THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 13

THE GARDEN

Notes by

Rata.

IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sow seed of early cabbages. Summer prune gooseberries. Pinch out the tops of broad beans. Use the hoe regularly. IN THE FLOWER CARDEN.

sow cineraria seed. Keep dahlias back. VEGETABLE GARDEN BROAD BEANS. The tops of broad beans in flower now, should be pinched out, as it hastens the development of the pods, and also removes any aphis that may be feeding on the young tips. HOEING. The Dutch or push hoe is one of the most serviceable of garden tools, and no other implement does such good work, in return for so little labour. Hoeing is not nearly so laborious a» some gardeh tasks, especially if the soil was forked over and well loosened in the spring, as it should have been, preparatory to using tne hoe. If a loose surface tilth of three or four inches is maintained, the plants will thrive even in times of drought, and great is the difference in health and vigour between plants in soil that is thus treated, and in that which is neglected. One has only to make the experiment to be convinced of the great value of hoeing. EARLY CABBAGES.

A first sowing of earlv cabbage seed can be made this week, and the second sowing in about three weeks. The bed should be thoroughly watered the day prior to sowing, unless it is in a position to received the benefit ot the Tecent rains. Drills should be drawn across the bed one foot apart and an inch deep. Into these sow the seed quite thinly, and cover it lightly with fine soil, pressed down upon it. When the sowing of the first half is completed, it should be given a watering with a fine spray. Some amateur gardeners simply squirt the water over their seed beds, with disastrous effect. The bed should then be covered with any material at hand, to protect it from the direct rays of the sun. A piece of scrim answers very well, but tins should be removed directly the young seedlings appear on the surface. When this stage of growth arrives the young plants should* not be allowed to suffer from dryness, as their young roots have not penetrated very deeply into the soil, therefore they must be. kept moist. Later when the roots are longer, they will withstand surface dryness. The youhg seedlings should be constantly boed between the rows, and this hoeing to keep the surface from caking is the greatest factor in cultivation. that is one of the reasons why it is a much better plan to sow the seed in drill.- than broadcast. SUMMER PRUNING.

The summer piuning of gooseberries and other small fruits has often been criticised, but it is still practised generally, and no method of dealing with the luxuriant shoots of summer time has been suggested in its place. It is quite a simple operation, consisting as it does, of shortening the side shoots that spring from the main branches to such an extent that only five or six leaves are left on each one. After sunvner pruning it will he found that further hut less vigorous shoots will appear, and these in turn should he “stopped” just above .the first leaf. In these ways the trees are prevented from making a lot of useless growth, and there is a better Chance of the formation of fruit buds. THE FLOWER GARDEN’ SOW CINERARIA SEED. Cineraria seed to be successful, must he sown now. It may seem rather early, but this plant is alow in its first stages of growth. Late sown seed does not produce the large well developed plants that give such enormous heads of flowers. Seed must he sown under glass, and as it is very fine, it requires careful handling, The compost in the seed pans should ho good friable imould mixed with

well washed sharp sand, all of which should be finely sieved together. The seed pan should' be well drained, otherwise the soil becomes sour and the seedlings will -drop off. The soil should be watered some hours before the seed is sown, and allowed to drain thoroughly. Sow the seed evenly and thinly over the surface and just dust enough compost over them to cover them. On no account should the seeds be covered deeply. Place a piece of glass over the pan ■ as this will help to keep the soil moist, and will hasten the germination of the seed. The glass should be removed as soon as the plants come up, or they will be drawn up in a spindly’ manner and spoilt. There are several varieties of cinerarias, but the two best are hyhrida grandiflora, and stellata, usually known as the star cineraria. DAHLIAS. Dahlias are generally allowed t 4 flower far too early. March and April are the months when these tubers shoujd be in full bloom, as the flowers at that time will develop slowly and consequently they will be much larger, and also better in colour. The best way to retard the growth is to cut back the plants, and this should be done at oneeJ If they are cut back to about 3 or 4 joints above the ground, will make fpßsb growths from lower down and this wflf delay them flowering. Dining January and February, they should have only enough water to keep them healthy, but after that they can have an abundant supply of both water and liquid manure.