THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19382, 17 July 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

SEASONABLE WORK.

DECORATING MIXED BORDER. Slugs are again becoming troublesome. Liming, hand-picking and other precautions must be taken to lessen their numbers. Spraying with alum water or dusting around plants with finely-powdered alum is more lasting in its effects than lime. Perennial phloxes are a fine class of plants for the decoration of the mixed border during the summer. They produce

large trusses of flowers of all colours from the purest of whites to the most intense crimson, and other intermediate shades, i Thew require fairly rich soil that has been well worked, and to be well watered dur- > ing the blooming season. No other herbaceous plants produce a finer display than these perennials when well grown. 1 After the flowering stems have been cut off, the clumps must be kept free from weeds. To preserve them throughout our wet winters, they should be taken up and planted in a separate bed in a dry, por'ous soil, or transplanted into boxes. SOWING HABDY ANNUALS. Sow hardy annuals in the open ground, with the exception of a very few kinds, . such as lupins, convolvolus minor, clarkeas, candytufts, eschscholtzrias, summer-flowering sweets peas, godetias, and a few others, and these only in light, porous f, soils, for very early flowering. Other sowings should not be made until toward the middle and end of August. As a rule the end of September and early in October is the proper time to sow most varieties of summer-flowering annuals in the open ground. PKUNING ROSES. This important and most necessary operation should be started the middle of this month, and completed by the first week in August. Much depends upon the situation. The earlier the pruning is performed the sooner the plants break into growth and flower, and vice versa. It is not always advisable to prune all at the one time. Those that are planted in warm, sheltered situations should be done first, leaving those in colder and more exposed positions until the last, in order to

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Rose pruning may be started the middle of this month, and continued until the second week in August, as per instructions in following notes. Climbers: Now, when growth is dormant, is the best time to cut out any dead portions, and to regulate their growth by cutting back and thinning out wher > necessary. Ficus stipulata (the climbing fig), attached to walls, should have the projecting shoots cut hard back. Azalea bushes that present a brown, rusty appearance, the result of red spider, and thrips and' old bushes with moss and lichens, should be sprayed with the caustic soda alkali solution. This will effectually cleanse them from both insects and parasitic growths. Proceed with the planting of ornamental and shelter trees, roses and-other permanent subjects, and stake all that need support until they become established. Hedges: Damage to gardens by the recent gales demonstrates the necessity of providing shelter. For this purpose hedges are- a necessity. A list of varieties to choose from has already been given. Now is about the best time to plant beauty- stocks, cinerarias, cornflowers, primula malacoides," antirrhinums and Canterbury bells. Stocks planted in May have failed badly. Make it a golden rule to avoid planting out of season. Too many failures result from this practice, especially by amateurs. The different varieties of annuals have their season. Mulching, by lightly stirring the surface, is necessary after heavy rains when the soil is sufficiently dry to perform this operation. It greatly benefits the plants and adds to the appearance of the ground.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

retard thfeir starting into growth. As a general rule the latter part of July is the best time. Many prune much earlier, which is a mistake, as it induces the new growth to start at a season when the young, tender shoots are likely to be injured by the harsh spring winds. NECESSITY FOR PRUNING. Bear in mind that all roses must be more or less pruned when first planted this refers to the roots as well as the tops. The amount of after-pruning that is required will depend to agreat extent on the habit of each individual plant, the class to which it belongs and the manner

in which it is trained. As a general rule or guide the more vigorous the variety the less it should bo pruned, but all are benefited more or less by pruning. No hard-and-fast rule can be laid down as to the performance of this important operation. KNOWLEDGE OP THE WORK. As in the pruning of fruit trees, che operator mqst be guided by the condition and habit of the bush at the time, and must possess some knowledge o{ ;ts requirements. Those who have grown the different kinds and careiully observed their habits, find out from experience how each should be treated. Irresponsible and inexperienced operators are liable to treat all alike, ruthlessly cutting them hard back irrespective of their requirements. In every instance all weak and decayed wood must be removed, as well i as any shoots that crowd the plant and cross each other, and prevent free access of light and aii\ HYBRID TEA ROSES. The varieties belonging to this section are now much the most numerous and most generally grown. In many instances it is difficult to distinguish on account of the difference between some of these and the hybrid teas. As a general rule they require to be more sparingly pruned; otherwise treat them similarly. Tea and kindred roses to this section belong to some of the most popular. They produce strong bushes, and the flowers are delightfully fragrant. All require to be much more sparingly pruned than either of the preceding. All that is necessary is the thinning out of some of tho shoots and the slight shortening back of those that remain. Trea the miniature of polyantha roses the same way giving a vigorous thinning out

