THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11785, 22 March 1924, Page 13

THE GARDEN

Notes by

Rata.

IN THE VEGETABLE CARDEN. SOW ONIONS, CARROTS, LETTUCES, AND CABBAGES. EARTH UP CELERY AS REQUIRED. PREPARE TOP DRESSING FOR LAWNS, AND GIVE THEM A THOROUGH WEEDING. IN THE FLOWER CARDEN. PUT IN CUTTINGS OF HYDRANGEAS AND BEDDING GERANIUMS. FEED CHRYSANTHEMUMS WITH LIQUID MANURE. SOW TEN-WEEK STOCK SEED. PLANT SPRING FLOWERING BULBS.

VEGETABLE GARDEN The recent prevailing weather conditions have played havoc in the gardens, and vegetables destined for winter consumption have in many cases been ruined, consequently they will be scarce and dear in days to come. It therefore behoves the Tibbie gardener to nurse up any young plants he may have coming on. SOW LETTUCE NOW. By making a sowing of lettuce seed now, young plants will be available for planting in early spring, when lettuces are scarce and expensive. .Select a sunny spot, sheltered from the southerly winds, and, if the soil is poor, make a trench a few inches wide and not less than nine inches deep. In this bury a good layer of well-decayed leaf mould, manure, or vegetable refuse, free from weed seeds. Press the soil firm, and if it is very dry, give a thorough watering. Those who prefer cabbage varieties can plant “All the Year Round’’ or “Webb’s Wonderful,” and of the Cos variety, “Hick’s Hardy,” “Crystal Cos/’ and “Bath Cos” are best. PHONING LOGANBERRIES.

Loganberry plants yield in much greater profusion when early autumn pruning is practised. Directly the last of this season’s crop has been gathered, cut out the whole of the old fruiting wood. In the majority of cases there will be plenty of young growth to replace the shoots removed, but it does not pay to retain more than four or five of the strongest on each plant. SHALLOTS. Most amateurs grbw a few shallots. These in an ordinary season have now finished growing, and have ripened, and may be used for culinary purposes. How to fill the ground again to the best advantage is often a problem not so easy to solve as many would imagine. Few crops give more satisfaction than autumn cauliflowers, and if the ground was well prepared for the shallots, nothing beyond a raking over will be needed. Autumn Giant is a very popular variety, and well suited to this locality. Select strong, sturdy plants, with plenty of good fibrous roots, without which growth is bound to be slow. Allow each plant about 20 inches each way, and where the soil is light plant about four inches deep. Give the plants plenty of water during the first ten weeks following the planting. BULBS HOOP-PETTICOAT DAFFODIL. This plant, narcissus bulbocodium, sometimes also called the petticoat narcissus, is a small, slender subject, reaching a height of only six or eight inches. But it is not to be despised on that account. It, thrives wondeifully well under local conditions; it multiplies rapfdly, takes up little room, and it is wonderfully fioriferous. The perianth, or outer segments, are inconspicuous and narrow, but the crown or trumpet, which is bright yellow, is large and expanded, being about an inch and a half long. A small bed of these flowers has a wonderfully bright effect in the garden when flowers are comparatively scarce. This little plant should not be overlooked when bulbs are being purchased.

HYACINTHS. These hardy bulbs bear dense spikes of beautifully-coloured and sweetlyperfumed flowers tbat last a long time, either in the garden or when cut. They may. he grown in clumps, or whole beds of them give wonerful effects if the bulbs are planted about four inches apart. Dutch growers make some marvellous colour schemes by massing each colour separately to form any given design. Other varieties of bulbs which will be found well worth planting, and which are obtainable either in separate colours, or all shades mixed, are ixias, freeeias, anemones, iris, sparaxias, natsonias, montbretias, tulips, and lachenalias. The use of new pots for bulb culture is often the cause of failure, and they should not be employed if well cleansed old pots are available. The tender roots of the bulbs frequently become too dry, owing to tne absorbent nature of new pots. CYCLAMEN. A start should now be made in sowing cyclamen seeds. It takes from 12 to 18 months to grow good flowering plants in five and six-inch pots. Prepare well-drained, shallow boxes or pans of sandy soil. The seeds are fairly large, and it is easy to space them out about half an inch apart over the surface, covering them with quarter of an inch of sandy soil. Bach seedling can then be transferred, with a small Fall of soil attached, to threeinch pots. The best position for germination is a warm, moist corner of the greenhouse or frame. CALCEOLARIAS. »This is the best time of year to insert cuttings of the yellow and brownflowered bedding calceolarias, either of the three following methods will be successful: (1) Insert in shallow boxes and place in cold frame; (2) prepare a bed of sandy soil in a frame, and dibble in tho cuttings; (3) or plant in a sunny, sheltered sorner, and protect from the winds-

