THE GARDEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19204, 21 June 1924, Page 3

THE GARDEN.

WORK EOR THE WEEK

NOTES BY D. TAXNOCK, F.R.H.S.

THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSEIIY. As the chrysanthemums are quite over now they can bo cleared out of the tomato house, cut over, and stood in a cold name until the cuttings arc obtained. To provide work for rough and frosty weather the house should be cleaned and got in order for next season’s crop. It is better wherever possible to renew the soil every year, not because it, is exhausted by the past crop, but because it becomes more or Jess impregnated by diseases of various kind.'', and unless treated is not in a suitable condition for the next crop. Where the plants are grown in tins it is not such a serious job to renew the soil, but when tdauted out in the borders a very considerable amount i s required. The' same soil can bo used year alter year provided it is sierilised, and thi s is done on a large scale by the tomato growers in Nelson. They have a portable steam boiler, and a thing like a harrow with hollow lines. This harrow is pressed into the soil and steam forced through the hollow tines into it, most of tin; harmful bacteria are killed, and the soil considerably improved. This cannot be done on a small scale very well without the right apparatus, but a considerable amount of soil could be boiled in petrol tins over a bonfire, and. after being dried, stored away 'until planting lime. It is also an advantage to spread it outside in the open where it will bo noted upon by frost and sunlight, and thereby much improved. It can also bo treated chemically bv a soil fumigant such as aplerito. When this reddish powder is mixed with moist soil fumes are given off which destroy all insect life in it. and probably destroy fungoid pests too. The heap should be covered with a few wet sacks to keep in the fumes until they have a chance to carry out their work of destruction. After clearing out the soil the glass and woodwork should be washed down with hot. soupy water, and any brickwork lime-washed. Should there be no permanent plants in the house it U quite a pood idea to fumigate it with the fumes of burning sulphur. Put in a shovelful of red coke, throw some flowers of sulphur over this, .and shut the house up for a few hours. , A start can also be niano to prune the vines and to wash and dean out the, vineries, The grapes are borne on the young wood, which is nrodticed the same season, like the roses, and when priming, if the rods have fully occupied the space allotted to them, all that is necessary is (o cut hack the last" year’s wood to two or t hree buds at the base. It is better to leave more than one evident bud, for there is always a dancer of them being damaged or nibbed out during the cleaning process. Should the rods bo young it is considered advis„V>lo to leave about 3ft or 4ft of the young

cane and to leave the buds at from 13in to 20in apart to form the spurs. Af Inr pruning cut llio rods rigid down from their supporting wires. and mb tliern wail with (ho hands, lomoving all (ho loose hark which might bo sheltering some insect pe.sls, ami with a clean stiff brush scrub them down with warm water. Home recommend painting the rods with a mixture of chi'’ cow-dung, and llishnn’s compound, whim is mixed to the consistency of I hick cream. To prevent bleeding the cut surlaces are rubbed over with varnish or a special substance prepared for the purpose. After pruning and cleaning the rods the interior of the house should he washed down thoroughly, all brickwork lime-washed, and the old mulch and as much as possible of the old surface soil removed without in any way damaging the roots. (live, a good mulch of well-rotted farmyard inaunro and a good dusting of vine and plant manure, and top o(F with a layer of nice clean sod. The ventilators can still be kept, open whenever 'he, weather is reasonable, until it is desired to start the vines into growth, when they should lie closed, the 1 order "ill receive a good watering and the rods will require to be syringed with clean water morning and afternoon. Till': FLOW MR GARDEN.

Continue to trench new hods and homers, to prune ’ambler and climbing roses, to plant and transplant roses, trees, ami shrubs, and to clean up loaves and lift and repair worm pal cites ou the lawns. Advantage should bo taken of the frosly weather to prune the trees and shrubs growii)"- m holders. It is quite as necessary to prune Lie flowering trees and shrubs as it is to prune fruit trees and hushes if the host results are to be obtained, ami the foliage kindrequire attention from time to Line to prevent, the shrubbery from becoming a tangled mass of interlaced branches aim dead wood. After the rambler roses are pruned they should receive a good mulching with well-rolled stable manure. J' n ’sl scrape away about sm. of the L'P soil with Ihc spade, fork up the soil a little, and put on at least bin of the manure, returning the soil to cover it tin. If stable manure is not available, a good dusting ot bone meal forked into the surface soil win bo a. good substitute. . I have frequently drawn attention ro the Winter Sweet (Ghinionanthna fragrans) a deciduous shrub growing to a height of ett to ICft and producing its fragrant flowers during the wilder months when flowers aio so scarce. The flowers are produced on short stalks at the joints of the previous season’s shoots, are from tin to lin across the sepals and outer petals of_ an alimst transparent yellowish-green, the, inner peuus being smaller and purplish-brown. this old-fashioned shrub has two thnms to recommend—it flowers at niid-wmlor when so few other shrubs are in bloom, amt its blossoms diffuse around them one ot the most pleasing of perfumes. , . It is better to prime it when it is m flower arid to use the twigs, when arranged with everygreen berberries or olcier .-ui!ablo foliage, for house decoration. Pruning must bo done early, to enable the young shoots to complete their growth and to ripen up and set buds for the next flowering. It is quite a hardy shrub, and will grow anywhere and in any soil, hut should bo planted iu a. nice, warm, sunn.), open position, where it can ripen its wood. It is prorogated by means of layers or seed.

