THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19454, 9 October 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

FLOWERING SHRUBS. SOME GOOD VARIETIES. Azaleas and rhododendrons are the gayest ornaments of the garden and grounds at the present time. Both are profuse and exceedingly handsome spring flowering shrubs and should have a place in every garden, as they arc of the greatest value for decorating, cutting and exhibition. By a judicious selection of varieties they may be had in flower for •a long period.

The varieties belonging to the Indian or Chinese section are the most generally grown in our gardens. They flourish in any ordinary soil, preferring that of a light but well-drained character. Being o! neat compact dwarf habit they are admirably adapted for planting on grassy banks or in tho mixed border. There are a larger number of choice kinds in single and double-flowered forms. Azaleas may bo planted with perfect safety now, when they are in full bloom or coming into flower. Some of tho doubles aro specially adapted for potculturc. DECIDUOUS AZALEAS. Ghent azaleas and the Sinensis or Mollis types are extremely showy-flower-ing, hardy, deciduous shrubs. Tho flowers aro produced at the ends of tho shoots preceding the new foliage. The colours of the flowers are most distinct and attractive, comprising various shades of reds and yellows, lovely pinks, salmons, and tangerines and rich orange scarlet. The most suitablo soil for theso azaleas is turfy loam mixed with loaf mould and sand. They prefer a somewhat shady position and moist loamy soil mixed with above ingredients. * RHODODENDRONS. Those are associated with azaleas, being included in the same genus by some authors. They may bo justly classed among tho most noblo and attractive of all evergreen flowering shrubs. Tho flowers are produced in trusses which vary in size in tho different species and varieties. Of late years numerous beautiful hybrids have been raised by crossing and intercrossing. Tho variety Pink Pearl is ono of tho hvbridisers' best achieve-

THE FLOWEE GAEDEN. For green aphis on roses and black aphis on chrysanthemums, spray with Black leaf 40 extract of nicotine, and add a little soap to make it more adhesive. The black aphis is more difficult to kill than the green. Mesembryanthemums, gazanias and kalosanthes or crassula coccinea are showy rockery plants for summer flowery, being suitable for present planting. Chrysanthemums: the middle of this month is the best time to commence planting stocky well-rooted plants for the production of show blooms. Plant firmly, using a blunt stick to ram the soil around each plant. Gerberds may be transplanted with safety now; do not insert them too deeply, keep the crow:as level with the surface of the ground. Gerberas have become indispensable in every garden. Now is a busy time bedding out the many varieties of annuals and biennials. A full list of kinds was enumerated in last week's notes. Choose suitable soil and weather conditions for planting. Make sowings in the open beds and borders of annuals for summer flowering, choosing selections from last week's list and fine weather. Stirring the surface soil is necessary during dry weather, and also after heavy rains such as e3tperienced recently. When the surface is dry enough lightly fork over the ground to break the hard crujit. Large flowered regal and show pelargoniums!, also zonales single and double flowered and ivy-leaved, should be planted at once, also fuchsias, heliotropes, agatheas, shrubby calceolarias, geurns, marguerite chrysanthemums, poinsettias and lantanas.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

meets. In addition to the hardy rhododendrons belonging to the I'onticum section, comprising numerous-named hybrids, there are those classed under the greenhouse section and their hybrids, all of which succeed in the open here. SOIL FOE RHODODENDRONS. They will flourish in any ordinary garden soil that is sufficiently porous and of a. good depth to allow their roots to penetrate. The presence of lime in the soil is fatal to them. Our light volcanic lands are admirably adapted to this class of plants with the addition of a little peat or leaf mould and sand. Some

dry cow manure, well pulverised, may bo added in stiff retentive soils of a shallow nature. GENERAL WORK. The present is an exceedingly busy time in the garden and grounds as so much demands attention at the same time. The planting of seedlings for succession must be attended to. Also the preparation of ground for planting chrysanthemums, about the middle of this month. Filling spaces in '.he rockery v. til suitable plants; the sowing of seeds of hardy annuals in the open ground; propoga'tion of dahlias; the weekly stirring of the whole of the beds and borders; the staking of recently-planted trees and shrubs. PELARGONIUMS. Pelargoniums are most suitable plants for decoration of the garden and also for pot. culture. Their blooming season extends over several months and they are adapted for various purposes. The regal and decorative varieties, possessing rich and showy colours in large trusses of single and semi-double flowers, beautifully fringed, are the most prized of the many sections. The ivy-leaved sections, comprising single and double flowers in trusses, includo dwarf and climbing varieties The'dwarfs are eminently adapted for the rock garden and the climbers for trellises and intermixing in the hedge row Those belonging to "the zonal section are specially adapted for bedding and massing, the brilliant scarlet flowers being specially attractive. There are also tricolour-leaved geraniums and dwarf variegated kinds suitable for edgings. All varieties of pelargoniums may lie planted from now onward.

