THE GARDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 5

THE GARDEN

Contributed by D. TANNOCK, A.H.K.H.I.

FUCHSIAS, GERANIUMB, AND PELARGONIUMS

Plants which are hardy, especially when grown against a wall or fence, and which flower from late spring to autumn, and in some cases to a lesser degree during the winter, are much to be desired for garden decoration, and are to be preferred to annuals, which take some time to reach the flowering stage, and usually last only a short time, or perennials, which, tnough they occupy the ground all the year, only flower for a short period. Fuchsias have come through the winter safely when planted in a well-drained border, near a wall or fence, or in an open position near the sea. They are really shrubs, for the stem and branches are quite woody, and, if pruned up with a clean stem to fonn standards, and pruned back fairly hard in the spring, provide interesting colour through the summer and autumn. They do not require a lot of food or water, and are suitable for planting in a dry, sunny position. They can be propagated by means of hardwood cuttings put into a bed or pots in the autumn or by means of soft wood cuttings put in when growth starts in the spring. At this time a warm greenhouse is an. advantage, but they could be rooted in a cold frame, like the chrysanthemums. Some of the hardier smallflowered varieties make a nice low hedge, and they can also be trained over an arch or pergola, where their drooping flowers can be seen to advantage. Geraniums and pelargoniums can be grouped together, for after all the geraniums are " zonal pelargoniums.” They, too, are perfectly hardy in Dunedin and in other districts near the sea. They will grow into hedges, when they are' very effective, and they are also most suitable for planting against the walls of houses, especially in a dry, sunny position. Against a wall they can be trained up to a considerable height, but are usually pruned back in the spring, which is the most suitable time. If pruned too early they make young soft growth,, and this is liable to be spoiled by late frost. In addition to the various varieties of zonals, both single and double, there, are the ivy-leaved; kinds, of which Madame Crousse is a good representative. It is also quite hardy, and is suitable for growing up through a hedge or an open tree or shrub. Near the Woodhaugh Gardens it has come through four winters undamaged, and it continues the display after the shrub through which it is growing is over. As bedding plants tire geraniums are most satisfactory, and if cuttings are put in now. or shortly, they will root quite well without heat. They can be wintered in a cold frame or sheltered border, ana if potted up in the spring will form nice plants in flower ready to put out when the spring bulbs and other plants are over. They are also good greenhouse plants, and provide a display before the begonias come in, and after the spring flowering primulas, cinerarias, and schizanthus are over. They can also oe grown to furnish the greenhouse after the chrysanthemums are over. The plants which were put outside to ripen ■ their wood can now be cut over and the young growths put in as cuttings, in five-incn oots, and placed in a cold frame. Thougn geraniums and pelargoniums do not need much feeding if grown in a dry, poor border, a top-dressing of bonedust in the spring will assist growth and flowering. GARDEN PEAS It can safely be stated that the garden peas are the most appreciated of all vegetables. and by taking care it is possible to have supplies from before Christmas until well on into the autumn by sowing the various types in succession. There are two kinds of garden peas, one called sugar peas, of which the pods, when young, are cut up and eaten like French beans, and the other, in which the seeds only are eaten, these being at their best when young and tender. They lose flavour when they get old. Of the edible podded kind there are two varieties, a tall one which grows to a height of six feet and has large, wrinkled pods, and a dwarf one whioh grows to a height of two and a-half feet. The dwarf one has small thin pods which are hardly worth growing. The seed of the tall one is difficult, if not impossible, to get. Of the shelling peas there are also two distinct kinds, one with small, round seeds, which is considered to be the hardiest and is usually sown to stand through the winter and for the earliest sowings in spring; and the other, which has wrinkled seeds when dry, and is by far the most desirable, both for flavour and crop. There are alsd dwarf varieties, which grow to a height of from one to two and a-half feet, and medium growers, from two and a-half to four feet. Both varieties are early, and are ready for gathering in from ,11 to 12 weeks. Second earlies grow to a height of from two and a-half to five feet, and are fit to gather in 12 to 13 weeks; and maincrop varieties grow to a height of three and a-half to six feet, and fit to gather in from 13 to 14 weeks. The dwarf varieties begin to pod when about a foot high and continue to their maximum height, but the tall ones, which begin to pod at about three feet, continue to six feet when grown in good soil, and there is no doubt that they bear larger pods and a heavier crop. All peas, whether dwarf, medium, or tall, should be staked. In a district where there is plenty of broom and manuka scrub, as well as spruce branches, there should be no scarcity of stakes. I am growing the tall varieties against a fence where runner beans have been grown for two years, and they are well up to six feet tall and bearing a heavy crop. I placed long, twiggy branches against the fence and tiea shorter ones on top of them to give the peas something to cling to. Peas like a good soil, and, though they can get their supplies of nitrogen from the air by means of the nodules on their roots, they are the better for one or two waterings with sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda, applied as a liquid by dissolving an ounce in two gallons of water shortly after germination and a dressing of superphosphate when sowing. They are sown in flat drills six Inches wide and two inches deep, and there should be a distance of two inches between the seeds in the rows. Birds are fond of young peas when they are germinating, and two strands of black cotton should be stretched along the rows after sowing. Should the weather be wet, dust with lime frequently to keep away slugs.