THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 10

THE GARDEN

Cjfx Notes b]

Rata.

WHAT TO DO JUST NOW Make another planting of early potatoes, and an additional sowing of radish and beet root seed. Cultivate the growing crops of cabbages and cauLflowere to hasten maturity. THE FLOWER CARDEN Prepare the ground for planting chrysanthemums. Give the violet bed a good soaking with liquid manure. Complete the planting of herbaceous plants. Plant gladioli - and lilies.

KITCHEN GARDEN. ’ EVERYDAY WORK. There should be no delay in getting ready every inch of ground intended for summer crops. There is every probability of there being an early spring, and it will be well to risk a little more than usual in early sowings of crops that come in quickly, as in the event of late frosts protective measures may he resorted to, and the loss of seeds is not a great matter compared with the probability of extra early results. ' All plots requiring manure should he got ready at once, as it is much better to have the ground prepared in advance, that the manure may he more completely incorporated with the soil, than to sow or plant immediately after manuring. Ground for peas, cabbage, cauliflowers and lettuce must be liberally manured and deeply dug. If this has been done in advance, at sowing time the soil will he nicely pulverised through exposure to the air, and the seed can be sown dean and rolled in firmly, which is not always possible, if the soil is lumpy, or has been but recently made ready. Choose for potatoes ground on which cabbage broccoli or oeleay has been grown ana which for those crops was well manured last year. POTATOES. Whole potatoes are preferable to cat sets for planting at this season of the year. Out seta may be used for the main crop, because vegetation ia then more active, and a set containing one or two eyes will make a plant directly. Potatoes always grow better and come to maturity sooner if the sets are sprouted before planting! Long, white, flexible sprouts are almost useless, but short, hard green or purplish sprouts about half an inch long, grow with vigour from the first. BEET. Ground which has been well manured for a preceding crop is the most suitable for growing beet. Fresh manure must not be used .or the result will he ugly shaped roots and had colour. For present planting the tur-nip-rooted variety is best. How the seed 1 inch deep, in drills 9in apart. Later than the seedlings to about 6in apart. CAULIFLOWERS AND CABBAGES. Cabbages and cauliflowers should be making good growth now, the mild weather prevailing being of great assistance in promoting speedy growth, which is the main factor in the sucoessful cultivation of these popular vegetables. Water must be liberally supplied as required and liquid manure (applied once a fortnight) composed of 2oz of sulphate of ammonia, loz of sulphate of iron, dissolved in 1 gallon of water, will be found to increase the size of the heads, but before supplying the liquid manure the soil must have a good soaking of fresh water. Tho mam thing is to have, a healthy _enu vigorous growth from start to finish; therefore the ground must he well hoed over occasionally and the young plants forced along. A sowing of cabbage and cauliflower seed can he made now, and they will provide plants for auccessional transplanting. . A good variety for that purpose is Late Eclipse and Veitch’s Autumn Giant. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. A busy time is now approaching for the chrysanthemum grower, for it depends largely on the present work whether the resultant blooms are to be a success or otherwise. The plants are propagated by shoots and suckers. The former are obtained from the hard stems, and the latter from the roots.

These furnish the best cuttings, which should be about four inches long. The soil for striking must be light and friable, with a good proportion of clean sand. When well rooted they can be transferred to their permanent position ill a well enriched bed. An ideal mixture for growing chrysanthemums is composed of well rotted cow manure, a little bonedust, and a email quantity of soot, charcoal, lime, and wood ashes, all well mixed together and applied to the beds as a good top dressing. GLADIOLI. These beautiful bulbs are easily grown, the principal requirement being a rich, well-drained soil, and an extended period of blaming can be obtained by planting at intervals, from about August to November. The bulbs must be planted about four inches deep, where they are intended to flower, and about ten inches apart, and it is desirable to surround the cor in with sharp clean sand until the shoots are above the ground, when it may he enriched with plenty of decayed stable manure or bonedust. There are now so many varieties on tho market that only the best ahonld be grown, and these will produce in their season a quantity of seed, which the enthusiastic grower may like to experiment with, and it forms a very interesting hobby; or, if none has been saved from last season’s blooms, it can be procured from any reliable seedsman. Tbe seed can be sown now in boxes of fine, rich soil, and should be covered with a sheet of glass, and kept fairly moist. It is of slow germinating powers, but when onoe the shoots appear it makes rapid progress, and should _ then be planted out in a shady position, and will only need an occasional watering. CYCLAMEN. Cyclamen are now in full bloom, and form very handsome plants for bouse decoration. They will be greatly benefited by an application of liquid manure weekly, which should be applied only after the plant has oeen watered. Moisture and warmth are verv helpful in growing these beautiful bulbs, of which there are now immense variety of colours. To obtain the best results a sowing of seed should be made every year. This can be done m pots filled with a mixture of sand, leaf mould, and fine soil. Water it thoroughly and leave for a few hours! to drain, -then plant the seeds upon the surface, about an inch apart, and lightly cover with fine soil and leaf mould. Shade the pots from the direct rave of the sun, and do not permit the young plants to become drawn np. A welt grown and plump oorm is the desired result.