THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11305, 2 September 1922, Page 10

THE GARDEN

Notes by

Rata.

WHAT TO DO JUST NOW IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Thin out autumn sown carrots. Cultivate tire soil around soarlet runner tubers. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. Clip hedges well back. Make a selection of spring flowering bulbs.

IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. SEASONABLE HINTS. The time for sowing seeds is now upon us, and a few practical hints may be acceptable. Although supposed by inexperienced amateurs to be a difficult task, yet no work in the garden is so simple as seed sowing, especially for vegetables. It can he easily understood why a large quantity of seed sown never grows, and consequently has a discouraging tendency. Generally the seedsman is blamed, but this is a mistake; and it must be borne in mind that if only one half germinates there is more than enough for one’s use. The cause of failure is sowing too deeply and actually burying the seed. In a state of nature all seeds germinate on the top of the ground, only protected with a slight covering of fallen leaves.

There is a golden rule to be guided by in rowing seed, and that is, nevei to cover it with a greater tnirkneaw of roil than the diameter of the seed itself. There are, of course, exceptions; but du rowing Tadishes for instance, the ground should be forked and levelled. The seed should then be sown, and if a shower of rain falls, nothing more is required, as it wilt break down the rough ground sufficiently to cover the seed. In the absence of rain the soil may be lightly raked over the seed; There is a distinct advantage in growing one’s own plants—you can move them for transplanting at. your own convenience (with good roots), whereas those you buy may have been out of the ground several days, end take a long time recovering from the shift. 1 In protecting seeds from the ravages of birds, many devices have been tried, more or less successful;- but it has been proved that'black cotton; .stretched in lines about two inches from the ground is the most effective of all measures. It is important to hear in mind that the whole year’s supply of vegetables depends in a great measure upon the way in which the various operations are carried but in this department during, the month of September. As soon as the time arrives for sowing or planting each oroo, a day should not pass' without this being done, if weather endr soil are suitable.

IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. NARCISSI. Narcissi are now in full bloom, and the opportunity should be taken to select a few bulbs to add to one’s collection. This is best done from specimens in bloom, as no description in a catalogue can compare with seeing the flowers at close quarters. As out blooms narcissi are unrivalled, lasting as they do, in water, for eight to ten days, and for their beauty and graceful appearanoe are much admired. They axe of hardy growth, and need only the slightest attention to produce an abundance of flowers; probably this is the reason why they are so much grown. They thrive best if grown in a bed by themselves where their foliage may be permitted to die down naturally. Many amateurs make a .practice of cutting off the foliage of bulbs aa soon as they have finished flowering, on the plea that it has an untidy appearance. This may he so, but it is a great mistake to do so, as it is after the flowering process is over that the bulbs draw their strength from the foliage to enable them to produce flowers the following season, and if the foliage is cut off tile bulbs suffer a severe setback. • To those readers who are unable to' make a personal selection the following are recommended: Narcissusßarii: Seagull, Dorothy Bell, John Bain, and Conspicuous. Narcissus Incompaxabilis: Sir Watkin, Lucifer, Great Narley, Flambeau, and Frank Miles, narcissus Ledsii: Minnie Hume, Chiystalline, Mountain Maid, Ariadne, and Undine. Narcissus Foeticns: Dante, Horace, Laureate, Ben Johnson, Ornatus, Raeburn, and Cassandra. In Bicolonr Trumpets: Coronet, Duka of Bedford, Empress, and Weardaie Perfection. In White .Trumpets: Mme. de Groff, Mrs Thompson, and Mro R. Sydenham. Yellow Trumpets: King Alfred, peror, Hemy Irving, Mona, and Glory of Leiden. . The. prices of narcissi bulbs vary con“ljfl*lw» but the foregoing varieties will be found amongst the moderatelypnoed ones.