THE VEGETABLE GABDEN AND ORCHARD.

Continue to trench .11 it] dig all vacant gtound, plant out fruit, trees and bushes, end continue to prune and clean up alt primings and to prune and tie in all fruu trees growing on walls and fences. EatL potatoes should be stood up on their ends m the sprouting boxes, and brought, into tho greenhouse of a, warm shed or cellar to muouriiKO growth. U d Ihjlo planting or sowing vegetables during Ibis month, but the seed order should be made up ns soon as possible, and everything done to save labour later on when there is a rush. Autumn sown peas are still growing a little, and to protect them from hard frosts a few twiggy branches can lie stuck in on cither side of the rows. '1 hen-, while affording slight protection, should not be dense enough to encourage soft growth, which tho slugs like. As a slight protection dust among them occasionally with freshly slacked lime and keep the surface soil clean and stir rod up with too scuffle hoc. ANSWERS TO CniIRKSPONnEXTS. (f. S., liatclulha.—Very .heaths which will grow anywhere arc Erica, avboroa, Iv, Caines IS. cinora, ciliai is, n. Medilerranea, E. telralix, E. vagaus ami L'obia polifolia. Less hardy kinds v, hicii do quite well with ns are K. Dowienna, E. Caveiidishiuna, E. cruenla, .J '>. gracilis, E. grandinosa, E. hybrida,- • -K; • inamosu, .E. melanl.hora, E. Wilmonana, and J l ,. Vvchp I cyan a. All like a-soil with plenty of peal, leaf-mould, or other organic matter, and plenty of moisture during ihc summer. T., Hillgrovo. —Apples can he planted at a distance of from 12ft, to 24 ft, apart, according to the variety and the ultimtao development of the trees, hut tor bush specimens in a small garden 12ft. to 15ft will bo quite a suitable distance. Gooseberries and currants are planted from sft to 6ft. apart each way. it will he quite suitable to bike crons of vegetables o!F the ground until the trees anil hushes develop and accupy the whole space. Teviof. —Lignite coal ashes are not a good dressing tor land of any kind, ami should not bo used for fruit, trees. I.ignite coal dross is also unsuitable, and should not be applied. When we have a very heavy wet Elay soil, there is some justification lor using ashes to break it up, but not those obtained from lignite coal, which are too line to be of any value, “Olearia." Dunedin. —lt is belter to leave the clipping of your olearia hedge until August or Septondtor. It does not look untidy or neglected when tmcul, and there is less danger of the midge attacking it v.hen clipped kuw, ‘’Mater,'’ St. Glair.---1 should think that a self-sown seedling stool,-, has sprung up beside your lavender one. The original vas probably pnllonated by pollen from •ho others which wore growing nearby, hence the ronton why it sets seeds so freely. I should root it right, out and get now plants or seeds " A. 11." —You could prune your rnatulevilla now. Tho following acers ate suitable for planting for autumn lint effects: Acer ciicinatum, A. japonicum, A. mkoensis, A. I’idmatum, A. rubrmn. and A. sncchiirum (Sugar Maple). tillier good autumn tint trees are golden a-h. liquidamber, mountain ash, and scarlet nit.

“ South Otago.”--Xaines of chrysanthemums arc as follows; —Xo. i Col id Jo October. X'o. 2 Rosy Morn. Xo. 3 Syringii, No. 5 Bronze Solid no October or A lion(lain Beauty. Xo. 6 William Holmes, Xo. 8 Jubilee. It in rather difficult to name chrysanthemums at. the. end of the season, tile colour and shape of the flowers vary rynording to the bud taken, a.nd (he amount, of shade given when protecting (.horn front, the weather