GARDEN NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1932, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

THE WEEK’S WORK. ’ FLOWER GARDEN. Continue the bedding out of petunias, French and African marigolds, veri benas, salvias, zinnias, gajllardias, and asters. . . . . ' , Chrysanthemum planting should be completed as soon as possible. Plant out all varieties of dahlias in deeply dug and well-manured-soil. Make new beds of violets. This is necessary every second year, otherwise the plants become too crowded at the expense of the blooms. ■_ Keep all dead roses picked off, and; spray the bushes for green fly. Should mildew appear, dust with flowers of sulphur. To conserve moisture, keep the surface of beds open by frequently stirring the soil with a hoe. Plants which have finished flowering should be removed and replaced with others. This applies to annuals such as calendulas and Iceland poppies. .. . Sweet peas should be kept moist and all flowers be picked regularly. If alloWed to go to seed the plants will cease blooming. Stake up all tall-growing plants as they require it. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Heavy winds have dried up the soil this last week. To conserve moisture, keep the surface of all ground well loosened up. Mulching with lawn clippings or other fine , material will greatly assist in keeping the soil moist and the roots cool. All seedling crops should be kept absolutely free from weeds and be thinned as early as i practicable. , Tomato plants may still be planted for main crop. Water them well in at planting, time. Tomatoes which were put out earlier should be staked, and spraying with Bordeaux mixture should be done at fortnightly intervals. Sow in small quantities at frequent intervals, lettuces. These are best sown thinly in rows and allowed to develop. They do not transplant too easily in hot weather. Plant out marrows and pumpkins on . prepared soil. Plant kumeras in ground which has been worked to a fine tilth. . ... Sow spinach, beet, carrots,, parsnips, leeks, swedes, and peas for succession. Spray and earth up potatoes, Cabbages, cauliflowers, peas, and beans also benefit by earthing up. GROWING OF PETUNIAS. HOW TO MAKE A FINE 'SHOW.

In company with some of the more tender bedding plants, petunias may'how be safely planted. Whethet the larger flowered type, the giants of California, as they are called, or the' smaller' flowered sorts are grown, either of them will make a brave show, eVeri in' the hottest weather, while their delicate fragrance in the evenings will also be appreciated. Give the plants a sunny spot, and they will flower till furthgr' orders, either massed in a bed, in groups; for edging, or in pots in the cool greenhouses. Seedlings may be secured from the seedsmen, but’if preferred the seeds may be sown now. The ordinary kinds germinate should be sown in boxes dr pans,'either readily, but the frilled and double ones in a frame or greenhousb. The seeds are Very minute and require hardly any covering; in fact, if sown bn top of the compost'and covered -with «. -piece-;bf glass and brown paper to keep them dark they will germinate and establish thdihsSiVes quite readily. Don’t try to force?-the young plants with manure; they appreciate manorial soil all right, but an excess of manure has a tendency -to produce foliage at the expense of flowers. For petunias a mixture'of 16am, leaf-mould, and sand Will be found suitable, whether they are grown in pots dr in the open, so that a 'heavy soil' should be lightened With a good admixture of sand and leafmould or virgin loam to make it more friable and easily worked.

CLIMBING PLANTS.

FOR COVERING PURPOSES.

Climbers are most useful for covering fences, sheds, arches, or pergolas, but a considerable amount of attention is required if they ..are to prove satisfactory. A systematic thinning' out of surplus growth should be adopted'every season to obtain the’ best results in; the way of blossoms. If unattended they soon form a thick tangle of wood and many shoots are produced that, failing to get sufficient sunlight, die off and form dead wood. This goes on from year to year and the tangle gets thicker, and falling leaves lodge between, which, in decaying, form harbours for many obnoxious pests and look very unsightljr. In extreme cases where the plants have been neglected for years it may be necessary to cut the whole plant right down to the ground and start off again with new growth. One of the most important things in growing climbers is to keep the young growths tied in and to cut away each season a certain amount of the old wood. By following this, course the unmanageable tangle which results from'neglect will be avoided and.: sufficient healthy young growth-will always, be available for furnishing; the space to be covered.

POULTRY MANURE.

VALUABLE PLANT FOOD.

Poultry manure is rich in plant food and if properly dried and stored, is a great deal more valuable than ordinary farmyard manure. It should always be methodically saved by the small poultrykeeper as well as by those who have large numbers of fowls. A little concentrated manure for special uses is a : very handy thing to have about a garden to push along any particular crop or plant. Poultry manure should never be used fresh owing to its burning tendency, and its value is enhanced when it is allowed to dry in the air. ' Once dry it is best stored in a cask or box, mixing in a little soot and dry soil as the receptacle fills up, and if not wanted for immediate use a covering of dry soil should be placed on top and the mixture kept dry. An excellent liquid manure can be made by mixing fowl manure with an equal quantity of soot, placing them in a piece of scrim and soaking for a few days in ■ a tub or barrel of water. Use at the. colour ; of weak tea and apply after rain or . when the soil is moist after watering.

VEGETABLE CROPS.

FOR REGULAR SUPPLY.

