THE HOME GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19275, 13 March 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN

TULIPS AND HYACINTHS. BRILLIANT EFFECTS. Tulips produce a gorgeous effect with their . brilliant and diversely-coloured flowers; they are very hardy and most effective when arranged in separate beds or in groups. 'ln planting, mix the single and double-flowered varieties together,

planting the bulbs about five inches apart, and from 2 to 2£ inches beneath the surface. Hyacinths are tho most beautiful of all early spring flowering bulbs when well grown, and provided precautions are taken to keep slugs from eating the foliage and disfiguring the undeveloped flower spikes. LACEENALIAS. These must not be overlooked in the selection of choice flowering bulbs. They are not very useful for planting in the open ground , and in the rockery, but are invaluable for pot culture also for hanging baskets and seed pans. Removed into the dwelling as soon as they begin to flower, they continue for a long time in perfect condition awl are most showy, every bulb producing a spike of buglelike flowers. Lachenalias are natives of South Africa, i and are among the most distinct and I beautiful of dwarf bulbous plants. ! Propagation is affected by the increase of i bulbs around the previous year's plants. I For growing in pots, 6 or 8 bulbs in a | five-inch pot are sufficient, and in pans ! from 9in. to 12in. in diameter, placing the bulbs from lin. to apart, and lightly cover. After the planting no repotting is necessary. Keep' them in a j cool place near the glass. PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS. The formation and making of new lawns ; and the renovation of old ones by digging t or trenching over and the top-dressing of 1 those more recently laid down should be undertaken at this season when the soil i is in a dry state and in the best condition for this work, also for any alterations to the garden and ground that may have been 1 decided upon. i

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Proceed with the general planting of anemones, ranunculi, narcissi, and other hardy winter and spring flowering bulbs enumerated in last week's notes. By planting some now and another lot in about three weeks' time, a longer succession of bloom may be kept up. Spray chrysanthemums with arsenate of lead, a heapedup teaspoonful to the gallon of water, to control caterpillars; and apply liquid manure, every ten days. Before giving liquid manure well water the plants. Dahlias, benefiting by the longer and more dewy nights, are making rapid growth; attend to tying up the new shoots, thinning out some and disbudding, also spray for caterpillars. Seeds of mignonette, candytufts, lupins, linaria, Virginian stock, calendula, Clarkia, godetia, acrolinium, and a few other hardy sorts may be sown in clumps in the beds and borders; 2lso early flowering winter sweet peas. Cuttings of mesembryanthemums, kalosanthes, or crassulas, tree carnations, geraniums, gazanias, shrubby calceolarias, may be taken off, made and inserted in shallow plant trays in a compost of loam with an inch of sharp sand on top. In soils of a heavy, wet character, defer planting anemone and ranunculus bulbs until the end of April. Planted too early, they aro affected by the winter rains, the foliage turning yellow and unhealthy. By cutting back petunias and verbenas that have completed their first flowering, they will break into iresh. growth and produce a late crop oi flowers. Pick or cut spent blooms oli zinnias.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

TREE-PLANTING SEASON. TRANSPLANTING METHODS. i The time has again arrived when ir I tending planters of fruits or other tree / should endeavour to have all necessar ; J preparations well in hand before the se; ! | son for lifting arrives. The weather fc , , some months past lias been all that coul be desired for breal j ing up and sweeten | ing land intended fo this puropse. The preparation c the soil, no matte what varieties e I trees are to be plaited, is of too muci importance to be nt glected, as 011 this dt perids the success 0 , failure of most new]) planted trees. To often the land is lef untouched until tli time of planting ai rives, when the soi is sodden, and canno be satisfactorily woi ked without puddl ing. BENEFITS OF EARLY PREPAR ATI OH. Land that has beei broken up and crop ped for a season i: naturally in the bes condition for plant ing, as in most case: manure will ahead; have been applied t< the crop. In such ; case the trees can b< planted as soon a: they ore ready foi lifting, and invariably succeed far bettei than trees plantec later in the season as they almost a I once commence ti make new roots anc become well established before the growing season sets P o in. CULTIVATION FOR TREES. In every case trees have a much better chance to sue- , ceed where a sufficient space of land lias been broken up to allow the roots to extend without check. The roots of trees are naturally inclined to proceed in a straight direction outward; therefore, the proper method of planting is to allow them to be placed as much as possible in this position. Simply digging holes in virgin, unbroken soil is by no means a satisfactory method of planting, as the roots cannot extend in such restricted space. But apart from this, if the land | is of a stiff nature, water accumulates in the holes, and, having little or no outlet, becomes stagnant and fatal to root growth. SUCCESS "WITH TREES. The future success of the trees depends so much upon the treatment they receive at the time of planting, and their after treatment, particularly during the first few years' of their existence, that the planting is amply repaid for the care taken at this time. In land of a stiff nature, the soilsin which large'quantities of apples, pears and other fruits are grown, and that develop highly-coloured, well-matured fruit, thorough drainage must bo provided for. Much of the land in the north is stiff and nntractable, but has fully proved its adaptability for the production of almost any varieties of heavy and semi-tropical fruits. This class of soil, however, naturally requires well working to bring it into a nice, friable condition. To do the work well at the outset may mean a little extra labour and expense, but the results will more than justify it, as the. trees will thrive better, and will produce better crops in far less time than when planted in uncongenial soil. TREES ON STIFF SOILS. In stiff soils deep, double ploughing will invariably provide for the free outlet of superfluous moisture, particularly if the

