THE GARDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24783, 6 December 1941, Page 11

THE GARDEN

h Contributed by D. Tannock, A.H.R.H.S. '

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS "M. H.," Warepa.—The leaves of your almond are attacked by leaf curl, which is also troublesome on peaches, especially in a cold, wet spring. The disease is caused by a fungus (Exoascus deformis). The affected leaves should be picked off gradually, the worst affected first, and, with genial weather, the trees will make fresh, clean, ■healthy growth. The diseased leaves should be burned, and in spring, before the buds begin to swell, spray with Bordeaux mixture, 4.4.40. The white flower forwarded is Achillea ptarmica. The unseasonable weather no doubt has something to do with the shallots forming Seed heads; these should be picked off.

specially useful as a cut flower, but difficult to flower unless well ripened. The Spanish iris is also most valuable as a cut flower and is easy to grow. The English iris is a stronger grower, which flowers about Christmas and consequently is valuable as a cut flower. The Dutch iris are glorified Spanish kinds, also useful as cut flowers. I. Waempheri (the Japanese iris) is a semi-aquatic race, with large clematis-like flowers, useful for planting by a stream or. a pond. Iris Siberica is also a semi-aquatic type, with smaller flowers than the JapanI." ochroleuca is a giant form which likes a moist place, and I. pseudpacoris, the common British wild iris, is semi-aquatic, but worth growing. I. foetidissima (the Gladwyn iris) has not conspicuous flowers, but the seed heads of scarlet berries are prized for winter decorations. Iris tectorun is the Japanese roof iris. There are many other species, but those mentioned would make a good collection, and provide a succession of flowers for the greater part of the year and plants suitable for all sorts of conditions.

THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY Continue to pot on the chrysanthemums to their flowering pots, to thin grapes and pinch back the young growth, to remove the shoots which arise in the axils of the leaves of the tomatoes, and to prick off or pot up seedlings of cinerarias, Primula obconica, P. malacoides and P. Kewensis. Pots containing the old coriris of cyclamen, freesias and lachenahas can be laid on their sides under the greenhouse bench or in a frame t to rest. Sow seed of Sweet William, Canterbuy bells, forget-me-not, double daisies, anemones and ranunculus. Seeds of leeks, broccoli, savpys, cabbage and curly greens and silver beet can be sown on a specially-prepared bed to provide plants for putting out in January and February. Seed of melons, ridge cucumbers and vegetable marrows can still be sown in small pots. THE FLOWER GARDEN Roses are opening well in spite of the changeable weather, their colour is good, and where disbudded the blooms are a good size. The old flowers should be picked off regularly as soon as they are past their best Any strong shoots which have shot away beyond the others can be cut back a, bit, a top-dressing of manure as described in last weeks note can be sprinkled round the plants and hoed in. and should mildew or green fly appear, spraying should be carried out. This is a good time to make a list of the, varieties you wish to add to your collection, either at ; flower shows or where a representative collection is grown in a public garden or a nursery. When making up a collection some of the newer dwarf polyanthus varieties should be included. ]■ ■'. .. Continue to plant' out bedding plants, dahlias, tuberous begonias, fuchsias, etc. Thin hardy annuals to the correct distances apart, giving the plants room to expand and form side branches. Stake and tie up herbaceous plants and hoe all beds and borders whenever the soil is sufficiently dry. Border carnations are throwing up their flower stems, and these should be supported by spiral wire stakes or light stakes of some klhd, and if good flowers are desired, the buds should/ be thinned out. Newly-sown lawns are liable to become weedy, not on account of weed seeds in the lawn grass mixture, ljut due to weed seeds in the soil. The more upright ones will soon disappear due to regular mowing, but the flatleaved kinds, such as docks and daisies, should get a dressing of lawn sand. This should consist of lib of sulphate of ammonia, 4oz of sulphate of iron; and 21b of dry beach sand. This is dusted over the lawn at the rate of 3oz to the square yard.

THE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT . GARDEN, i ;"....,-/'. ;

The continuous moist weather has made lithe task of keeping the garden clean difficulty -but if the, scuffle hoe is run through between the rows whenever the soil is reasonably dry, and if any weeds which appear among the plants in the rows are removed when thinning, it has been possible to keep weeds in check. Slugs are also' troublesome, especialy among germinating runner and trench beans, and, although there are several slug destroyers on the market, freshly slaked lime is as satisfactory as anything. It has. however, to be dusted over after every heavy shower, and this means frequently. It is also advisable to put a ring of lime round newly-planted cabbage and other members of this family, and to dust alongside rows of lettuce. Continue to plant cabbage, autumn; cauliflower, leeks, and Brussels sprouts, and to sow spinach, lettuce, peas, broad, runner, French, and butter beans to provide a succession. Plant out tomatoes; vegetable marrows, and ridge cucumbers in a warm sheltered place, and/protect them from cold winds. Peas and beans should be provided with supports of some kind, potatoes sprayed and earthed up, and celery planted in prepared trenches. Growth has been fairly satisfactory during the past few weeks, but most crops will benefit from a little manure. This can be supplied in the liquid form by dissolving an ounce (a dessertspoonful) of sulphate of ammonia in a gallon of water, or the sulphate of ammonia can be mixed with a double quantity of sand and dusted along the rows of vegetables, taking care not to put it on the leaves. Mixed garden manure can also be dusted along the rows at the rate of an ounce to a yard, and scuffle-hoed in. Cutting asparagus should cease now. , Continue to spray apples and pears at fortnightly intervals with lime sulphur, 1 in 120, adding the arsenate of lead at the rate of half a pound to each 17 gallons of the lime sulphur spray. Thin out young. growths on gooseberries .and currants, and thin fruit crops where too many have set. .IRIS., The iris family is a varied but most attractive one, with a long flowering season, practically all the year round. There are two distinct types, one with a bulb and the other with a rhizome. and also some species and varieties with beards and some beardless. Another species grows on the roofs of the houses in China and Japan, and still another in water and under bog conditions. ~ , „ ■ . The iris has been called the poor man's orchid, and it has more right to this claim than the schizanthus, which has to be grown under glass to be seen at its best, whereas the iris is perfectlv hardy and will grow and flower under almost any conditions in the open air. Those in flower now. known as the Germanic types, are the result of careful crossrfertilisation and selection, and they are certainly attractive. Thsy are not difficult to accommodate provided they have good drainage, and can be grown quite effectively on top of a retaining wall, on the large rock garden, and in the herbaceous border. Their good nature is in some cases their undoing, for they will continue to live even if they do not flower freely under the most unsuitable conditions, and in consequence are often planted where little else will grow. They, however, are worthy of good treatment, and it is advisable to lift and divide them up every three or four years. This can be done immsdiately after flowering or in the early autumn, care being taken not to plant deeply, the rhizome, being just under the surface. Do not give them animal manure, but a good dressing of bone dust or superphosphate with lime can be worked into the soil near the surface. An annual top-dressing of superphosphate and lime should also be given in early spring. In addition to their beautiful colours and remarkable shapes, many of the varieties are sweetly scented, and, although the individual flowers do not last long, there are a number on a stem which open in succession. Six good varieties would be Alcasar, Dominion. Oriflamme, Lord of June, Ambassador and Amber. Iris unguicularis is a winter-flower-ing species which likes a warm position, plenty of lime rubble, and fine soil. I. reticulata is a bulbous species, suitable for the rock garden. I. tingitana is also an early-flowering species,