THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19328, 15 May 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Chrysanthemums that have completed their Ebwering should have the stems cut back to the ground, and the suckers at the base carefully preserved and weeded as they provide cuttings or rooted suckers to propagate from. Dahlias, excepting the tree varieties, have completed their flowering. Do not take the stools up until the growth is more mature, and before lifting them the/stems • should be cut back to within a foot from the ground. Where a mixture of herbaceous'plants, bulbs, and dwarf perennials and other shrubs are growing in borders they should be renovated and the soil dug, pruning any shrubs that need it. This overhaul should keep the borders tidy until spring. Rose beds and other places should be prepared, but the planting should be deferred until the middle of June, when the growth is quite dormant. Pansies, stocks, larkspurs, nemesias, cornflowers, Canterbury bells, antirrhinums, calendulas, and cyclamens may all be planted now to fill vacancies and provide a succession of early flowers, also cinerarias in sheltered places. Candytufts, - clarkeas, godetias, nemophilas, lupins, acroclivuems, and mignonettes, all do better when the seeds are sown in the open ground, where they are to grow apd flower. Prepare for shrub, and tree planting, also for hedges, plant violets, primroses, polyanthus, and armerias or thrifts for borders. Lift, divide, and replant' violets that have become too straggling and thick. Alterantheras are soon affected by cold, frosty nights, Sufficient plants should be taken up and placed under a glass frame to provide for next year. Take cuttings of iresines and plant closely together in shallow trays.

PROGRAMME OF WORK,

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. The recent heavy rains have so thoroughly socked the soil that any work upon the land is better deferred until the soil is in a more workable condition. Aa soon as the weather permits, every portion of the ground carrying crops will need to be gone over and the soil again loosened up. One of the chief requirements, especially with young seedling crops, is to protect them from the ravages of slugs, which, in spite of the long dry spell, are both numerous and destructive. Lime should be freely scattered around crops that are most subject to their attack. The digging of kumeras should no longer be delayed, as the more ripened tubers are apt to rot in such weather. Pumpkins, marrows and pie-melons should be gathered and stored in a dry, airy place, where there is no risk of frosts. Late planted celery should now be sufficiently advanced for the final earthing. This, however, is best done when the soil is fairly dry, every care being taken to keep the soil from the centres or hearts of the plants. The more effective plan is to place a tie around the plants before earthing. Leeks should have the soil well drawn up so that 6in. at least will be thoroughly bleached. Thinning out of crops must have special attention or the plants soon become drawn and weak. Potato onions may be planted anv time during the present month. These are a very productive and useful crop, as they come in at a season when other varieties are scarce.