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Asparagus beds at. this season are often the most neglected plots in the garden. Hand weeding is at ail times the safest, unless where the plants have been set at sufficient distances apart to allow of hoeing without risk of injuring the crowns. A small bed of cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce should be sown to provide healthy young stock for autumn planting. Some protection, however, is necessary to prevent small birds from pulling up and destroying the seedlings. To keep small birds away from seedlings lines o! black cotton or thread stretched along the rows will effectually protect the seeds and plants from their ravages. Although somewhat late in the season, another sowing of dwarf beans is worth the risk, for should favourable conditions prevail a good late crop may be obtained. Hoe out weeds and thin out seedling crops as soon as they are large enough to handle. Rock melons that are approaching maturity will ripen tetter and be less liable to injury by insects if placed upon pieces of glass, board, or other substances. Shallow-worked soils are often the cause of failures with vegetable crops, and at no time are the effects more noticeable than during a period of dry weather. One of the most important things to learn in gardening is the value of deep cultivation, and it is hardly possible to work the ground too deeply, so long as the poor soil is not brought to the surface.

j land is of ail undulating character. As | frequently advised, if time will not allow o? the whole of the land being broken up, strips 6ft. or Bft. wide, where the trees j are to be planted, if deeply broken up j and well tilled, will bo quite sufficient for a year or two, the space between being l " | worked when time will permit. The work s j iis every case should be well done, for it y is better to defer planting for a season than to skip the work. r d TREES ON FREE SOILS. Soils that arc of a light porous nature, - or that have been under recent cultivation, L ' will not, of course, require the same preparation as clay loams; in fact, in such f soils the digging of largo holes may ho r sufficient. In deep alluvial flats trees f often have a tendency to make far too - rank a growth, and take a long time to i come iilto bearing. In such soils nny- - thing in tho shape of manure should in :- no case be applied to the soil when plantr itig; judgment must lie exercised, as only - persons acquainted with the nature of tho a land can decide the treatment needed. t SELECTING NSW VARIETIES. 1 Tho fruiting season is an opportune time to make a selection of tho varieties . it is intended to plant. .At this time notes can bo taken of the qualities of tho fruits, their season of ripening, as well as the cropping capabilities of the trees, freedom from disease, etc. Much, of course, depends upon the purpose for which they are grown. If for home use, only tho best of sucli varieties as will cover the whole season of ripening should be selected. ; BUDDED TREES. Trees that have been budded during . the past or preceding month will need to r be carefully looked over. When tho stocks , are growing freely, tho wood swells l rapidly, and there is always a risk of the , ties cutting into the wqpd and destroying . Hie buds, unless the ties' are loosened. . About three weeks or a month at most is . generally sufficient time to determine if . the buds have taken, though it may not in every case be advisable to finally remove tho ties. TO CORRESPONDENTS. R.H.G., Hmma.—Specimen to identity is 1 ono of the many species of solanum. and is quite unsuitable for a hedge, and if allowed to seed will surcad and become a noxious weed. E.E.S., Pukekohe—Heliotrope cuttings should bo put in during early spring. They striko best with a gentle bottom heat Cuterpillars aVo probably eating tho leaves of your young laburnum, Spray with arsenate of lead. Flower to name is Solanum Seafortliianuin. a climbing xdant. It belongs to tho potato family. K.J.W., Kuakaka.