THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 12

THE GARDEN.

J '■ . ■ ■■ -• 4 WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Seeds to Sow.'— Cabbage, lettuce, ' onions, radish, spinacli ami turnips. AVhat to. Plant. Cabbage, cauliflower, colory,'endive, lettuco and winter greens. ' Tho prist season has suited aspara? <•'!!», ''and -.silrcly • lias it made better growth. The tall ■ shoots ■••li'iuld bo made sccuto against strong .winds to prevent them breaking down before they ripen. A strand: or two of binder 1 twine arid'a few strong- stakes will give the necessary protection. Clear away the'remains oi exhausted crops, ©specially pons and the cabbage tribe,' as these harbour many insect*, and by destroying tho old plants these pests are killed, ■ Keep the hoe busy among ah seeclUno crops as long as possible. guiall to medium roots ot beetroot are much better thaii largo ones, as 1 they wo of better colour and more tender'. This is why it is advisable to lift'them and'istore when they arc big fimutjh for use. Taking them hp checks tho growth, but they should bj kept moist, or ; they will gradually become tough and stringy. 'lf they 910 ' packed, close to each other in damp - frnn'd or nshes'they retain ilioir freshness and flavour.. .Celery and onions in a'young, green state arc much preferablo to 1 old, hard Htalks and roots for mixing with other ingredients for. soup, etc., during the winter. A pinch ot seed son 11 at varij 011s times will provide a regular supply, may !>s sown in a cold jrame or in boxe*.. Perhaps the latter is the ■""■■most'Satisfactory.' These can bo put 011 r, venludah during "tho winter months. Many complaints are nnido. about injects eating tho stems of celery plants, lit; .This is very general this seanon, and is' one result of the very mild winter last year, as tho cold was not sevcro enough to destroy either the insects or their larva-, and consequently '..t..wcc are troubled with a, greater number than usual. A literal dressing of soot around tho celery plants is a good remedy, ps 'tliis will destroy many; and not h'l-ni tho cclcrj. , ' , FLOAVKR GARDEN. Many border plants have grown unusually tall this season. This means •••!•• extra "stalling and tying to protect ■ them from strong winds. Attend to ; 1 this '• work at once, because' once the stems are'blown down they never regain their upright position. 1 Tho low temperature experienced on . several nights recently should remind ns that the summer is nearly over, and , a short spell of early frosts may be experienced at any time. Such being tho case, wo should make every tender plant safe by putting it" in some shel- ' tcred position _ where frosts- cannot barm it.. Seedling plants should be ■ topi free from weeds and fallen leaves, as these hinder growth and encourage insect pests. ,1 Although it. seems but yesterday that we were " bedding out," attention i .must bo given to the supply of plants : y'for. next season. This means preparing tho schemo of planting for next year and then calculating how' many plants of the different flowers are required. Unless this, is done ire shall bo working in tho dark,: and may raise ninny nioro of some and too few of other plants required', and when bed-ding-out time arrives we shall have to plant what we have rather than what \Wv want. ' Propagating a supply of plants for inest. season should liavo the necessary " attention llntil the required quantity is 'obtained. The cuttings "are in good •Condition nt present, and will root freely with ordinary treatment, but if | ■wot weather prevails they , soon become 1 soft and sappy and damp off in large inmbors. Calceolarias are the excep- ' 'tioii; and these may bo left until tho '•• end of April. ;/ Where early supplies of, violets «re. thoy ■ must Laye tho shelter garden . fraines, where frosts, nre 'fttvel'o, enough to hiii't the binds. -11 l districts • the/frame can be put •over tlio pin nta in ' tile gtmlon wlioro - «tho plants ' have grown during the • summer, but in colder localities beds - should bo prepared for tliem as soon as possible. The bed, should be about two feet Jibove the level of the garden to secure efficient drainage, and the .soil should bo good, a .little 011 tho i heavy side, with some rotten manure ■from a spent hotbed mixed with it. Some black ashes from a smother fire should be added, and a sprinkling of Root. Mix these thoroughly. Make 'the bed both wider; and longer than ■the frame. If the frame is 4ft by,6ft. ,make tho bed Bft x 10ft, as this will allow 2ft outside the sides and ends flf the frame. Put enough soil inside the ciramo so that when the plants arc inside tho leaves are six inchfcs below . the glass, Transplant the violets on or uftor a wet day, and if tho weather keeps, dry give the plants a good soak».,ing the day before they are to be j moved. Take up each plant with as 'much soil as possible, remove all runners and decaying leaves, plant firm, and give a gcodwatering to settle tho soil about the roots. Then shade and keep the frame close during the day .. for several days until the roots take . hold of the fresh soil.' The lights are better "off during the night. "When tho plants . have got over the shift, leave the Tight' off night and dav until tho re are signsof frost or bad weather. The Lilium Candidum is one of the most popular of .hardy lilies. One reason for its popularity is becauso it is at its; best at Christmas and is known to thousands as the Christmas lily. .This plant, once it is established, grows free onough, but there are manv failTtires."- Tho fact is that there is "but a short season 'during Which it is safe to .transplant Lilium Candidum, because it is almost an evergreen. Although 110 hard and fast rule as to dates can be laid . down as to when the bulbs should b? lifted and transplanted, tho best time to move is when the flower-jug.-stem has turned brown. Then, although it is not ripe, is tlio safest time to transplant the bulbs. New roots Jtro sent out; long before the fresh .• leaves are pushing through the soil, andj as theso roots are both fleshy and "brittle, they, are easily broken. The leaf stems, too, are very easily broken. It is hardly possible to move a bulb with, leaves 011 it without breaking - tnem, so tender are they. As the time for transplanting will soon pass, any nho contemplate purchasing or moving should do so at once. " GREENHOUSE. Zonalo pelargoniums for winter flowering will soon need shelter from possible eaily frosts. The, cold frames are all filled with cinerarias, cyclamen, primulas, etc., so tlio zonales should W put in a greenhouse. A well ventilated, light house with a low roof is :niost suitable', so that,the plants can be kept quite close to the glass. Give each plant plenty of room. to enable air to circulate freely about it, .'as-jf the plants are crowded they will soon draw up into soft and , these will not produe'e large trusses of ■ j flowers. Only, hard, well ripened wood 7 can, give these hi" blossoms. Another • source of loss from- overcrowding i< "damping" during,.dull weather. A small particle of a faded leaf, or a ' scillc, 011" the stem, gets very wet,-and holds moisture, and this will cause tlio stem 011 Which the decaying particle rests to rot,'arid-the'shoot is lost. But if there wero room "for plenty of air to , circulate between the plants, this would dfv un the moisture on the decaying, piirticle, and the plant would be safe. . . . .lie sparing with water. Tho roots of Bouales are best if kept'on the dry side during'the aiitvlmn and winter. Allow •each plant, to get fairly flry before giving it-aiiy water, especially during duli .weather.' A little, manure water is good, -but . lot it be' weak, and onco a month water.: tho plants with lime ,'water, as j this will destroy insects and =keop the soil sweet. ' „ I TO CORRESPONDENTS. Silver", Might./ is 110 cure 'lor this disease.'' Tices afteetcd by it

