THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12410, 30 August 1918, Page 2

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Seeds to Sow.—Roans, broccoli, beet, cabbage,, cauliflower, carrot, cress, cucumber, lettuce, mustard, onion, parsley, parsnipypeas, radish, spinach, tomato, turnip. . What to Plant.—Cilbbagc, cauliflower, garlic, herbs, lettuce, rhubarb, sea kale. , Although, nearly ; every kind Of vegetable seed can bo sbwu at this season, we must pay some attention to the condition of the soil. It is courting failure- to put small seeds iu wet, cold ground. . f AT ally of them would ‘-‘.rot” before they could germinate) Unci then the seedsman would bo blamed fur selling bad seed. Thu few that might sprout would find the cold condition of the soil anything but suitable for their tender rootlets, and instead of growing strong, they would gradually perish, or become so weak that at would ho impossible for them to ever make strong, robust plants. With increasing sunshine and a little wind the surface soil will soon gob fairly dry. Rut the cultivator through it several times. If flic quarter is 100 small for the cultivator, use the push hoc or a garden fork, and leave the surface rough for a day. or two, and when sowing take care that the seeds ore not buried deep. Pub just enough soil on them to keep them iu the drill until the roots strike into the soil. .Millions of seeds perish every spring because they are buried.too deep. When the, seeds are sown naturally the pod bursts, and they fall on Hie; ground,' not'under the surface, but on top. AVe should imitate this as .near as possible. If there arc any carrots, beet, or parsnips in the ground, lift ami store them at onto. Put them iu a cold positionfttp keep them from shrivelling. In sonic low quarters late broccoli have suffered severely from too much water, and many plants that promised good heads a. few weeks hack arc now in a sorry condition. No time should bo lost in getting them under the ground, for if left standing they will become very offensive after a few days as sunshine, not only offensive but dangerous to health. If they arc hurled in ,a deep trench they enrich the soil for a future crop. Complaints are made that spring cabbages, arc not growing, as they should. .This is owing to the exceedingly cold condition of the soil. The best way to stimulate growth is to .work‘the surface soil as■ often as possible to let the air get into the soil and warm it. I'inish planting rhubarb, scakale and herbs as soon as possible. HARDY FRUITS. : Currants and gooseberries will soon start into growth. Any 'bushes not yet planted should bo put,in at once. Cut them hard back and plant firm. Raspberries can bo ■■transplanted all through September, 1 bub the .sooner these arc in their,final positions the bettor. ‘ ' . Peaches _ and ■ nectarines should "he sprayed with ‘‘Botmleaux” as !a proventitive against "leaf curl.”/. The solution can be used a little stronger now than later on. Trees trained against walls'uud fencing will soon begin to open their buds. Prepare the materials, for covering them an good time, but don’t pub it over the trees, until the last minute, and arrange it so that every .part of the tree can get plenty of air. FLOATER GARDEN. ■ What a valuable ' plant i s the “ primus pissardi.”. Many fine specimens in. the Feudalton district are just at their best. Covered in groat profusion with their phlox-liko blossoms, they are very. beautiful, and coming into flower so soon after the winter makes them all the, morewelpome. One should have a place in every garden.' Sweet peas arc growing a little now, but very little. A few warm clays will stimulate them into greater activity. Birds and ground vermin are very foiicl of flic .young tender tips of sweet peas, and unless some measures are taken to protect them the losses will ho serious. AVire covers will keep them safe against birds, hut,woodlice and other ground vermin can get through the wire. Soot dusted over the plants will protect thorn for a few days, but the weather soon destroys its protective value. The host method is to spray the plants with some unpleasant smelling insecticide that Vill make the young growth unpalatable ho the vermin. 11 AUstoleno ” is an excellent ’ preparation for this purpose. It will make the plants; too objectionable for the vermin and will not harm the plants. It will keep nil creeping insects away and birds won't touch it, Ptit some shortspray stakes oiKbotli sides of the row, to encourage the young plants to climb. Too often staking is delayed* too long, and the plants, being unable to support their own weight, fall down, and once down .they .cannot he put erect and they cannot do as well as those that are kept upright. If short stakes are, used now the taller and stronger can be put to the plants later. A little extra and timely’ attention given to these plants now will prove a good investment. They provide us with largo quantities of useful flowers during the summer and the larger and finer those blossoms are the hotter for decorative purposes and • more ■ creditable■ to the grower. IVhen the surface soil is dry enough T° work, fork or hoe all the borders and bods and prepare the positions for the seeds that are to be sown during September. Good preparation of ’the seed quarters is half -the battle.' The seeds germinate hotter and’the plants, grow more robust, and give better blossoms. ■ „ GREENHOUSE. With stronger sunshine, shade of some kind will have to be provided for glasshouses; movable .'blinds are the best, although rather expensive. Permanent (or fixed) shading i s not satisfactory because it robs the plants of light during dull weather. If if, is not possible to, fix blinds to the entire roof la 111 01 ‘ fwo-tbirds and shade die other part with a little flowered win t ing. Prepare larop,.q Uau ti. tics of soil for potting. Next month is the big, tame for potting. Terlmps there are more plants potted and repotted in September titan in any other month, and if soil, etc., are prepared the work can ho pushed on with better results than if one lias to prepare every barrow load of soil when hnsv with the work of overhauling the plants