KEEPING VINES CLEAN. As soon as vines are pruned the next important work is to endeavour to rid the plants and house of the various pesti that aro such a source of trouble to tin growers. First remove all the loose bari from the vines, but in no case scrape tin canes with the knife, or there is alwayi a risk of wounding the inner bark. Tin loose bark being removed the vines should be well dressed over with insecticide Gishurst's compound, though an old remedy, is an excellent material for thij purpose. SEASONS FOE SPEAYING. As the object in dressing the vines witl * material is to destroy any insects upon "the vines, as well as to check fungoid germs, every portion of tho canes should be treated. A paint for forming a smoott even surface can afterwards be applied; 3 mixture of clay, soot and sulphur mixed to the consistency of thick paint is all that is needed for this purpose. In ad to cleaning the vines to effectively rid the house of pests, which is one of thi most difficult tasks when once established in the house, the whole of the trellises, in fact every portion of tin J house, requires to bo thoroughly cleansed Even the floor, if composed of earth, should have tho surface soil removed, al some pests are sure to fall to the ground with tho decayed foliage and other debris In addition to cleansing and spraying th< house, a good fumigation with cyanidl should be given. At this time the gal can be used of a greater strength thai would bo safe at any other season witl 'little risk of injuring the plants.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Amateur." Eltliam.—Coal ashes an absolutely ruinous to garden 3oils and art responsible for rendering fertile loams un productive. Coke ashes are of no valui excepting to lighten very stiff clay soila Wood ashes are valuable, as they contail about half us much potash as that in kainitl They should be kept dry. If exposed ionj to drenching rains most of the potash ii washed out and their chief value is wastod. " Peach." Tanranga.—Making an augel hole and pouring in sheep dip would be oi no value against brown rot. The followini specific is iecoi#uiended :— Lime-sulphur, one half gallon: atomic sulphur. Gib.: water, about 100 gallons. Reduce quantities accord ing to requirement.' Syringe every 10 days Brown rot is a species of fungus that attack! the trees externally, and is not a sap dis ease. Black Hamburg grape will do well outside in your locality, also Albany Sur prise. - Now is the time to plant grap( vines. L.W.. 'Pukekohe.—The caustic soda-alkali solution is the best and most effective spra] for lemons and other members of the citrui family. Full directions were given re thil in last week's answers to " Orchardist," Henderson. Now is a good time to apply, Passion-fruit plants require little or ni pruning. Where the growth is very dense care fully thin out some of the runners. J.S., Whakatane.—Vanilla is a clixnbinj orchid of tropical America (West Indies! also Madagascar. The species Plamfolii produces the best vanilla, the dried fruit! or beans of which furnish the . aromatii flavouring used in commerce. Bein( tropical, it would not succeed here. Applj to any of our leading merchants re import ing beans. D.F.L., Westland.—Orange plants rauiei from pips and grown in pots would ta.ki many years before they flower and fruit but there are Beveral dwarf-growing kinds The Otaheite orange, a. dwarf-growing species is most suitable for pot culture, as i! fruits freely. The Unshiu, or Satsuma, I Japanese orange, is also suitable for pot culture. Orange trees cultivated in potl are exceedingly ornamental when ladea witl their showy fruits. "Lily." Devon port.—There are several forms of the Liitum aura turn, or golden rayed lily of Japan, known under the uamel of pictum, platyphyllum, rubro-viltatum wittei, etc. Lilium speciosuni compnsel five kinds. namely, rubrnro. aibnm melponiene, magnificum, and kretzeri. Ii planting lilies the crown should be inserted from 4in. to Gin. beneath the surface ol the ground. W. 8., Royal.—Peach and nectarine tree! that have grown too largo for your orchart may bo cut back to within 3ft. from tin ground or to where the limbs branch fronl the main stem. A little grafting was ol paint may be smeared over the cuts. Applel to name are evidently very old kinds thai are not propagated now. The aim ol present-day growers is to confine the lis! to fewer kinds. Names are as follow: —No I.' Purity. 2. A variety of Codlin; pool quality. 3. Stone pippin. 4. Wiltshire Defiance. 5. Cannot name. 6. ShepheriVl Perfection a valuable late-keeping dessert apple. J.A.8.. Remuera.—Botanical name of bull that has become such a troublesome weed n a species of Watsonia. Tho best means a eradication is to grub it out in tho autumn when the bulbs have ripened off and art most eaßily grubbed out and burnt, W.H., Whangarei.—Pear clippings are in fested with a species of red scale. Thi caustic soda-alkali solution is the best in secticide. Two dressings should thoroughl: cleanse your trees. They being from 20ft to 25ft. hizh, you would require to usb i pump that would send the spray thai height. By standing on the windward sidi of the tree or choosing a calm day fo! the spraying, there need not bo any rial of tho spray coming in contact with thl face. " Grape Vine." To Puke.—Yea, we wouW advise you to cut back two of tho weaked runners acar to their bases. _ With thi other two first cut basil a,ll side laterals cutting them back to the strongest bn( at the base of each shoot. The tops of thl main canes or rods should bo cut bad about one-third of their length. Kepos.