THE GARDEN

Southland Times, Issue 18972, 20 June 1923, Page 7

THE GARDEN

(By

“Horticola.”)

The weather lately has kept the ground in a constantly sodden condii n, and conlequently it has been impossi; to do any digging or trenching; but it k advisable to take this work in hand as - n as possible so that the ground m.y have the advantage of all the frosts, and be in a thoroughly friable condition w.r.n the time for sowing comes round. Many gardeners, although I am thankful to say not the majority, keep putting their digring operations off, until the winter is early over, and then they blame the soil, if their crops do not grow as well as their neighbour’s, who, it will most likely be fc. r. I, kept his garden in an upturned state r jnt through the winter. By trenching or nigging before the winter is far advanced, the ground is greatly benefited by the frosts and elements, which tend to sweeten the soil, besides allowing the surface water to sink well down. Everything iurns upon the cultivation. Poor, shallow oil, or stiff sAil not properly broken up. will hardly give a good crop of any pari.cular vegetable one year, much less i j or three years in succession. But if ti. soil is dug to a depth of eighteen inch . and well manured, it will do both. i„ moral of this is that the gardener shou.d make the preparation of the soil his fi consideration. All trees are the better for a washing or spraying during the winter months as this destroys moss and lichen, wh.ch are unsightly as well as detrimental to growth. Spraying destroys blight and hibernating insects, and it makes the bark clean and more able to fulfil its many functions. If any trees are badly infested with scale, the infested portions must be scrubbed with soap and warm water to clean them thoroughly. It will be found well worth the little extra time required, and I think it is up to the grower in fairness to his neighbours to do this work. I notice many otherwise good trees in Invercargill, which only need a few minutes attention. Cuttings of gooseberries may now be put in, and it is always wise to have a small stock of young trees in hand, and these are very easily propagated. The cuttings may be made of the prunings. using strong, straight pieces of last season’s growth; remove all the buds but three or four at the top. Dig or chon out a small trench, and put in the cuttings about five or six inches deep. Then tread well in, making as firm as possible. The cuttings should be about six inches apart, and the rows fifteen inches jipart and they will then require very little attention till next autumn, when the major portion will have made useful little plants. It is well to pull any carrots or parsnips that may have been left in the ground, as they will soon be starting the second growth, and apart from that it is not convenient for a busy housewife to have to tramp over wet ground to reach them. They should be lifted and stored in a ehed on a solid floor. Place layers of fine soil or dry sand between the roots to keep them from shrivelling. A .sheltered position against a fence is also a suitable place, but here the store should be conical, so as to throw off rain, and the heads of the vegetables should point outwards. Such stores are very get-at-able, and are easily protected from severe frosts. The varieties of the common holly are many, and include some of our most beautiful evergreen shrubs. Very many are

worthy of inclusion in all good gardens on account of their highly ornamental foliage, whether green or variegated. Throughout the dull season of the year those hollies which fruit freely are objects of much beauty, either as single specimens on the grass, or in company with the other shrubbery occupants. One of the best is Golden King, the foliage of which is very conspicuous during the spring and summer months, being large, and very broadly margined with 1 a golden variegation, while the bright red berries are produced with such profusion that a most pleasing contrast in colour is i provided. A rose-that has lately come into favour in England is Rosa Morgeau the colour . of the single flowers are a terra-cotta red and of good size, the growth is vigorous, and it will soon form a bush eight feet high. It is valued as much for its pips, I or seed-berries, as for its flowers, as they are very decorative. The berries are bottleshaped, about one and a-half inches long, • and of a deep red colour. A very beautiful and perhaps the finest of the Japanese cherries is Ccrasus Hizakura, which received an award of merit at a recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society (states the Garden). It is a double-flowered variety, with large blossoms of soft rosy tint. The individual flowers are as much as 2Ain. in diameter. In point of colour it resembles the variety Jas. H. Veitch, but it is a week or ten days earlier in flowering, of upright growth, and much more vigorous, developing into a finer and larger tree. As a standard it makes an excellent specimen tree on a lawn, and i.s particularly effective if it can be given a dark background. T GARDEN ARCHES. Archways, if employed with discretion, I may be-made very effective objects in the garden. They furnish pleasing supports for a variety of showy plants, and may serve to i screen an unsightly outlook or mark the boundary of one portion of the garden from another. Varieties of pillar roses have mulItiplied enormously during recent years, and the archway is one of the best means of showing climbing roses to advantage. A very simple but effective arch can be form•ed with a couple of stout bamboo canes • or green saplings, covered with wire netting. :An arch of this description, used as a greenery porch to the doorway, -introduces : a pleasing feature. By placing two arches, one at the gate and another at the house i door, a pergola may be formed by stretching a few lengths of wire between the tops j of each, cross pieces being introduced here and there and wired at intersections. Special attention should be paid to the setting of the poles to ensure their durability and Ito prevent premature decay. The part in- ■ serted in the ground should be set in con- • crete. .A much more permanent job can I be made by using old piping for the frame- | work. Another form is made by wooden • laths in the form of lattice work. In this , case many varied designs can be built up. j A form becoming fairly* popular is made ; by using heavy uprights joined by heavy beams with the ends overhanging. These i latter look well so long ’as they are in keeping with the surroundings. The chief : points in the erection of pergolas and arches • are to be sure of a firm foothold, to reduce i possible decay to a minimum, and not be I too dense. Light, air, and a certain amount !of sun should get through. When densely l covered they become damp, dark, and the l haunts of insects. When planting, be sure that the subject is suitable. —Auckland ' Star.