—A quince tree that behaves like yours, the fruits falling off when tho sizo of marbles and the leaves turning black, had better bo rooted out as useless, unless tho leech or cherry slug is tho cause. " Melon," To Awamutu.—Tho best method of applying tho sifted earth, also weeds that have been burnt, and other vegetable matter and wood ashes that you have obtained from tho local sawmill, is to mix nil together in a compost and evenly spread over tho surface of tho ground after sowing the oats or after tho oats have been dug down, toward the end of winter. Instead oi burning tho weeds, they would bo better placed in a heap and rotted. S.K., Epsom.—Name of lily flower to identify _is tho double-flowered form of Lilium tigrum. Tho other is Lilium spcciosuni rubrum. "Amaryllis," Whangaparoa.—Amaryllis bulbs wiil carry safely to Scotland by. parcel post, provided they are allowed to properly ripen off before lifting them. Pack in a close wooden box—not a l:iji ono--in a mixture of sawdust and charcoal. They would thrive well in an unheated greenhouse in pots During their season of rest the pots could bo placed under the bench. Do not water them when dormant, Liliuma shrivel auickly and should bts packed in sand, with a little sawdust mixed with it slightly moist, or packed with sphagnum moss slightly moistened at the time of packing. Tho rose is evidently a shy bloomer and not worth growing when there are so many that are good flowers. Dig it out and replace with another variety. " Takapuna."—Some useful Cowering shrubs for florists' flowers in season between May _ and October comprise:—Abutilons, veronicas', ericas, hoheria, Abelia floriounda, Berberas Darwinii, Luculi.i_ gratissima ; I daphnes, Jasminum iprimui/hum. Protea i irieliifera, Diosma erecoides, laurestinus, | Magnolia stellata, Exochorda grandiflora, Acacia Baileyana, azaleas, buddleias, Choisya ternata. and eriostemon, and in October several hardy, deciduous shrubs. " Wairarapa."—The reason for tomato flowers falling off is either duo to unusual climatic conditions prevailing this summer or to the varietv, as some kinds, are shy setters._ An application of nitrate of soda would have aided the setting. " Enquirer," Tauranga.—Anemone ana ranunculus seedlings now in the seed tray.s should bo fit for transplanting" out closely together about the middle of Anrii. The seedlings you have in boxes and are of weakly growth should have been boxed off when just large enough to handle. Being left to grow closely together, they are naturally of weak and apiridley growth. M.1., Itemuera. —Rose _leaves are attacked with black spot and mildew. Spray with Bordeaux mixture or lime-sulphur. Dusting with dry flour of sulphur when tho leaves are wet with dew is also recommended Specimen spike with woolly leaves and surrounded with flower buds is Verbascum thapsus, commonly called Jacob's staff, torches, cow's lung wort, blanket leaf, etc. It is a native of < Europe (Britain). The other specimen with roundish dense heads and blue flowers is a species of eryngiutn (sea holly). E.A D.. Workworth.—Re proper treatment for indoor pot-grown _ palms : They succeed best when restricted in pot room and must not be over-potted. Wei! drain the pots. Loam and leaf mould, with a little sand, is a suitable soil to put them in. Wall ram the soil around the roots and do not bury any Dart of the stem. The base o? tho plant should iust rest on the surface of the ho;!, which should be made firm with a • band-rammer. Never cut tho roots and attend to watering at regular intervals, but do not over-water or aliow the ?cit to become too dry. When properly established give an occasional stimulant. Re blight on Spanish iris: Dip the bulbs in Bordeaux mixture or formaline planting, or. better still, destroy the diseased stock and plant in new ground. D.W.M., Waitakaro—To dislodge bees from roof, fumigate with sulphur and tobacco dust. M 8.. Whitianga.—Name of clover is Lotus corniculatus. or birdsfoot trefoil, a most valuable variety for either dry or moist lands. Apply to seedsmen for price of seed. " Correspondent."—Name of coarse grass is Poti anuatica (water grass). It is cue of the largest of our grasses. " Temptifc*" Nelson.—Look for reply nest week. Kepos.