VEGETABLE GABDEN. Young seedling crops are now growing apace, and will need tbiPinmg out to allow space tor them to develop. The growth of weeds is now rapid. Weeds, 'however, are in some instances, an advantage, as they compel growers to hoe and cultivate the soil that might otherwise remain undisturbed. Slugs and snails at this time are most troublesome, and no effort should be spared to protect the young seedling crops from these ravages. Endeavours should be made to keep up a succession oi useful crops by successional sowing and planting. French and runner beans should be sown in well-prepared soil. For the latter particularly, the ground requires to be deeply dug and well manured. Autumn sown onions can still be planted. In growing summer lettuce, depth of soil is important. Well-manured, deeply-worked soil is essential, and mulching and watering are less a necessity. Greater success is attained if the plants are allowed to develop where sown. Early planted potatoes should be sprayed at reasonable intervals, and to be effectual the spraying should be done so that every portion of the leaves receive some portion of the material applied. Prepare ground for sowing rock, water and pie melon. These are best sown any time from the middle of the month to the first week in November. Make successional sowings of peas, beans, spinach, turnips, beet, lettuce, carrots, sweet corn and other crops as required, but sow only in such quantities as can be used..

THE ORCHARD. CULTIVATION AND MANURE. The weather now being in every way favourable, there should be as little delay as possible in completing all necessary spring work in the orchard, such as ploughing, clearing and manuring. At this time all fruit trees are benefited by

some manorial assi trees that have b years. The effee

istance, more especially >een fruiting for some ts of stimulants being applied to the trees in spring assists in the development of more perfect blossoms so that more fertilisation can take place. THE SETTING OF FRUIT. Large numbers of trees that blossom freely, yet fail to set even reasonable crops of fruit, could, in many instances, be made productive if a proper system of manuring and cultivation was practiced. Failures, it it trne, may, and often do, result through adverse weather conditions when the trees are in flower; but in a number of instances imperfect or undeveloped flowers is the cause of sterility. CARE IN MANURING. Discretion is, of course, necessary in applying manures to trees. Young, healthy vigorous growing trees, for instance, will not require strong stimulants, as they ' have sufficient strength to develop perfect flowers without assist-' ance. Unless in very few instances, stable manure is not available for fruit trees; in any case artificial manures are more easily applied and with excellent results, and can be applied at intervals when the trees are most in need of assistance.

CULTIVATION AND MOISTUEE. The whole of the orchard should be kept in a thorough state of cultivation, frequently stirring the soil to prevent undue evaporation and to let in the sun and air. This system of cultivation and occasional dressing of manure are the prime agents in keeping the trees in a healthy fruiting condition. COMBATING FRUIT PESTS. Measures will shortly have to be taken to combat the codlin moth and other orchard pests, the material and appliances should, at any rate, be in hand so that there will be no delay when spraying becomes necessary. Spraying is too often neglected until the fruit is well advanced in growth, and the damage partly done. EFFECTIVE SPRAYS. As soon as the fruit of apples and pears is fairly set, the first dressing of arsenate of lead should be applied. The fruit is then in an upright position, and if properly sprayed is sure to catch a certain amount of the poison in the eye as well as over other portions of the fruit. For codlin moth and most other leaf and fruit-eat#ig pests, arsenate of lead judiciously applied is an eSective remedy. If applied through a fine distributing nozzle, so that every portion of the tree and fruit receive a portion of the liquid, it is most effectual. Eor woolly aphris that attack so many varieties of apple trees, this material has little or no effect. Red oil, kerosene emulsion or black leaf 40 applied to the affected parts of the branches with a stiff brush will do much to keep the pest in check, but frequent application may bo needed during the growing season.