THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 13

THE GARDEN

Notes by

Rata.

IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Clear and c’.'g deeply the ground from which early crops have been taken. Top runner beans and keep well staked. Thin out lettuce plants. Take up crops of potatoes as fast as they ripen. THE FLOWER GARDEN. Strike cuttings of geraniums, verbenas, heliotrope, •pansies, and violas. Give chrysanthemums regular waterings of weak stimulants. Order new roses.

GARDEN PESTS CABBAGE FLY. Most easily noticed now are the cabbage caterpillars, the progeny of cabbage moths. They are generally yellowish green with spots or stripes. Soot dusted on the young plants when thej- are wet with dew, is really the most effective remedy,' but later, when the young plants are larger, hand picking must be resorted to. The groups of tiny white eggs should be destroyed. CELERY PESTS. The celery fly also attacks parsnips, but celery suffers the most. Eggs are deposited in tiny punctures in the leaf; these become tiny greenish grubs, which eat inside of the leaves and develop blisters, the foliage suffers, and the plant fails to grow properly. No preparation can reach these grubs, and the remedy is to pick off the infected leaves and burn them. Watering the plants with tar water is recommended, as the celery fly dislikes any strong-smelling liquid. ONION FLY. The onion fly lays eggs on the young onions in early sumnupr; these speedily hatch into grubs, wmch bore into the bulbs and destroy them. The soil should be kept firm in the onion bed, and when a plant is infected, it should be lifted- out with the soil, and both should he burnt. Soot, lime and sulphur mixed will keep these flies away. Sawdust mixed with paTaffin sprinkled around the plants is also moderately effective. SLUGS AND SNAILS. Soot, lime and ashes all keep These pests away from the plants. Powdered alum is also most effective. Sawdust, too, mixed with sulphur is another good remedy for these pest 9, which are always with us. FLOWER GARDEN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. The buds will soon appear on plants grown, especially for exhibition or large blooms, and the time is now approaching when disbudding will have to be attended to. A good mulch can now be given the plants, to keep the roots healthy and a'tive. Weak soot wat-- is always beneficial ; fine hone m-'r! can also he given. It should be mixed with some rich sifted loam and sand, and a good layer spread oyer the surface soil every fortnight. A sharp lookout should he kept for earwigs and aphides, and every attention should be paid to tying up the growing shoots, or many valuable buds mav be broken. NEW ROSES.

New roses - should be ordered from the nurserymen now, as the chances of getting the varieties required are all in favour of the buyer, whereas if left later many of the new roses will be sold out. Amongst. the best of the modern roses is “Victory,” a bright scaVlet crimson of good shape; the blooms are long and pointed, and are carried on strong wiry stein 6. The foliage is good, and not subject to disease. “Louise Baldwin” is a rich orange yellow; hint of rather delicate habit. “Mrs H. R. Darlington” is a good grower, and its large blooms are a perfect shape. The colour is a creamy yellow. This is a fine exhibition rose. “Frank Dunlop” is a rose of American origin, and one of the best pinks of recent productions. The blooms are full and well chaped, and the petals reflex from the high-pointed centre. With its stiff stems and beautiful perfume, this rose will he in much demand for decorative purposes. “Eidel” is another exhibition rose, and come 3 very large and full. It is a

good grower, and the blooms are ear. ried upright on long, stiff stems. The colour is almost pure white. It is a free bloomer, and has the faintest perfume. “Rev. Page Roberts” is described aa a “Marechal Neil” yellow, streaked with a rich reddish huff. It possesses a sweet perfume, and will become a general favourite. “Sunstar” —the name itself aptly describes this beautiful bloom. It is a blend of yffllow and orange, veined and splashed with crimson, the combination of colours producing glorious tones. If is a very free bloomer, and should be, come a general favourite. “Hawlmark Crimson” is the title be, stowed on the newest dark rose, tha colour being a rich crimson maroon, and sweetly scented.. It is a frea grower, and the massive petals give i( an attractive appearance, even when fully in bloom. The following are a fear of the rosea that combine vigour in growth, fra. grance, disease resistance, and .have high-pointed centres: “Ophelia,’' “Frances Gaunt,” “Clan william, ”■ “"Miss Willmott,” “Golden Emblem,” 1 “Margaret Hamill,” “Nellie Parker,’', “Hoosier Beauty,” “Lady Dunleath,’ v and ‘'Mrs H. D. Green.”