Where proper steps, have been taken to put the soil into good order before planting or sowing there should be no difficulty in keeping up a supply of vegetables throughout the season. The success, however, of any crop depends very largely upon the attention given during the growing Reason. Early attention to thinning and keeping the

—— ■" .■ —————Tseedling* crops free from weeds so that they do not become drawn is a matter which is : of paramount importance. If the weeds are. allowed to choke the plants they cannot do themselves justice, while it must be evident to all that weeds rob the plants of their food supply and moisture. The importance .of frequent cultivation of the Soil surrounding growing crops cannot be too much emphasised. Keeping the surface always loosened up allows the sun’s rays and air to penetrate, keeping the soil sweet and encouraging the well-being of soil bacteria, upon the activities of which the health of the plants depends. Soil which is frequently hoed over will also retain moisture better than that which is allowed to become caked on the surface. The early staking of tall-growing crops is also of importance. Peas and beans, even those which are in the dwarf class, will do better and give better results if supplied with supports. As the weather gets warmer and drier watering will become necessary, and when this has to be done it should be done thoroughly. It is far better to give a part of the garden a thorough soaking once a week than to give the whole of it a sprinkling every day. Watering which merely moistens the surface does harm in that it attracts the roots of the plants toward the surface, where they get burnt by the sun as soon as the. water dries off. Now that the ground has got thoroughly warmed up, all’tender plants may be put out, with confidence. There is really nothing gained by planting such things as pumpkins, kumeras, or tomatoes too soon, as any cold snap gives them a severe check if it does not kill them outright. Well-hardened plants of all these tender subjects are available at the various plant dealers, and if well watered in and shaded for a few days after planting they will grow away with very little check at the present time. Dwarf beans of various kinds are among the tender vegetables. Sown now they will be very little, if any, behind those sown earlier. Peas.; are only at their best when picked young, consequently it is always better to sow in small quantities—or in quantities sufficient to supply the needs of the household—at frequent intervals. As soon as one lot appears through the soil another sowing should be made. The same applies to all salad crops—lettuce and radish, etc. All green crops respond readily to application of nitrate of soda given when the ground is wet after rain or after watering. Weak doses are best, about 2oz to the gallon, as this will be absorbed by the. plants without waste. Drink Sykes’ Lemon Squash, made from fresh squeezed lemons.

WIRELESS BROADCAST TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA, Auckland. Morning session: 10 a.m., devotional service; 10.15, selected recordings; 11 a.m., talk, “Domestic Electrical Apparatus”; 12 noon, lunch music; 12.30, relay of midday service from St. Matthew’s Church; 12.50, lunch music. Afternoon session: 2 p.m., selected recordings; 3.15, talk, prepared by Home Science Extension Service of Otago University; 3.25, selected recordings; 5 p.m., children; 6 p.m., dinner music; 7 p.m., news and reports; 7.35, talk, Mr. R. P. Spedding, “Rotorua—the Wonderland.” Evening session: 8 p.m., concert programme; relay, the Bohemian Orchestra, conducted by Colin Muston. 2YA, Wellington. Morning session: 10 a.m., selected recordings; 10.30, devotional service; 10.45, lecturette, “Cooking by Electricity”; 11.37, lecturette, representative health Department,- “Health Hints”; 12 noon, lunch music. Afternoon session: 3 p.m., selected recordings; 3.15, lecturette, prepared by Home Science Extension Department of Otago University; 3.30, sports results and special weather forecast; 4 p.m., weather forecast; 4.30, sports results; 5 p.m., children; 6 p.m., dinner music; 7 p.m., news and reports; 7.40, lecturette, A. E. Wilson, “Tourist and Health Resorts.” Evening session:. 8 p.m., concert programme; relay of concert by the Hutt Valley Leidertafel. 3YA, Christchurch. Morning session: 10 a.m., devotional service; 10.15, selected recordings; 11 a.m., talk, Mrs. Helen Milligan, “Student Life in New. York”; 12 noon, lunch music. Afternoon session: 2 p.m., selected recordings; 3.15, talk, prepared by Home Science Extension Service of Otago University;. 3.30 weather forecast and sports results; 4 p.m.,. weather forecast; 4.30, sports results; 5 p.m., children; 6 p.m., dinner. music; 7 p.m., news and reports; 7.30, review of Journal of Agriculture. Evening session: 8 p.m., concert programme; London Symphony Orchestra; baritone, Harold Williams; organ, Jesse. Crawford; contralto, Sophie Breslau; the Hillbillie’s Concertina Orchestra; male sextet; piano, Ignace Jan Paderewski; comedienne, Grade Fields; Victor Symphony .Orchestra; Light Opera Company; violin, Norbert Wethmar; tenor, Alfred O’Shea: Paul Abraham and his Orchesjtra; weather forecast and notices; 9.2,

ALL Varieties “Standard” Flower and Vegetable Seeds described in Free Catalogue. 5 pkts. Extra Choice Seeds, 3/3, post free. Tomato, Perrett’s Early Market !/• per packet. Clarkia Elegans ft. pl., six mixed colours, 1/- per packet. Iceland Poppy, Coonara Pinks, 17- per packet. Gynogloßsum Amabile Blue, fid per packet. Calendula fl. pl. “Radio,” fid per packet. Matheson & Roberts, Ltd., 10 Octagon, Dunedin.