THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12637, 23 May 1919, Page 2

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN CARDEN. Seeds to Sow.—Cabbage, lettuce, onions (for salad), spinach, turnips. iVlmi io Plant.—Cabbage, cauliflower, rhubarb, 'Wonthor conditions are just cKcellenti. for all hinds of garden work. There should be no evidence of weeds or garden "refuse after the long spell of hue weather. Tine, the ground is rather dry for trenching, but this can wait until after rain. In the meanwhile, got rid of everything that is useless, andj push on with any alterations that have to be effected. Burn the garden, re-* fuse before it becomes too wet. Tin’s is a good, time to keep a sharp look-out for garden stakes for peas, beaus, etc,. As a rule, what trees that arc to ho foiled are cut down in late autumn op early winter, and too often the spray, branches are burnt. One can often got a load of the spray branches for carting them away, and. although they are not all good enough for stakes, the 1 greater portion are- If they arc handy to the potting shed they can,bo sorted! out on a wet day, the ends pointed, and tied up in bundles. Any branches from eighteen inches are useful. The-shorts er ones can be used for dwarf and the longer samples for taller kinds. All gardeners know the .value of stakes, but many cannot use them because they are not obtainable in the spring and early summer. ’Wo suggest that our renders got a supjjy as soon as possible. Another job for wet weather is malting and painting labels for the different vegetables. Obtain the wood now, and when it is too web for outside work cut tho labels into lengths to suit the different vegetables. Those for pota.tees should be about eighteen inches,, for peas, beans, onions and , similar crops fifteen inches, and for small seed beds twelve inches. Wood is rather expensive, and to preserve the* labels dip tile end that goes into the ground in hot tar. This will'keep them from rot tin- for a lone time. The top of tho labels should he painted white., Use a fairly stiff brush, and tub it well into the wood. A little extra brushing is labour well spent. When the paint is half dry, write the name of the-Vege-table on the label. This is a great savin? of time when the seeds are’ put in The only writing needed is the date on which: the seed is sown. This is very important in every garden, as* it enables one to note how long it lakes, from the time the seeds.are put in, for the crop to mature. This information is of weak assistance to the inkn who' is , expected to keep, up a constant supply of vegetables all the season- A FLOIYER GARDEN. With but few exceptions deciduous trees are devoid of foliage, and a general tidying up will now receive attention. ” Unfortunately there is too little discrimination ibetweefi * the various .trees and shrubs, -with the result that (U1 get the saine treatment. A little reflection should show how very wrong this is. Such trees as Japanese cherries, flowering apples, plums, etc., sluiuld have some feeding to keep them in first-class condition. These arc generally planted in tho best position*!, where fallen leaves are constantly cleared away. This deprives the roots of , the natural food they should derive from ■ decayed leaves, and unless Wo give them something to take their place how can we expect them to give the same wealth of blossom and tlie fine large leaves so much'admired in th© autumn wh©n they aro of tlie garden P There are several varieties of “food” useful for these trees. Thoroughly decayed manure, leaf mould, rotted turf, ashes and soil from the rubbish fire; the best way to feed the trees is to remove the loose soil, apply the “rioocl,” then' cover this with a tmn layer of soil from#another part of the border where there are no large trees, Do not dig deep near > flowering trees; many of the small roots near the surface are destroyed by deep digging. 'We should do everything possible to encourage the formation of roots, and then to carefully .protect them. If any of tho big trees need a I little pruning this is the time for tkif) work,' and’ remove every bit of dead) wood. When preparing a list of trees’ and shrubs for a- now garden. tho size: °f. the garden should he taken into consideration. If the area is small the) greater number should be dwarf and on the small side. If trees or shruba are on tho big side fewer varieties can bo planted. This detracts from the! interest ■in tho garden, because tlie greater the variety the more intepesting the collection. There are many beautiful shrubs that can bo kept within moderate dimensions by cutting them back every season' immediately - after they have flowered. Some o’nlv need pruning every other Season. It is advantageous to prune many every amison, but this work should ‘be entrusted to a man of experience, one who is thoroughly acquainted with the habits and attributes of each plant,, because there_are hardly any two that should ha ye just the same treatment. The’ only point in common is that the pruning: should ho done as soon as the current season’s flowers are faded. Keep al sharp look-out for ‘'scale”: this pest attacks many native plants, roses, mountain ash and others. If any signs of tins insect are seem spray the plant at once with one of the many insecticides prepared for their destruction. GREENHOUSE. : During the winter months'when all glasshouses aro crowded, the plants should be moved at frequent intervals* If they are left in one position for a long time some part of every one will' suffer- fTho more the plants are crowded the more often they should be rearranged. Water sparingly, and only when the soil is dry. If too much water is-used it will encourage “ damping off ” among soft-wooded plants. Once this starts it soon spreads to many plants. Vcn til ate early; fresh air is a great stimulant, and the more the phints get the better. Try and have everything as dry as possible, before the ventilators are closed in the afternoon. Store pots and boxes of bedding plants need constant attention. Pick off all dead and decaying leaves. Cut away any part of a ‘'plant that shows .the slightest sign of decay. If left on the trouble will soon spread to' others. Bulbs that are being forced should bp kept quite close to the gloss, to keen them sturdy.