THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12093, 21 March 1925, Page 13

THE GARDEN

NOTES BY “RATA’* i WHAT TO DO JUST NOW IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Lift the potatoes. Sow winter spinach. Earth up celery and leeks as growth progresses. IN THE FLOWER. GARDEN. Plant anemones, ranunculus, tabis.uas, and sparaxias. Sow pansy and viola seed. Attend to the violets, and give them a little fertiliser. WINTER SPINACH. Although it is usual to sow this succulent vegetable once a fortnight during summer to keep up a supply, a fair breadth should now be sown to maintain this during the winter. This may be done in drills 18 inches apart on land which has just, been eleared of potatoes. Thin the plants to 6 inches apart when they are three inches high. ONION SEED. Those amateurs who intend: saving seed of onions, must cut the heads when they are quite dry, and it is most important that they should he thoroughly dried. The nest way to do this is to hang the stems, head downwards, in any cool shed enclosing them in muslin bags. STORING POTATOES. The lifting of late potatoes must soon be completed otherwise disease will seriously deplete the yields. Tubers selected for “seed” purposes must be placed in some light airy place, protected from frosts and damp. ' SPRING CABBAGES. A few more cabbages may he planted on “the sit® recently cleared of onions. For small gardens, small hearting and quickly maturing varies ties, such as “Harbinger” and “April,” are useful because they require only one foot space ibetw'een the rows. Plant them firmly, and if the soil should be dry water each plant in. EVERGREEN SHRUBS. March is one of the best months in which to transplant most evergreens There is less sun now and more moisture may be expected to assist the plants to take root in their new quarters. If they bear plenty of foliage remove some of it, to balance to some extent the loss of roots in transplanting- ! A FINE AUTUMN ROSE. “Pharisaer” may be considered an old rose nowadays, but it is still one of the most beautiful of those which bloom well in the autumn. The bush grows well, arid bears long stemmed blooms of pale shell pink that are very attractive. If this variety is not in your collection order it now. PANSY CULTURE.

Pansies in this latitude are treated as perennials, and some of the finest blooms are produced from plants which have been well cut hack, watered, and manured. Some growers, however, prefer to sow fresh seed each season. Only the best seed, obtainable should he used, and it is more satisfactory to buy one packet of good seed than two or three packets of inferior stuff. Constant selection is necessary to secure good seed, and only that from the first largo blooms should be taken, as seed bearing soon reduces the vitality of the pansy plant, and the flowers suffer in size and form. It takes a considerable area of bloom and much patient skill in selection to get an ounce of seed. To grow for colour effect the seed will have to be bought in separate colours, and pansies are one of the flowers that can he relied on to come true if the sorts are kept well separated. Sow the seed thinly in fine soil, in boxes, and water with a fine spray, keeping the box shaded from the sun’s direct rays. • After they have developed the second or third pair of leaves, transplant them into a prepared bed in a sheltered part of the garden for the winter. Bear in mind that pansies are “heavy eaters” of soil fertility. To make ready for big flowers provide strong food, and plenty of it. Well rotted cow manure is best of all, and this should be thoroughly mixed in with the soil. The situation in which the young plants are to be set out is most important. They can stand the full sun in the morning, hut they are finer and last longer if given a shady position from the afternoon sun. In a position where very little sun will reach them at all they will grow leggy and soft. Pick the blooms often for decorative purposes. If they are permitted to wither and go to seed (unless required) the plant loses vigour. Occasionally, also, cut back the longer stems, or shoots, to keep the plants more compact. Pansies are not onlv one of the showiest hut also one of the most liberal bloomers inthdv garden, flowering nearly all the y^r. round. Few plants can eclipse this record.

SWEET PEIAS. ' An early selection of novelties in sweet peas should be made, otherwise the best ones will soon be sold out, and disappointment will follow. The grower who relies solely on old favourites misses the eager anticipa tion which a few novelties add to a collection when the first blooms are unfolding. Sweet pea novelties are possibly the cheapest of any popular flower. For a very small outlay, dozens of blooms can be produced from: a single packet, and will provide a most interesting hobby ipr the amateur gardener, as well as an abundance of bloom for garden or house decoration. One or two of the following are well worth growing:—Austin Frederick, improved lavender; Eva. salmon cerise ; Jack Cornwall, violet blue; Lustrus, dark maroon: Romance, fancy striped; Fairy Queen, salmon pink on cream; Bridesmaid, pale pink, and i Chelsea, which is one of the most beautiful peas ever grown. The blending of colours is most unique. The standard is a rich buff salmon, while the wings are pink flushed apricot, the general appearance being somewhat like shot silk. ; COMPOST HEIAP. * Farmyard manure becomes increasingly scarce and costly, and the gardener who would maintain the fertility of the soil must make use of such substitutes as are available. Among these are fallen leaves. They should be gathered and taken care of, for when decayed they form an excellent substitute for yard manure. They may .he placed in a heap, or swept into a pit dug in the grohnd. If sprinkled occasionally with soot and lime, and any old pottings, soil and decayed vegetable refuse are added from time to time, a valuable heap of material will he available in the spring.