IN THE GARDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1924, Page 11

IN THE GARDEN.

THE KITCHEN GARDEN. CULTIVATION. . If a soil has been rendered dry by repeated cultivation it will gradually moisten itself from below by means of capillary attraction. This power of lifting water through minute fissures or channels is observable in blotting paper, and, in the case of soils, it operates to many inches in depth. Regular and judicious hoeing is therefore an important factor in conserving the soil moisture, which is so essential to the welldoing of plants; in fact, no other garden implement can be used to greater advantage among crops at this time of the year than the hoe.

CARROTS. Tliin out the main crop gradually, and sow a few rows of an early variety for using in autumn. Dust a little superphosphate and wood ashes along the drills before sowing the seed. LETTUCE. Special preparation of the soil is essential to secure good lettuce from summer sown seed. Trenches should be excavated to a depth of ten or twelve inches and about fifteen inches in width and filled almost to the top with rotted manure or decayed vegetable refuse. The manure should then lie trodden firmly and covered with three or four inches of fine soil. After raking the surface even, sow the seed thinly, a quarter of an inch deep along the centre of each trench. Thin out the seedlings early, repeating the operation at intervals as the plants develop until they finally stand eight inches apart. Water must be given in abundance during dry spells, and liquid manure also regularly applied. The most effective stimulant for lettuce is nitrate of soda, but it must not be used to excess or a heavy growth of outer leaves and poor hearts will most likely result. The safest plan is to apply the stimulant- in liquid form —using half an ounce of nitrate to the gallon of water —about every third week after the plants haVe made a fair amount of leaf growth. The practice should be discontinued as soon as the "hearts” becdone firm, as further applications of the stimulant after that time would cause the plants to quickly run

to seed. When several rows of lettuce are required, the tedium of forming the trendies singly may be obviated by excavating a shallow pit, large enough to accommodate the number of rows required, and preparing it in the manner advised for the trenches. Good croips of lettu'ce may also be obtained by merely digging the manure into the surtfaee soil. One pf tbe Jjest majjuree for ]

lettuce is well seasoned fowl excreta that has been stored in tins between layers of dry sand or earth. From personal experience 1 have found this material superior to all others for lettuce. RADISH. The secret of growing crisp and tender radish in summer lies in keeping the plants well supplied with moisture so as to encourage a quick maturity. The seed must be sown in good soil, however. as radish grown on poor ground is invariably tough and pungent even when extra attention is given them. A deficiency of natural manure in the soil may be overcome by the simple expedient of dressing the surface of the ground with superphosphate, at the rate of a handful to each yard of row, before sowing the seed. Always sow in drills; broadcast sowing will spoil all attempts at good cultivation. The remainder of the work of growing succulent radish consists of early and severe thinning and hoeing after rain lias fallen or watering has been done. GARDEN REFUSE. Every opportunity should be taken to clear the ground of vveeds, cabbage and cauliflower dtumps, and other spent crops. Such refuse should be placed in a deep pit to eventually become valuable .soil. Waste products of the garden are apt to become offensive when left to accumulate in odd corners, and encourage flies and other vermin about the home.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. WHAT TO DO NOW. Spray roses as a precaution against mildew, and aipply weak liquid manure each week. Continue to disbud carnations, and employ some means of preventing the soil about the plants from becoming dry. Mulch with lawn mowings if no better material is available. Plant out asters, phlox Drummondi, annuals required for bedding purposes. Sow dwarf sunflowers for late flowering. The seed should be sown where the plants are to flower. Go over your rose 'bushes and remove any buds or flowers that have rotted. The sooner these are removed the better as such rubbish tends to disfigure the plants and make the garden look unsightly. Take away the faded blooms from sweet peas, pansies, violas, etc, and give liquid manure occasionally. If extra large blooms of African marigolds are desired, plant fifteen inches apart in rich soil, allow only four branches to each plant, and one bloom to each branch. Give attention to spring flowering shrubs and trim up as necessary. Take up and destroy old Wallflower plants that have passed the deqorativft

