THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12394, 13 March 1926, Page 19

THE GARDEN

SEASONABLE JOTTINGS INTERESTING NOTES BY “RATA” VEGETABLE GARDEN Take advantage of apy ihowery weather tp* plant ov?' broccoli, cabhaffes, and silver beet; •. Water growing crops with liquid manure. Keep the autumn weeds down, by constant use .of the hoe. Soyr a few rows of intermediate carrot seed. SpVay. shryibs and trees for wax and brown scale, with soda wash. AMONGST THE FLOWERS Plant anemones, ranunculus, ixius, sparaxias, tulips, freesias, hyacinths, and daffodils for spring blooming. Sow winter flowering sweet peas. Transplant.. - cineraries, pansiest primilas, stocks and wallflowers to their permanent positions.

To prepare soda wash for scale pests. Take . Sye pounds of resin, l*lb of caustic'soda, and one pint of-fish oil. add sufficient water to make 20 gallons. Place'the resin, caustic soda and fish oil in a boiler with five gallons of water, and boil for two hours, then add hot water slowly, and. stir, well 'till there is a total or ten gallons..of hot mixture, then add ten gallons of cold water. Never add the cold water whilst the mixture, is cooking, or the resin, will be precipitated, and it will be' a-hard matter to get it in solution again. - A reliable winter spray for deciduous ’trees may be : used one half stronger.

’ Rearranging the garden Anyone contemplating alterations in any part of thp garden should take adjutage of every fine now. These can . be carried out more successfully during this per’odf of the year than at a later- date. The ground is in ordinary seasons in better' order’ .and there is also more time for . carrying out the ’work! It is very important to plant deciduous and other trees in the autumn, for the soil is in a bettor state for their receptiom. and the trees commence at once tp make new roots, and will become well established before the winter sets in .

When this work is delayed until after July the soil becomes so wet that frequently the work has to be delayed until far into tbe spring. Therefore, all plants should be matured as quickly as possible, and where it can be conveniently done the places for the trees should be marked., out and the holes dug. v%- ,

If this iaudone'jiow there is no delay in planting the: trees at the proper time, and: tho soil will be nicely pulverised and be in capital condition for -packing about the roots. The, holes should be made of a sfze in keeping with the amount of roots on the plant. The soil removed'from flip holes should be placed in ridges where it will be well expreetf to the weather, which will sweeten it considerably. ’ ’ , v AZALEAS, AND RHODODEN- •' DRONS Hardy azaleas and , rhododendrons are so showy and attractive when in

bloom that every garden of any space should find room for a few specimeifs. They require a light, open soil. These shrubs like liberal supplies of water, when in full growth, but stagnant moisture about the roots, especially when growing in ordinary soil, is very objectionable to the plants. SWEET PEAS Winter-flowering sweet-peas may be sown now, the sooner the better; The ground for the summer flowering variety can be prepared also. This must be-done thoroughly, and no labour spared, if good results are desired. The ground should be trenched three spits deep at least, and if the soil is of a heavy nature a ’good supply of rich manure, with plenty of straw and leaves, be worked in the bottom spit. The second spit should be enriched with well rotted leaf mould, and the top spit should have the addition of a good sprinkling of. bonedust and soot, which must be well mixed with the-soil. The main endeavour in preparing ground for the growing of sweetopeas is to .remove all chance of the young plants being at any ' time deprived of the natural moisture so necessary for the growth of these beautiful flowers.. ■ Moisten the seed with red lead to keep off slugs and other pests, and sow them from two to three inches apart, and about two inches deep. IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN A sowing of intermediate carrots may be made now, and though they will not he of great size or good colour in . the spring, nevertheless they nrp very welcome when vegetables are so scarce. POTATOES All remaining crops of potatoes should be dug without delay. As the potatoes are picked fiom each 'root, they should be placed in broad rows, and the. naulm and weeds• thrown together. The potatoes are easily collected then without injury. Cooking sized potatoes should be bagged first, care being taken to’reject any doubtful lacking or diseased ones. If sev-eral-different varieties have been spwn. notice should he taken of the name of the most profitable .crop, for future planting.-. Tubers' intended for seed should be thoroughly dried by exposure to sun and light,' but those for the table must not be exposed long enough to become .green, as they are injurious to health, if used at that stage.

- HERBS Cut off the old leaves of parslev plants to induce them to make fresh growths. Mint and thvme should be cut back •low, and the leaves can he placed in paper bags, and hung up to dry for winter use. , BROA DBEANS . Broad beans can also lie sown, and if used when very young, the pods can lie sliced up in a similar manner to which French beans are, and produce a delicious dish for the Household. ~ TOMATOES All laterals should, be nipped off tho plants as soon as they appear, and the fruit should be.-picked daily. This is a very late season, for ’tomatoes,/ and they should be given the benefit of all the sunlight. ’ . •' Red cabbages are now ready -to be cut and -Will keep ’well for some time, if kept in a dry place.