GARDENING NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18050, 25 September 1920, Page 3

GARDENING NOTES.

By D. Tamnocx.

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

THE GREENHOUSE AND NTJBSEBY Continue to prick out seedlings of beddiag planted as they become established iS the boxes they can be placed out into frames to be gradually hardened off .If irame room a limited some of the more advanced seeding* can be placed outside in a sheltered position, but to protect them from frost it M wise to erect a skeleton frame over ta and cover it with scrim et ught -until all danger is past Sow seeds of vegetable marrows and pumpkins. It k better to sow them in four-inch pota or other receptacles (a bird's nest being- very mutable). Sow two seeds in each pot, and if they germinate remove the weakest one. Tomatoes should be planted otit by now, either in tins, boxes or in the borders, and those intended for growing in the open air can be potted up into five or srt-ineh .pots and grown en for some tame, either in the greenhouse or in a frame. ? Pot on the rooted chryssnthemuma into three-inoh pots, placing them on the greenhouse bench, near the light at first, and afterwards shifting them out into the frames where they will be gradually hardened off The chrysanthemum is a perfectly hardy plant, and is best when grown aa near as possible in the open air. Vines in unheated vineries will be starting now, and as more than one shoot arises on each spur they should be disbudded, and the strongest and best-placed shoot retained. Syringe the rods regularly night and morning, and close the ventilators early in the afternoons to shut in the sun heat. i »' THE FLOWER GABDEU. Rose pruning should have been completed some time ago, and as the buds are now growing out, it is a good idea to go round and do a certain amount of thinning where it is required. Occasionally two or more shoots spring from a single eye, in which case the strongest should be retained and the weaker removed. It is also found that ' eome varieties have too many shoots growing in towards the centre of the. plant. These should be reduced by rubbing out the weaker ones and reducing the number on the weaker shoots. Where growing for exhibition a very considerable thinning may be required. The same principles as set out for pruning should be followed, reducing those on the weak plants and leaving more on the strong growing kinds. The time of flowering and the length of the flowering season can also be influenced by the thinning.' If they are grown for garden decoration and all blooms are )e----quired at the same time shoots of the same stage of development should be left, but if the desire is to extend the eeason to make sure of a show, -then leave shoots at different stages of growth, and some ore sure to come in right. Violas and pansies can now be planted out as on edging and undergrowth for the rose beds and borders. _ # They cover the soil with a mulch of living foliage which keeps the roots of the rosee cool and at the same time prevents the surface soil ' from becoming dry and hot during dry sunny weather, and thereby creating cool moist conditions which help to make the blooms last. They also assist in creating and maintaining the display in the flower garden by commencing to bloom when the first crop of roses is over, and maintaining tho display until the # second crop comes on until well into the winter, and in some cases beginning again early in the spring. Viola gracilis planted in the beds under the weeping standards is a mass of bloom at present, and the yellow viola Bullion is a splendid spring flowerer. Brfore planting, the surface soil should be broken up and made fine with the rako or manure drag. Mark out the rows with the handle of the rake, and plant at from 12in to 15in apart. Where the plants are growing fairly close together and well established, edging round tho margin wfll be enough, and violas are the most suitable for edgings, but in newly-planted beds and borders, or where the plants are at, say, 3ft opart, they can be planted all over, and pansies are better for carpeting than violas. Keep the surface soil stirred among the herbaceous perennials with the scuffle hoe, suul as perennial.phlox, delphiniums, perennial asters throw up too many shoots, these should be thinned out to five or more, according to the space allowed between the plants.' Tho young shoots of the phlox root quite readily if put into boxes of nice outting soil and placed in a shady frame or on the shady side of a wall or fence. Keep the lawns mown and complete the digging and forking of the bede and borders as soon as possible. TUB VEGETABLE GAKKEN. Sow tho main crops of such vegetables as peas, carrots, parsnips, and beet, and also lottuce, radish, turnips, to provide a succession. Plant potatoes, artichokes, cabbage, cauliflower, and onions, and prepare trenches for celery. Salads are always appreciated in the sprin<* and summer, and as lettuce, is v the main , plant, an attempt should be made" to obtain early supplies. This can bo done by growing them in boxes in the vinery or tomato house, or by planting them out in the under the -vines or among tho tomatoes. To gTow them crisp and tender they must be grown rapidly, and to do this they require to bo planted in rich soil. - When grown in boxes a few seeds should be sown from time to time, and as soon as the seedlings arc large enough to handle thov can be pricked out into boxes of rich soil at a distance of about 2in apart Every second plant cur. bo used when quile young and the others left to develop. When grown in the borders they should be pricked out as advised, and then planted out at a distance of 6in apart. They are also vory satisfactory when grown m a slightly heated frame. A mild hotbed about a foot or so deep can bo n rP pared, and on this a laver of β-ood soil S;,, thick can bo placed. Sow thin v in rows 6m part, and thin out the nlnnN to 3m part. To get rapid growth this s better than transplanting, for no matter • how carefully it is done, tlio seedling re growth f^'ftime 60 " «*"«*"*** To got early supplies outside-, seeds ran as tho half hardy annuals, and the seedlings transplanted into boxes, to be <rrown on ar.d gradually hardened off, tho same na recommended for the bedding plants A*. soon as the weathor is fine, they can bo ■ they will bo sheltered from tho cold srmth\vrst wwda. Tho sowing outside to provirlo the mnin crop was described in these irotns Rome weoks ago, but ft should bo Iccnt in mind Hint the moro rapid the growth' tho better the quality, and that they like plenty of manure and plenty rf mcjßfcnm,