stage, and sow the seed to provide plants for setting out in autumn. Plantations of wallflowers renewed in this wav produce superior blooms .and more of 'them than the old plants. CAR NATIONS. Seedling earnations and young plants •from cuttings or layers should have been pinched badk before tihis to make them branch out from the base. Where this has been neglected the plants are now sending up a long thin flowering stem, and if allowed to perfect the flowers will so exhaust themselves that it will take them a long time to recover. Growers should harden their hearts and remove this flowering stem at once. ..With seedling carnations this is a hard thing to do, because one longs to see what each plant is to be, but a strong well-grown plant is the first essential.

Old soot that has been exposed to the air may be dusted over earnation plants, and soot water should be given to those that are going to flower. 'The plants are all the better, too, for having weak salt water thrown over them occasionally. Water with salt added to it that has been used to wash cabbages or lettuces should always be thrown, over a carnation plant instead of being poured down the sink. Carnation seed may be sown now in seed boxes. The seed germinates freely, and the seedlings tome along quickly. COLOUR IN HYDRANGEAS. Hydrangeas are almost in full bloom, and the different tones of colour are very varied. It largely depends on the soil what colours the flowers will be. In some parts they will all come an intense blue, while in others it is impossible to grow anything but pink flowers.

Sometimes this colouration can be brought about to a certain extent by watering the plants with a solution of sulphate of iron. Many gardeners think that they can purchase a blue hydrangea, but there is no variety known that can be depended on to produce that colour for a certainity.

If the sulphate of iron is used, and it happens to strike the right conditions in the-soil, a good blue will result. In any case, the sulphate will act as a tonic to the plant, and if it does not change the colour of the flowers it will improve the colour of the foliage-. PERENNIAL PLANTS. Perennial plants need constant care to induce them to make a good display. The present need is the efficient staking of tall flowering plants and the picking off of all faded flowers. By allowing seed-pods to form on early flowering subjects much of the vitality of the plant is used up, hence the necessity for removing flowers directly they lose •their att'i'active'ness. One of the choicest perennials at present aproaching its flowering season is the phlox, the colours ranging from whte a Aotauffeg eye to & deQp

cerise, ami several shades of heliotrope and vermilion can be obtained. Ano'ther beanti'fuil perennial is the "New Iceland Poppy,” • which producesa wonderful range of colour, and combinations quite distinct from the ordE nary Iceland poppy. GHR YS ANTHE M U MS. The plants should now receive every attention in order that a steady and unimpeded growth may be encouraged. If the final pinching of the shoots lias not been done, the operation should be attended to at once. Theq>lan.ts should -be syringed occasionally with clear water. 'Staking mus-t be done without further delay, as otherwise damage to the stems may ensue from heavy winds. The proper fcime to commence feeding the plants is when the flower budfl appear. NEPETA MUSSIN I (CAT-MINT). In dry, sunny parts of the garden nepeta is onrning its dainty lavender flowers. The plants themselves are charming, for the long sprays spread out and form large, compact, cusliionlike clumps. The grey-green foliage and slender spikes of lavender flowers are particularly restful to look at, and the sun draws forth the fragrance of both leaves and flowers. Nepeta is invaluable for dry, sunny positions, and for seaside gardens where so many plants die during summer. It even grows successfully in borders, at the foot of walls or fences, that are filled with the roots of creepers. The plants are easily propagated by means of cuttings which root easily and soon grow into fair-sized plants. Few plants are more charming for a sunny summer border.

DAHLIAS.—PIant now to bloom this Autumn a selection of our choice Potgrown named plants in Castus, Paeonj or Collarette types. We supply 12 distinct named varieties for 15/-, posted free anywhere in New Zealand for 1/6 doz. extra. Cash with order. DUNCAN AND DAVIES, LTD., WestowjQ, New Plymouth ’Phone 465.