THE GARDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24633, 14 June 1941, Page 13

THE GARDEN

THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY As-the chrysanthemums wither their place will be taken by cinerarias, cyclamen, primulas and perpetual carnations. Before these are planted the opportunity Should be taken to give the greenhouse a good clean out and overhaul. The glass and woodwork, if not washe'd down before the chrysanthemums were put in, should receive ' attention now*' taking particular care to remove any growth which may hjavc glaSs, for this will cause drips. Any brick or concrete wall should be whitewashed, all rotten wood which would encourage wood lice removed, the climbers on the roof pruned and cleared and top-dressed with good loam and bone dust. The conditions under .which -plante-grow in the greenhou&'dliMrig are abnormal, they carmot; get ;i as. resh air as would be because of the cold outside-', i tThe.. arrangements also dry up the atmosphere and, although;, the glass is washed free of shading, there is 'a tendency for the Slants to become drawn uo to the ght. Hygienic conditions and fresh air,-.Whenever it : is fpossible to open the, Ventilators, do much to minimisethe attacks of pests, but m spite of good conditions these frequently, ap-

pfcar,- ... . . 1 .* . Green fly is : one "of the commonest pests,,being particularly troublesome on. calceplarias, cinerarias, and pelarr gbhiums. It can be kept’- in check by spraying with soapy water to which a little nicotine has been added, but fumigating is the most effective, either X. L. All, or nicoticide being suitable. After fumigating, the plants should be laid 'bn their sides and .syringed with clean water, which will remove any green fly which has. not been killed. Red spider is also troublesome, especially during winter, when artificial'heat is necessary. IU is a drycondition pest, and frequent spraying and damping will keep it m check. Thrips are small, winged insects verv difficult to detect and difficult to kill. Dipping the plants in a soft soap and nicotine mixture is for them, and also fumigating as for gran .fly Leaf miners are particularly troublesome on cinerarias, where they, form S tunnel, leaving a sickly yellow- marking all over the leaf. The maggot can be* clearly seen at the end of its trail, where it can be crushed or cut with the knife. Fumigating with X.L. All will kill it. Mite is troublesome m such fleshy-leaved plants as cyclamen, begonias and gloxinias. It-is -kept in check by, spraying with nicoticide or fumigating. Mealy bug is most troublesome on tropical and sub-tropical plants, but it also appears the vinery and on greenhouse climbers and foliage plants. Syringing with kerosene emulsion and fumigating is recommended,- but on foliage plant, ■it- can be sponged off with soapy water and on vines painted with methylated spirits. I shouldT mention that, when fumigating is to be carried out on a .calm evening; the plants should not be watered immediately before, for. should the foliage be damp, it will be - scorched. Slugs and . lice are very but they can'be driven out or killed by dusting their haunts with Hort Nap, which can be obtained from the seedsmen, r THE FLOWER GARDEN The-chief work in the flower garden at the" present time. will be the planting and transplanting of trees; shrubs, and roses, the pruning of trees and shrubs, rambler and climbing roses, and the digging of shrubbery and herbaceous borders. When digging the shrubbery borders.; care should be taken hot to damage the surface roots, and in the case of heaths, azaleas, and rhododendrons, it is, better to scuffle the surface and to. depend on a mulch of lawn mo.wings, leaf mould, or wellrotted cow manure to keep down grass and weeds. Polyanthus primroses which are so easy to raise and so suitable for spring bedding effects. should be protected from the ravages of birds by stretching strands of black cotton over- them.. As the. bulbs , appear through the ground fork up the surface soil a little. and : give a dressing of basic phosphate or basic slag. , THE ; FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GARDEN Continue to lift and store root crops, not-because they will be damaged by frost,->but so. that the ground they are occupying -can be manured: land; dug over-f dughiy,'' exposing; it tbUHe Elects of weather during the winter. • ib that it will be’ available and in good condition for sowing - and planting in the spring. Plant -strawberries and sii|f kinds: of fruit trees and bushes when the soil is in goodworkifig order . and continue the* pruning of gooselorries, currants, apples;: pears,, and, Manure and dig over all 'Vac- ■ 1 J gp'f^9dud, ! ahdVtt eft fl . to drairiing apd repairing'paths and edgings. Form > new" asparagus beds and /sow broad beans, dwarf peas, and lettuce in a warm: .sheltered: border. Cabbage, 1 cauliflower,/ and lettuce can be sown in a cold frame to provide plants for i putting out in the spring. ; :. • v

—■ ■ " ■ Contributed by D. Tannock, A H.R.H S.