lho radish is also a s:ilad plant, and io got car y supplies a few soeds can l>o sown in tliofranuv among th<> lettuce. They will be pulUid before tlio lettuws ronitiros all the spuoo, and latov supplies cu.n I, L - grown in a warm, sheltered border. As ihoy soon become, too largo for use, small quantities should be sown from fimo to time Mustard and cress a.xv also luscful for salads, and tlioy « m lx, grovm qui - te easil hi boxes in tho grecnliouso or vinery. Sow the seed thickly, and make, regular sowings once a week to keep itp supplies In tho open it i.s boat to devote, a small border nwr a path to mustard and cross and to make small sowings frequently. The seed should bo sown eve.nlv over (ho surface raked in, then priWl firm with the back of the spado. Cover wil.ii a sack or pieces of sunib until the seedlings appear when Uie covering must be l-einoved •Spring onions aro also used in salads but as tho preparaUon and sowing o f the onion bed boon described so often in theso notes there is no need for me to repeat 'it now. ' HerlM for garnishing and seasoning shmidd nlso reoeivo attention, and a few should be grown evon .a small gardens Ino mam kmd is parsley, and it should be grown in sufficient quantity to provide supplies oil the year round. It makes quite a neat edging for tlie vegetable plots and it docs not i_ind a little shade during the summer. h Seeds are sown in drills about an inch deep and covered with about half an inch ot soil. When the seedlings are enough to hancila they can be thinned out to six inches apart, for to get good plants with nice curly leaves which will stand the winter, they require olenty of room to grow. Mint is a perennial and a patch should be established in a moist part of the garden where it will continue to grow and spread. It is better, however, to lift and replant it every three or four years, and , to give it. a top-dressing of manure during the winter. . are used for flavouring or m salads instead of sprinij onions. They are propagated by division in spring, the pieces being planted six inches apart. Thyme, tarragon, winter savory, and sago are all propa.ga.ted by means of large cutbut, being perennials, when once established, they can remain in the same position for years. Horso radish is also a perennial, but to get nice tender roots it , is best when lifted and replanted at least every second year. Shapely roots about eight inches long' and about as thick as the little finger should bo selected for planting, and after the ground has been well manured and deeply dug they pan be planted with a dibbox in rows 15 inches apart and nine inches between the cuttings in_ the rows. When planting, make a hole 10 inches deep. Drop the roots in. and cover wiith two inches of fine soil! August is a good month for replanting, but it can. still be done.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. . ."Ins." .Dunedin.—The name- of the little ins is Ins reticulata, a neat littlo spring flowering species, suitable for the front of the mixed border or the rock garden "Tomato," St Qair.—Though you may manage to grow tomatoes in tins without providing abundance of drainage, you mil have to water very carefully, and it is much better to provide plenty, for tomatoes will not do well when the soil it at all wet or sour.