CULTIVATION OF STOCKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

CULTIVATION OF STOCKS.

ATTENTION TO SEEDLINGS. Stocks are universally grown anu wanted in every garden. They are represented by numerous varieties enumerated under various headings. There are the popular beauty stocks for early planting, and also the giant perfection, the finest and strongest growing of the ten-week stocks of branching habit, which produce a large percentage of fully double flowers from specially saved seed ; They comprise a very wide range of colours and are the best for present planting. Princess Alice (pure white), and Beauty of Nice, winter flowering, branching stocks in several lovely colours are also suitable for spring and early summer bedding. There are East Lothian and other intermediate stocks, and dwarf ten-week or summer bedding stocks, comprising the finest and most distinct colours. Winter fiowering cr Brompton stocks produce enormous spikes of Sowers, but are little grown, as they take 12 months before coming into Sower and during the summer, have to be frequently sprayed to check aphides. PLANTS AND THE SOIL.' Stocks are raised from seeds, the first sowings, being made in the autumn. Tha young seedlings must be placed in a cool airy place, to prevent any damping. When this seedlings are large enough they must be pricked off into shallow plant trays, and if there is any appearance of s.phis they should be snraved with black leaf 40 or Gishursts compound. In the preparation of the soil for planting it must be deeply dug. incorporating basic slag in the lower spit. A liberal dressing of lime should be applied to the surface and lightly forked in. sulphur and soot may be added. For fertilising, a sprinkling of blood aid bone alonz the rows before planting, is suitable; when tha plants are established a top-dressing of superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia—3oz- cf superphosphate and loz to 2oz. of ammonia per square yard—is a liberal dressing. In planting the tall growing branching varieties, arrange them Sin to t2n apart. For the dwarf growing tenweek varieties, about Sin apart is sufficient. Staking each plant is neccs sary at the proper time.