THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 19

THE GARDEN

INTERESTING ITEMS NOTES BY “RATA” WHAT TO DO JUST NOW SEASONABLE HINTS. Don't remove the tops from Brussels sprouts yet, later on is the time to do ifc. Don’t forget that autumn fruiting raspberries fruit on the young ratios made during the coming summer, therefore give them a good dressing of manure. » Don’t attempt to water seed boxes from overhead; the correct method is to immerse them nearly to the ton till tho water soaks through, then allow them to drain before sowing the scecl. Don’t allow perennial weeds in the garden to master you; now is the time to attack them so that they may bo kept under control, even if they cannot bo completely eradicated. Don’t overlook tho fact that ivy A 3 S garden .needs ifi jig pl»£®; ,

Sand is used in potting soil to keep ’.i open. Use finely sifted soil for seed sowing. livery garden should have a herb bed, containing iiarsloy, mint, sage, marjoram, thyme, and chives. Overhaul the lawn mower before the husy season arrives. Powdered charcoal helps to prevent soils from becoming sour. Remember cheap tools are usually dear p.t any price. Test potting soil by squeezing a handful together, i:f it barely holds together it is in the right condition for use. Very fine seeds are best left uncovered in boxes, unices given the merest sprinkling of fine sand. Limewash the inside walls of the vinery now. Leaves can be mixed with manure, when making a hotbed. Order gladioli now fotr planting in September. Seedlings often appear in asparagus beds in large numbers; they should bo pulled out as soon as they are noticed. Parsley is slow to germinate, therei fore sow it earlier than most things in horb bed. ■ WORK FOR INCLEMENT AVEATHER During winter there arc many days i when outdoor work cannot be carried > on. There arc, however, plenty ot i jobs to keep one’s hands fully employed. For instance, pea stakes are in constant demand, so a full stock should he - obtained, graded, and pointed. Seed boseg should, be and flower pots

cleaned. Potting up soil can be sieved ready for futuro use. EARLY CABBAGES AND CAULIFLOWERS. Midsummer supplies of these vegetables may be secured by sowing “Sutton’s Earliest” cabbage, and ‘’First Crop” cauliflowers now. Fill a shallow box with sifted sandy soil, and distribute tlie seeds thinly. When the resultant seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them on to a well prepared bed of rich soil; cauliflowers in particular being gross feeders. AN EARLY PEA. The variety Bountiful is one of the host sorts for present sowing on a warm border. It is quick growing, hardy, and crops well, growing from three to four feet in height. Always trench deeply and work in plenty of rotten manure and leaf mould for peas. PLANT SHALLOTS. duly is a good month in which to plant shallots, then the crop can be got off the ground early, to give space for a crop of some other vegetables. The bulbs should be planted in rows lft apart and f)in between each set. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN SWEET PEAS. Sweet pea.s may now be sown in shallow boxes, in rich hut porous soil, and the boxc* should be supplied with ample dxaiuagej Xu weather*

prepare the site for their future planting, by deep cultivation and fairly liberal manuring. HOLLYHOCKS. If seeds of hollyhocks are sown now’, tlie plants will flower in March. Sow the seeds in a box of sifted soil, and when large enough to inovo transplant them in a larger receptacle leaving them there until required to be planted out. LOBELIA. It sometimes happens that the stock of lobelia plants get straggly and weak. It is well, therefore, to turn them back a little, and use the. host of tho points as cuttings. If pricked out in hoxex of sandy compost, they will soon root, and hv the early spring will have formed bushy dwarf plants. These will bo found better than seedlings, where uniformity of colour and habit, aro necessary. HKRB ACEOU S PA EONIKS. For brilliancy of colouring few flowers compare with fl. l>cd oi paeouies. Tbo largo hloom.s with their bright colouring equal if they do not excel anything in tho floral world. 'I hey prefer a. medium heavy soil, hut so long art the drainage is good, they will do well in almost any kind ol soil. Poor soils should have plenty oi manuro added, for when the plants are in thov should not he disturbed lor years. This dislike to being moved is largely tho reason why paeonies are not more kopuku-ft Cdunyis of u

mg are in their prime, and tbue lender they are undisturbed, the better they will thrive and Wood. The alnmps should be planted with the crowns just, below the surface, and enoe planted, never use a hoe, fork or spade near them, for if the crown* are damaged good flowers are impossible. Hand weeding is the only means of deaning around tbe roots of paeonies. Once planted they should receive a mulch of rotten manure in the late winter, before growth begins and daring the summer, plenty of liquid manure will assist in producing good blooms. Paer.nios have few pests, and none which seriously afToct them. Their sole wish is to ho left alone, in a good bed of rich soil. They are best planted in a hod by themselves where they can be watched, and receive the treatment they are worthy of. HERBACEOUS PHLOX. The rapid improvement of these summer and autumn border flower* *e not oniv due to the raising of new sorts, hut also to improved methods ot culture. Instead of leaving the clumps t* grow and flower in the borders undisturbed far some years, lift them in alternate veirs. trench and manure the ground. and divide the clumps. This serves to keep the ahoots young and vigorous. "Work *n a good amount of leaf mould. the roots revel in the ; flaky dacaved leaves.