TREE-PLANTING BEAUTIFYING HIGHWAYS (By M. B. Pratt, Californian Expert.) The systematic planting of trees along the State highways of California began in the spring of 1920, when the Lodi Women’s Club planted a mile of sycamores alonig the State highway near that oity as a memorial to the soldier boys of Lodi. Tlho details of this planting were prepared by the State Forester, and embodied in a permit issued by the State Highway Commission. This was the beginning of cooperative highway tree planting agreements between verious organisations, the State Highway Commission and the State Forester, which has resulted in the planting of over 300 miles of trees along the highways of California. There is no State in the Union that has a more satisfactory method for the beautification of the highways than has California. Due to the joint efforts of tho Highway Commission and the State Board of Forestry, a State nursery was established several years ago to grow trees to be planted along State highways. This nursery, which is under the supervision of the State Forester, now has about 60,000 trees, the most of which are ready for planting on the highways the coming winter ana raring Last year the trees were distributed free of change to organisations that agreed to plant trees under the terms of the permits issued by th® Highway Commission. This year a nominal charge is being made for them, based on the cost of production and the cost of preparation for shipment. MILEAGE INCREASES. Up to this year the trees have been maintained by the Highway Commission from the time they were planted. The mileage planted has increased so rapidly, however, that the expense involved hae made necessary a different arrangement. Organisations planting trees In' the future will be required to care for the trees the first year or to deposit a sufficient amount with the Highway Commission to meet this expense. The Highway Commission will also agree to plant the trees if the oost of planting is deposited by the organisations to which planting permits are issued. From past experience it is estimated that it will ooet about 1.25 dollars to purchase, plant, stake and protect each tree, and 1 dollar to maintain it the first year. Trees are generally spaced 100 feet apart on both sides of the highway, making 104 trees to the mile. The total cost per mile would be about 234 dollars, although this oost would probably be less if blasting were not necessary. Since the Highway Commission assumes all responsibility for the trees in cases where deposits covering the planting and care for the first year are made, it is very probable that this procedure will be more satisfactory ana eoonomioal to the various organisations desiring to plant trees, than if they assumed the responsibility from the beginning. Furthermore, tho care of the trees will be supervised by W. E. Glendinning, Highway Tree Expert, who bos had splendid results with the trees already planted- . The selection of the right kind or trees for planting is a matter which is given serious consideration by the Highway Tree Planting Committee, which consists of the State Highway Engineer, State Forester, State Gardener, and Professor _ of Landscape Gardening at the University of California. The principal species of trees that have been planted so far are Californian black walnut, European sycamore, American elm, black locust, Lombardy poplar, and various species of oaks. In the selection of trees every effort is made to select those whioh will harmonise with their surroundings. Many regions have charms* due to their native trees which can be enhanced by the planting of additional native .trees rather than exotics. One of the favourite trees for highway planting is the European sycamore, which very closely resembles the native sycamore of California. Wherever soil conditions will permit, and the right conditions are usually found in the vicinity of streams and rivers where the Californian Bycamore is often present, the species is planted. Another favourite species is the Californian black walnut, which, because of its rapid growth and broad drown, is particularly adapted for highway planting. It harmonises with nearly any landscape, and has a high commercial value as well, since its stem is grafted to English walnut. EUCALYPTI TREES MOST SUITABLE.

As a general rule, the Highway Tree Planting Committee does not favour the planting of palms and eucalypti along the State highways even though they may attract the attention of eastern tourists. Palms do not provide shade, and eucalyptus trees asro detrimental to the soil for a considerable distance, as well as endanger traffic through the breakage of limbs which is liable to result when tho trees attain large size. Deciduous trees' seem to be best adapted for highway planting, since they shed their loaves at a time when the highways are wot from winter ctonus, and do not hinder their drying as would evergreen trees. The permits issued for planting on the State highways prescribe the method of planting, staking, and protecting the trees. ■ Uniform spacing is also prescribed, generally 100 feet apart on both, sides of the road, with an alternate arrangement which giVea a £O-£o*u. effect to the travel-

ler. One species is planted continuously for some distance until & convenient break is found when another species is planted to avoid monotony. After regular planting has been secured, it will then be possible to undertake landscaping by means of irtorplanting with shrubs and flowers. A splendid start in beautifying the highways of California has been made, which, if continued, will result in the harmonious treatment of the whole highway system. Concerning this work, Professor* Jepson, of tlie University of California, says: “While such improvements increase the, pleasure and contentment of the traveler, and add large economic values to the regions traversed by the roads, the work serves an additional purpose in giving expression to the spirit of our people, their feeling for the out-of-doors—for the hills, valleys, and mountain ranges of this State. For these roads will not merely carry the traffic load of trade, binding oity to city, but ably planned and adorned ■'they will be sylvan threads worthy to join th© wonderlands of California each to each, and those in turn with the centres of population. In this manner, such work will give a visible sign of the mental attitude and spirit of the Californians.”