ROSE PLANTING Roses should now be arriving from the nurserymen, and if the beds and borders were prepared as recommended some time ago—by trenching and manuring—planting should be done at once—if soil and weather conditions are favourable. If the soil is wet and sticky or there is hard frost or snow on. the ground, planting should be delayed and the plants heeled in. If the preparation of the beds has not been done, the new ones should be trenched to a depth of two and a-half to three feet deep, a good layer of farmyard manure or compost heap being placed near the bottom. Old ones which can be renewed by trenching and manuring should also receive attention, the old plants which are still strong and vigorous being cut hard back, their roots trimmed and replanted, and the weak and unsatisfactory ones being burned to make room for a few new varieties.

When opening the bundle great care should be taken to disentangle the the plants without breaking the branches, the roots being covered with the packing materials or old sacks. First level the ground filling ,up hollows due to uneven sinking of the soil, and then mark out with sticks, allowing from 24 to 27 inches between the plants and the same distance between the rows. Dig holes at least 12 inches square, and 18 inches deep, placing the soil on the sides. If the soil is inclined to be heavy, and sticky, it is an advantage to-have some dry soil, such as old potting soil or soil from seed boxes, to which a five-inch potful of bone dust has been added to each barrowload, for covering the roots. First examine the roots, and any which have been bruised or damaged can be trimmed with a sharp knife or secateurs, then fit the plant into the hole, taking care to spread the roots evenly and at such a depth that the .junction of the stock and the scion will be two inches below the surface when the operation is completed. Next put in some of the fine or prepared soil, sufficient to cover the roots, and shake the plant to wbrlc it in among the fine roots. Put in more soil and tramp ;i firmly round the edge of the hole, pressing it in towards the stem, but not. immediately round it. Continue to niit in more soil and,to firm it,until the operation is finished, when the surface should be left level, but fairly rough and open. If farmyard manure was not available and the soil is not rich a good handful of bone dust can be worked in along with the soil after the roots have beeri covered. During the operation care should be taken to shelter the roots from cold, drying winds, the plants being removed one at a time from under wet sacks.

Though the plants have been cut back for the convenience of packing and transport, they are not as a rule, pruned, this operation being delayed until the usual time in early August. For the benefit of those who niay not jhaiVe made -lists of varieties they desire during the flowering season. I have made lists of the well-known and well-tried varieties which have proved their, suitability for this district. Novelties which appear with glowing descriptions can be tried out by those who have already, a good - collection of the older kinds. Six good bush varieties for a beginner are—Lady Forteviot, Madam Butterfly, Earl Haig, Etoile de Holland, Ville de Paris and Shot Silk. An additional six would be—Angela Pernet, Editor McFarland, Mable Morse, Margaret McGredy, Mrs Sam McGredy and Portadown Sally. Six climbing varieties—Etoile de Holland, Shot Silk. Golden Emblem, Madam Edouard Herriot, Souv. de Georges Pernet and Chateau de' Clos Vouget. Six ramblers—American PjUar, Dorothy Perkins, Excelsa, Emily Gray, Princes of Orange and Paul’s Scarlet. Six weeping standards—Excelsa, Dorothy Perkins. Emily Gray, Princess of Orange;- jAviatofs Bleriot - and Paul’s Scarlet. - Six standards—Madam Butterfly, Mrs A, R. Barraclough, Shot Silk. Souv. de Georges Pernet. Souv de Madam Boulet and Etoile de Holland.. Six dwarf polyanthus—Coral Cluster, Ellen Pnulsen. Glori MUndi. Golden Salmon Sprav. Karen Poulsen and M. V. Strachan Van Nes.