THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11661, 27 October 1923, Page 12

THE GARDEN

Notes by

Rata.

JN THE VEGETABLE CARDEN

SOW SCARLET RUNNER AND KIDNEY BE-CTS, ALSO MAKE A SOWING OF PUMPKIN, VEGETABLE MARROW, AND SQUASHES. PRICK OUT EARLY SOWN CELERY. PLANT A FEW TOMATO PLANTS, BUT PROVIDE PROTECTION AT NIGHT TIME IN CASE OF FROSTS. IN THE FLOWER CARDEN PLAN!' DAHLIAS, CHRYSANTHEMUMS, PERENNIAL PHLOX, SWEET WILLIAM, AND HOLLY HOCKS. SPRAY ROSES TO DESTROY GREEN FLY. MAKE A- SOWING OF SWEET PEAS, TO PRODUCE LATE BLOOMS.

TOMATOES Early-planted tomatoes should be watered as little as possible, otherwise the plants will be attacked by fungoid diseases. The foliage should never be watered, and if the plants show excessive leaf growth, some of this should be removed by cutting off about half of each leaf. The soil between the rows shoukrte hoed frequently, and a mixture of potash and superphosphate lightly mixed in. This will be found to hasten the setting of the fruits and increase the quantity and quality. CELERY. Celery is one of our most wholesome vegetables, and there is no crop which tends so much to improve the land and to leave it in the best condition for succeeding crops. Early-sown seedlings should be large enough by now to be pricked out into boxes. When they have attained moderate size they can then be planted in their permanent quarters* In pricking them out, a warm, sheltered bed of good, light loam answers quite as well as placing them in boxes. They should be planted about 4in apart. The best varieties for crops are Invincible .White, Favourite Pink* and Solid White. THINNING OUT In the majority of gardens, the first sowings of carrots, radishes, onions, and turnips are ready for their' initial thinning out. It is a work which requires some judgment, otherwise the crop will mature at the same time; therefore a certain number of the forward plants should be removed, as well as a certain percentage of the backward ones. The best results will be achieved if the onions are thinned to 6in apart, radishes to 3in, spinach to lOin, carrots to oin, turnips to 6in, the same distance for parsnips and beetroot, silver beet to a foot apart. GODLIN MOTH The only way of ooping with codlin moth is by early and frequent spraying. As soon as the petals are falling the first spray (generally called the calyx spray) should be made. The importance of this first spray lies in the fact that the calyx is then open. When this is 60, tlie young grubs, which are first hatching from the eggs laid by the moth on the rim of the calyx, are able to penetrate to the core, where their future work is to be done. Later, when the calyx is closed, the majority of the grubs are already in the core, but a few burrow through the fruit part of the apple. It is most essential, therefore, that if weather conditions are favourable, the

calyx-spray should be given at th* right time. Arsensate of lead at- the rate'of lib of powder to 50 gallons of water is the most effective proportion for codlin moth. It may be combined with a fungicide, in which case the mixture must be kept in constant motion whilst being used. HOLLYHOCKS Holly-hocks planted out now will bloom veil this season, provided the soil is a deep well-manured loam, after planting, provide the cuttings with a little shade for a few days. POLYANTHUS Polyanthus seed may l>e sown now, in fine soil, and very thinly covered, If the soil is dry wafer well before sowing. When the sowing is done, sprinkle a very fine coating of Kainit over the seed bed; this will preserve a sufficient degree of moisture till the plants appear. If polyanthus seed gets dry after being once made mois% in the ground, it perishes. 4 BULBS Now that the season for flowering bulbs is practically over, a word of warning against cutting off the tops of the leaves, is seasonable. Many amateurs cut away the foliage of bulbous plants when they have finished flowering, the excuse being that they are untidy. This may be go, but if the beds are kept tidy in other ways, and the bulb leaves rolled up and tied, such severe treatment, as cutting them off is ouite unnecessary. In any case it, J 6 rery bad for the plants to denude of their foliage and foed making apparatus, it is at tho termination of their flower-. ’ ing period, their future strength to produce next year’s blooms is built up and this cannot be accomplished if the foliage is removed. Such bulbs as hyacinths, crocus, tulips, narcissi, gladioli, etc., should, if possible be left with ifoli&ge intact, until the top% have died down, at least, a month or six weeks. CUTTINGS The soil is becoming warmer now, and cuttings of many hardv plants, will root in the open ground if kepi well watered. Pieces of Alonso a removed from the base of the plant will root readily il set in a shaded position, and the plants thus established will bloom well in the autumn. Heliotrope, pelargoniums, ageratum*. and the pink and cream daisies, wiil grow quite easily from slips it the small side shoots are pulled off and pressed firmly into the ground.