should bo put . down, the roots grubbed up, and every particle burnt. "Subscriber" asks when and -low rose 'puttings, ran bo put in-—At oncc. The end of February or the first halt ot ■March is a good time to put in a batch of rose cuttings. Then the current season's growth is fairly matured, and, although not too hav<l to emit .roots, its firmness will keep it fresh until roots are formed. Select shoots about ton inches long, and it these are broken from the stem ut a joint v ith a "heel," they make bettor plant*. An ordinary cutting will root. and.do fairly well", lint tliere aro more eyes and greater .strength in the." heel/' which ensures greater success in propagation. The cuttings need shelter from sun and wind. The south side of a fence or building is good, but a cold frame without the glass light is better, because there the cuttings are protected-from every wind, and will give much better results. Any garden soil will do. but a pinch of sand should bo put at the base of each cutting. Hoots form much faster in sand, and thero is lew risk of decomposition. Put each cutting in firmly and settle the -soil by a good watering. There is a mistaken notion with many that any rose will succeed from cuttings. Only those with robust constitutions aro suitablo for this method of propagation. Varieties such as Dorothy Perkins, Crimson Rambler, Frau Karl Druscliki, .Airs John Laing, Hugh Dickson, Mario ran Houtte, Mdme Ed mo Met?.,-Joseph Kill; ucttjy Ladv.Ashtown and Clara Watson are a Miccess when raised from cuttings. Where people have failed is when they have 'taken cuttings of some weakly growing varieties that need the help of a vigorous, stock to enable them to mako good plants and give a moderate crop of flowers. Those weaklings are ever troubled with mildew and. other niant ,peats.