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Carefully examine all growing crops and straighten np and make firm any plants aflected by the recent heavy gales. In no case neglect to earth-up cabbage, cauliflower, broad beans and other plants benefited by this treatment. A light dressing of superphosphate or nitrate of soda applied to the plants before earthing-up will be beneficial. One great advantage of earthing-up plants during the winter is that it prevents the roots from becoming too sodden, thus ensuring better growth. A fes* rows of autumn-sown onions may now be planted for early use. After lifting from the seed bed, and before transplanting, shorten back all straggling roots and a portion of the top foliage and firm the soil well after planting. The quickest and most successful method of raising cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce is to sow in shallow boxes, filled with good soil, and place in a greenhouse frame or other warm situation where they can be protected from slugs and other pests. From this time onward a succession of peas can be maintained by making sowings about every three or four weeks, or as soon as the previous sowing is an inch above ground. The planting of fruit and other trees should be hastened forward is quickly as possible. Fine weather, however, should in every case be chosen for this work. The pruning of fruit trees should be completed during the present month. At the time of pruning, any scions required for regrafting should be selected, choosing well-ripened wood of the previous season's growth.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

DAMAGE BY GALE. The exceptionally fierce gale of the past week h»vs played havoc with many parts of the garden, and, in situations exposed to its full force, many plants have been laid flat, and, in some instances,

uprooted. The vegetable garden, being chiefly composed of dwarf growing crops, is usually the least to suffer, though a wind of ■ such hurricane force cannot rail to have swayed and loosened any of the more advanced crops, such as cabbage, cauliflower, in fact, any of the taller growing plants. As soon as the weather permits, the whole of the. crops should be gone over, and efforts made to remedy any defects. Plants that have been properly earthed-up are not affected to the same extent as where earthing-up is neglected. Drawing th« earth well up to such plants as cabbages and other colworts, broad beans, peas, etc., Qtit only assists in a great measure to protect the plants, but gives added warmth to the roots. Peas that were sown last month are now well above ground, and, so far, look remarkably healthy and promising, As previouslystated, peas are much more hardy than many people imagine, though, for early crops, raised beds are a decided advantage, as it provides for better drainage and gives greater warmth to the soil. As soon as. the plants are well above ground, a further sowing should be m&da to keep up a succession. Blood and bone manure mixed with wood ashes and strewn along the drill, when sowing, is an 'excellent material for this crop. Slugs and other pests are, at this time both numerous and

destructive, as in showery weather any preventive remedies applied are quickly annulled by the rains. For slugs, frequent dusting with lime or an occasional sprinkling of superphosphate, is the best means of protecting the plants; but for birds there is no better preventive than strands of black cotton or thread stretched along each "side of the rows. As soon as the soil is dry enough to work every portion of the ground carrying crops should be again gone over, and the soil loosened up., Advantage, too, should be taken of favourable weather to treat all land required for future cropping. The success of early-sown vegetable crops, or, in fact, almost any other variety of crops, depends bo much upon the condition of the soil, methods of sowing and manuring, that only the best results can be obtained, wh<yi careful attention is given to these matters. To grow any varieties of vegetables successfully the roots must be supplied with sufficient food to ensure healthy growth, and if this is not present in the soil it must be supplied in soma form or other. In a few weeks the sowing of spring crops will have to be considered, so that no time should be lost in placing the ground in as satisfactory condition as possible for sowing and planting. HINTS. Have you a pit ready to take the autumn leaves ? Th<* old English daisy makes a pretty edging. Cinerarias should be kept growing strongly. Every kitchen garden should have a bed of spinach.