THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12643, 31 December 1926, Page 19

THE GARDEN

NOTES BY “RATA” THIS WEEK’S .WORK Finish planting celery. Divide and replant polyanthus and primroses. Make a sowing of primula malacoides. Remove runners and weeds from strawberry beds. ' ’ Riant out cauliflowers in rich soil. Pay frequent attention to the tieing of the strong young growths coming from the bases cf rambler roses as they produce bloom next year. Seedlings just through the soil need continual Watering in the dry weather.-: Cimerapa seedlings can be pricked out singly into small pots. Cut back the dwarf sunroses after they have flowered to keep them to a neat habit. Water pot plants in the evening now. Sow forgci-me-not seed in shady places. The staking and tying of herbaceous border plants is work that should not Ee postponed. A sowing of an early variety of garden pea made about now often proves very successful. Remove suoker growths from gooseberries and red and white currants. - Any slight pruning needed by rhododendrons should bo done at once. Trailing plants used for carpeting flower beds should be assisted to cover the soil by pegging the growths where necessary. Quick maturing catch crops can be sown between bush fruits where there is room. Don’t over water flower beds containing geraniums, as these plants do best when kept a little drier thnn most bedding plants. Don’t allow seed pods to form on sweetpeas grown for garden decoration and more than those grown for large blooms. Feed weekly now with liquid fertiliser, watering them with clear water first. Carnations can be layered now or early next month, and they will be well rooted before winter. The double white arahis is easly increased by cuttings at this season, planting them firmly and fairly deep. Lift the tulips and put them in a trench in a sunny place. Remove old flowering stems of rock plants and clin back nny which are over-running the rockery. Hive a good top-dressing of rich compost to rockery primulas.

Make a sowing of swede turnips in rich, well-worked ground. Sow white and yellow turnips every two weeks till the endof February. STOP CUTTING AS'PAKAGUS Although many will be tempted to continue cutting suitable stems of this vegetable, it is not advisable to do so after the end of next week, because the crowns will be weakened, and next -year’s crop will suffer. Keep the beds free from weeds, and thin rows of seedling asparagus until they are about' nine inches apart. GROWING MAIN CROP ONIONS This is a critical period for spring sown onions, and the amateur cannot 4o better 'than to hoe frequently between the rows and dust with old soot-in . tbe~eally\ morning when the foliage is damp. Soot is not only a fertiliser, biit -an insecticide, as it is distasteful'. to, the onion fly. TOMATOES -Never ; permit. the., plants ■ to need ' water, or. split'fruits-.are likely. Another top-dressing. of rich compost is nearly due. Make this very firm and. give a reasonable' dusting of some approved chemical manure. PLANTING LEEKS As (vholesome as it is hardy, the leek should be found in.all gardens. It will flourish'in any ordinary good soil, and plants may be placed in permanent quarters without delay. Elaborate preparations -are often made for the crop,' but such labour is unnecessary. Trenches need not be constructed to receive the plants unless the produce is required' for exhibition purposes. Choose a manured site, and use the hoe to make deep drills at ISin apart. Mako bole 10 in apart sufficiently deep to accommodate the seedlings up to the first pair of leaves. Just tighten the soil around the root* at the bottom of the hole, but do not press the .soil about the stems of the plants.; Water directly planting is completed. Frequent summer hoeings will fill the drills originally made, and provide all the . earthing up that is necessary. WORTHLESS STRAWBERRY PLANTS HOW TO IDENTIFY' THEM. “Reversion” (i.e., returning to the wild state) in the strawberry is brought on by growing plants in the snme locality for years together. _ and bv inferior cultivation. Now is a good time to mark npy which show signs of deteriorating, and thv

fruit Ws gathered, the plant should be dug up and burnt. Great care should be taken not to plant “reverting” plants. The signs of reversion are: An aburidance of small flowers in long stems,, the leaf stalks much thinner than usual, and the leaves, very indented. The fruit is very small andextremely' sweet; Naturally there is no cure, but it may be almost entirely prevented by taking the steps advised. “Sir Joseph Paxton” is a very susceptible variety. Wherri this is likely to occur, give a good soaking of clean water to each plant, and where there is lack of vigour,'follow up next day with a.saturating of weak liquid manure. DELPHINIUMS Although tjif stems of this plant look strong, they are not so, and are easily destroyed by. heavy rains or strong winds, so it is necessary to look them over at frequent intervale and afford further ties as growth advances. On light, soils, plants are apt, during dry sunny weather, to suffer considerably from dryness at the roots, innptlepiece. ~ There was also ; the connection'of the electric ligh£ from the main, as well as' the connection of the sewer and storm water drains, which