THE GARDEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 30

THE GARDEN

DISBUDDING DAHLIA BLOOMS

EXHIBITION FLOWERS To obtain the finest blooms only file strongest bud should remain .which is usually the crown or centre bud. The other two small buds should be removed, also the two small branches or laterals about the first set of leaves. Do not remove the lateral belcw, unless extra long stems are required, as these laterals will form your next blooms and should be treated as above. A top-dressing of bone meal, gt this time, will be very beneficial. Do not be afraid to cut your blossoms and keep all dead blooms cut off, as they are not only unsightly, but lake nourishment that otherwise would got to other blooms. After the plants have been killed by the frost, the stalks should be cut oft" close to the ground and tubers carefully dug and packed upside down, in boxes or barrels, and stored in a cool cellar. Divide the tubers in the spring, being careful that each tuber has an eye or sprout. If plants become liard-wooded, due to early planting and hot dry season and the blossoms are small, cut the plant back and new growth will ensue. There is no flower that will respond more readily than the dahlia and by giving it a little extra care and attention you wil be more than repaid for the trouble. PREPARE FOR BULB PLANTING Bulb planting is one of the most important works that require attention during the autumn months. No home garden is complete without some of these true heralds of spring for there are varieties that are adaptable to any position, soil or climate in (every part of the Dominion. From the end of February until May these bulbous families may be set and extensive preparations should now be taking place in gardens where planting is anticipated. For the beginner in gardening, bulbs are the most certain of success in his initial trial, as a good show may be made from a small investment and yery little labour. The purchase of spring bulbs should hot be considered an expense to be • barged to one garden season, for a stock of bulbs will produce a mass ot" flowers year after year and in most l asts the original stock will have multiplied ten-fold. The following are some easily-grov.-n species that thrive almost anywhere: Anemone, Amaryllis, Bahians, iirunsyigea. Crinum, Freesia, Gladioli, Hyacinths, iris (Sorts), Ixias, Narcissus, Lachenalia, Ovnothogalu, Ttan111.cuius, Scillas, Snowflakes. Suaraxis, Tritonias, Tulips. Watsonias. I ANSWERS TO PUZZLED GARDENERS Manurewa Subscriber..— One-year plants of Hakea Saligna may be obtained in June for hedge work. Seed van also be planted now In drills and ,\ hen large enough carefully wrenched in tile wet weather, a few weeks before shifting. If collecting your own seed, pods will probably have to be heated to make them burst to enable you to extract the seed.

BY LEONARD A. GRIFFITHS, F.R.H.S., HISTORY OF VEGETABLES It is to the early Crusaders, probably, that we owe the great variety of appetising vegetables which to-day supply our dinner-tables, for, until the time when these ancieut knights went away to the East, England was a nation of flesh-eaters subsisting entirely on meat, fish and eggs. Their going, however, created a fashion for travel and, as intercourse with foreign nations increased, so vegetables began to find their way into our menus until at length our dietary habits were completely changed. Our green peas, so delicious in flavour, have reached us from Asia Minor —also the home of broad beans. The onion spread from India to Egypt and thence westward through Greece and Italy. The lettuce hails from the East ludies, while the radish is grown extensively in China, Japan and India. It is valued very highly in Japan as an edible. India was the home of the cultivated turnip long before it was introduced into Europe. The variety which we call the swede was intro-

duced via Sweden—hence its name. That greatly-favoured culinary herb, parsley, is a native of the southern 3unny slopes of Europe. Is is there, also, where the carrot flourishes. When the carrot was first introduced into England it did not owe its cultivation solely to its culinary properties. It was first introduced from Holland and it became highly popular in the time of the Stuarts because of the decorative qualities of its leaves. The sweet pea, valued now solely for its delightful blooms, was originally grown for the sake of its seeds. These were ground into flour and made into palatable bread. Sudden loss of power and rigidity of the limbs, however, were ascribed to its use and by an edict in the 17th century it was forbidden. Consumption of the potato was, in a similar way, accused of causing palsy; and even 200 years ago it was denounced by disse-iing ministers because it was not mentioned in the Bible. Luckily, however, it survived all this Puritanical prejudice and we are happy now to claim it as one of our staple foods.

THE SECRET OF SUCCESS CULTIVATION Cultivating the ground between the growing plants is most effective in keeping down the weeds and allows the air to penetrate beneath the surface. Americans were the first to introduce what they chose to call dry farming, which has proved such a success in the arid districts. The moisture from the soil escapes through the cracks caused by heat and dryness. The loosening, or stirring of the soil, fills these cracks with fine soil and blocks the escape of moisture. Mulching the surface during the summer is very beneficial to the growth of plants. Where straw manure is used the ground is riot only kept cool about the roots of the plant, but when they are watered with the hose, or rain falls, the roots receive a healthy tonic in the form of liquid manure. The cover, or mulch, aids materially in the retention of moisture in the soil. Some of the summer flowering annuals may be planted over a range of two months or more, and will make good in their season. Mistakes are often made by waiting until your neighbour has the plants tha* you desire in bloom before putting yours of the same kind out. Each plant has its special season in which it will flourish best, and it is therefore desirable to sow seed in season. Plants that are nursed too much in the early stages will have a more trying time when the/ are put out iu the open garden to fight for themselves. Over watering, or too much shade, causes the rowth to I'--"-"p soft and drawn, and their chances of making sturdy plants are hut slight.

DOUBLE STOCKS Good plants of this sterling favourite are procurable now. They succeed well in any part of our country if the season be favourable and if they are grown in rich soil. The intermediate and Brompton Stocks produce splendid spikes of flowers. Stocks are gross feeders, and like manure and well-nourished soil worked deep. The ten-week grow about 12in. A bed of stocks has a splendid appearancti, and their perfume is .veil known to be delicious. The ten-week varieties should stand 12in to 15in apart. Buy the best of plants, as this secures the greatest possible average of double flowers which is, of course, the desiratum of the cultivator. The favourite varieties to grow' ujw t may be selected from the following list: Almond Blossom, Princess Alice, Queen Alexander, Rose of Nice, Peach Blossom, King Alphonse, Crimson King, Middleton, Beauty of Nice and Abundance.