CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

CULTURE SHOW BLOOMS. Chrysanthemums from which show blooms have been cut will continue to produce a few flowers from side shoots. Lato flowering, decorative and singloflowcred varieties aro now at their best. Ilust has again been prevalent this year. It is tho worst troublo tho grower has to fight, the only preventative being to regularly spray with Bordeaux mixture, occasionally alternating with limo sulphur. Some growers use Condy's fluid and report success. The spraying to keep tho foliage free frc-i rust and other leaf troubles must be regularly attended to as soon as, or before, tho rust makes its appearance. At tho present time tho plants should be kept free from weeds to give the suckers at the base overy chance as theso provide for tho next year's plants. Now, too, is the time to note down how long tho buds take to develop into the best flowers and when they should bo taken. Somo varieties flower much earlier than others. ASPAKAGrUS BEDS. WINTER ATTENTION. Tho cutting down of the tops of asparagus, if not already done, should be completed without delay. This, in fact, is always best if done as soon as the tops turn brown, and before the seeds ripen and fall, otherwiso numbers of seedlings will spring up all over tho beds and soon weaken the main plants. After cutting down the tops, and at tho time of weeding, any seedling plants that have been allowed to grow should be removed. FIGHTING WEEDS. Keeping tho beds free of weeds is important; the fact of tho soil being well enriched with? manure results in tho rapid grbwth of weeds, which, if allowed to develop soon - extract much of the food properties from the soil. During the growing, season little can bo clone in the way of hoeing, on account of the risk of destroying the tops of the voting growths, while even after the tops are ripened and cut down, tho same difficulty exists, as there is still the danger of injuring the'crowns, unless the work is very carefully performed. PREPARING HEW BEDS. In preparing new asparagus beds or plots, ample space should be allowed so that the plants will not be unduly crowded. The amount of preparation required will depend largely upon the quality of the soil, and tho object of the grower. If grown for market purposes and large plots are to be planted it may not bo convenient or necessary to form the ground into raised beds, especially if the ground is of a deep-alluvial nature, and provided with a free outlet for surplus moisture. If, on the other hand, it is grown simply for home consumption, or the soil is of a stiff, retentive nature, raised beds are a decided advantage, as this provides a more ready drainage and gives added warmth to the soil. SOILS FOR ASPARAGUS. Although asparagus succeeds bests in a deep, rich sandy loam, it can bo successfully grown in almost any good garden soil, providing sufficient gritty matter is applied to keep the soil open and porous, as efficient drainage is in every caso essential.

In preparing the soil the ground should be trenched to a depth of two feet, and as the bottom of each trench is reached, a thick layer of manure or other decayed vegetable matter should be thrown in. • In adding gi'it or sand, a portion should be worked in with every layer of the soil, and besides this, well decomposed 1 manure should bo well incorporated in the soil throughout the whole bed. Sea sand and sea weed is excellent for working in tho soil for this crop, but failing this, burnt refuse, lime rubble, wood ashes, or road sweeping aro all useful and assist to keep tho soil open and provide freo drainage. MAKING RAISED BEDS. If raised beds are decided upon, they should bo formed five feet in width and trenched and treated as already advised. At this width it provides for three rows being planted eighteen inches apart. An advantage of planting in beds, is that all weeding and cutting of tho crop can be done from tho sides without having to tread upon tho beds. Although the planting is better deferred until spring or until tho young plants commence to start into growth, it is well to have the ground broken up at this time to allow of the soil becoming well sweetened, and to sink to its proper level by the time the plants are ready for putting in. CULTIVATION AMONG CROPS. ROUTINE WORK. Routine garden work will consist in weeding and thinning out seedling crops, and taking every advantage of fine weather to keep the soil stirred amongst growing crops. Tins, together with tho freo use of lime, will do much to keep slugs under control.

Plant out cabbage, cauliflower cr other colworts as required while any of the more advanced established plants should bo assisted by an occasional application of superphosphate stirred into the soil around tho plants; or a slight sprinkling of nitrate of soda just before uin and stirred into tho soil. In applying the latter, l oz. to the square yard is .ullicient. All vacant ground from which crops havo been taken, instead of being left unworked until required for use, should be deeply broken up or trenched.