THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12199, 25 July 1925, Page 19

THE GARDEN

A COLUMN FOR AMATEURS INTERESTING NOTES BY “RATA” SPECIAL TO THE “TIMES.” . IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Plant rhubarb, lettuces, horseredifh, end osperagus. Sow bread beans, peas, radishes, and turnips. Earth up growing crops. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN Complete thu planting of rosea and all shrubs. Make any desired altwratlons 'in the lay-out of the:garden air paths. Weed the lawn. Prepare the beds fdr planting' next month. . THE SEED ORDER The different seed lists are now coming to. hand, and soon we must tackle the question, of what we are to order ' (for the coming season. It is always Wise to make up the bulk of the order from well-proved varieties of the different kinds,' for to depend entirely on. novelties is . a -,dangerous proceeding where sl'steady: succession of vegetables has -to he provided. It should always be'bonie in mind, when ordering seeds, that eeriy ordering is to the edvintage' of buyer and seller. In the case, ,of thp latter it spreads his rush-time oven, a longer period, and enable him .to give careful attention to all ordenjV. Uhile th. buyer, benefits 'by- having his supplies at hand whenever; he requires to use them. ONIONS Readers who are anxious to succeed with onions, should bear in imind that an earliy jrtsrt ia Atfential. Tlie ground cannot be too' rich for tlieonion bed, therefore add ' sand-leaf mould,, wood ashes, and fertilizer in the loain, and dig udl in. Make the soil firin, and secure an absolutely even surface before sowing the seed in drills. Gobd varieties to tow soon, are .Ailsa Craig, Dickson and Robertson’s Premier. WORK IN THE FLOWER GARDEN There is not a great deal to be done in this department yet, .except to keep everything clean and tidy. Where leaves have blown in among beds of wallflowers, Polyanthus/''etc';; they should be removed, for not only are they untidy, but they harbour dahip and vermin. Pruning, and transplanting- may pro-' cecd as climatic conditions permit. Ar-< rears of figging may be overtaken. -

ji HYACINTHS The deterioration of hyacinths planted in the garden may be almost ’prevented : .by hot allowing them to bear.seed. - The flower spikes should; be out, off as soon as the blossom fades. SMfLAX ’ Smilax is a very pretty vine, with, its glossy, green libbed -leaves, and is extensively used for decorative pur-, poees. With a little care it een be grown .successfully ~.m a hohte The vine dUes not require the' ’ lull sun, but Will grow in a partly shaded situation. Tt is easily raised from seed, and grows .very rapidly. Over watering must he avoided or the foliage will rlurn yellow. ■ j . ROSE CUTTINGS The following i 4. an excellent method of rooting rose cuttings, and very seldom foils: Obtain a box about six inches deep and filk to a depth of 'two inches .with broken .crocks, gravel and charcoal, over this place a layer of coarse gravelly earth, an inch deep. Then add two inches of rich finely pulverised soil, and cover all with an inchof clean sand. -Water the soil thoroughly Und insert the cuttings with 4Wo joints below the soil, and one or two aboye. Set the . box in a sunny place, arid keep. the soil, fairly moist. Dp not disttiib the cuttings until well looted," and growing off nicely,; when they; may be transplanted to theirpermanent situation. ■ SIX BEST ANNUALS Sweet peas, pansies, mignonette,asters, phlox and stocks, can be termed the . six best annuals. These, from seed sown in the early spring will furnish flowsrt for, a lengthy gieriqd. -The bloonis . must be picked from the pansies and sweet peas everyday. Sow the mignonette seed where it is 'to blqomV the other annuals can be trans-; planted. Many other annuals are equally as gobd in some respects, but the above are easy to raise, hardy; fragrant and furnish a, good range of colours (except yellow) and are very satisfactory in every way.

TO SOW FINE SEEDS To sow very fine flpwer seeds, Buch as lobelia, petunias,, etc., wot a piece of tissue paper and> spread on the soil. Then sprinkle the seeds on the paper and, sift, a little fine • soil. over them.In this Way, 'the spedfi are: not’: lost, because of their sinking too deeply into the ground. The paper preserves them until they take .root and it rots away in time. ; 1 ■ ' HINTS ON POT PLANTS • i !.'■■/ V >• -y ■ r l .' t ■ , V The most essential point is to have good soil. No .plant can do well without it.-\ Fresh sandy - loam with'? .'-a third of Well-rotted manure will do

for most plants. Inputting, press the Boil- well down in the pot. ■ Do not have, - the • soil 1 wet when potting. Plants must not be kept in a room, Where the air is too warm! and dry, this is one of the causes, of insects troub-. ling them. Thoy should, be kept cooLt at night, than ,in th,e daytime, i , Give water only when the plants need it. A plant with its roots constantly in the mud cannot thrive. Sprinkling or putting, the plants out under a gentle shower of rnm should be dpne as often as possible.. 1 Open the windows and give fresh hip frequently, but do not allow the plants to be in the draught. Dust is one of the\worst enqmies' to the growth of indoor plants. Smooth leaved plants may be sponged ■ . often to keep them clean. Ammonia/ one teaspoonful to a quart of water gives the foliage. of plants a bright - fresh appehranoe. - - ' . FERNS Ferns can be grown in wire baskets lined with- moss, soil is fibrous loam, saUd aqd leaf mould:' They should Ije well watered, ' and grow ,best in a moist atmosphere,! The lack of sucoess with hanging baskets, is generally. caused by insufficient watering. They should jbe taken down at least twice a week. and' dipped into a pail of - water, and held there Until thoroughly ■ soaked. Tliis treatment ,will make strong luxuriant plants; instead of the weakly -growths so often seen in hanging baskets.