THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19847, 16 January 1920, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

'.WORK FOR THE WEEK.

KITCHEN 1 GARDEN.

Seeds to Sow.—Beans, beet, cabbage, cauliflower, cress, lettuce, onion (for salad), peas, parsley, radish, spinach, turnip. What to Plant.—Broccoli, cabbage, colory, endive, leek, winter greens.

Soft plants that bare lately been set in I heir final quarters should bo kept moist, until new roots are formed, and tbo plants get bold of the soil. We should remember, that the plants were quite do-n to each other in the seed bod, or box, and that now they are se.t wide apart fhc conditions are very different. Autumn sown onions.—With the object of checking lop growth and diverting the strength into the bulbs, gently twist and bend down the necks; if the bed is a small one, do the, work by hand, but if there is a big quantity take, a wooden rake and carefully press the lop growth down. Keep spring sown onions free fiom weeds. These, not only rob Iho onions of light, air and moisture, but they harbour insect pens. I) possible give the bed a good socking with water to keep the plant 1 growing strong. A liberal dressing wiib artificial manure would prove a good investment, Keep a keen lookout for mildew, and if signs are delected, prepare, a solution of bail’ an ounce ol sulphide of potassium to one gallon of water and spray the plants. Take care to obtain “sub I’hide” not •‘sulphate” of potassium. The mistake has been made, therefore be careful. The “sulphide” is called “Liver of Sulphur.” i’utaiocs.—Early varieties that arc about ripe should be. lifted and stored in a 1 cool place, although late varieties may bo left, in the ground long alter they aro ripe, without suffering any barm. Early varieties, soon dteriorate if left in the ground very long after they have linLlicd their growth. Some varieties soon lose much of their flavour bm the. greatest ri.-k is trout the tubers starling into growth alter a heavy rain. Ebon lilting the crop carefully selectthe quantity of seed required and leave these tubers on the ground lor several days mi til they begin to turn green. They keep better and are less likely to be used (by mistake) during the winter. Alter lifting a quantity of potatoes collect every particle of leaf an 1 haulm and hum them, llemember. If there are, spores of any fungoid disease on the haulm, and the haulm is leit, on tbo ground, the spores will rest; it; the ground until then; is another crop grown that, is suitable lor the spores lo attack. Ibcrejnre destiny the haulm at once and obviate this possibility. Hardy limits.—Give constant alien tion to strawberry runners. Tbo.-a should have regular supplies of water to assist, the pin in lots to .make roots and a strong crown. Beflmmber the sod about the plant let must lie kept moist., tncrcloro water ol ton, especially in warm weather .If a hod Unit has limited is to be kept another year the plants should have every attention possible to assist them to form now roots and strong crowns. This season’s crop and the dry weather wail have weakened the plant and prompt assistance is necessary to cncoutage a strong robust new growth. Hcmove all runners and damaged leaves and give each plant n thorough soaking and a. small handful of bone manure. ’ If there are any signs of “simps” or red spider spray the plants with a strong solution oi : one of the several excellent insecticides prepared for this purpose. blower Garden.—Watering and removing old blossoms is a constant task in any garden just now. Unless tin' laded flowers are promptly removed they spoil tiie. plants, and seeds form which tax tbo energies of ilm plant M , much that few more blossoms a'lv ioimii'd.

Green caterpillars are very troublesome on Zonalo geraniums. ' To catch and crush them seems to bo tin- best, l eniedy. If we spray the plums the solution used doe.-, not improve | Tu . hcaiuy of Ilm flowers w ,d foliage, neivlirr Mill it destroy many of the eat.-r----pibars. 111 esc artful inserts hide thom•sclves away irom He reach „f the spray

Seeding.; of hardy plants siidi a; wd'flower polyanthus, Uanierburv bells fweel. Bui,a ms, ole., should be'pricked . «*>««* >l»‘V aro big enough to immlle. _ I impure a good nursery bed by mixing a quantity of leaf mould, '"'ted turl. or manure from a su.-nr hut bed with the garden soil. Th M hhrous material will provide, an ideal medium 1,,,- tlio plant, u, make a mam ol hj irmu roots m. and when the plains are traifll erred to their Ibweriim qnarbors in the autumn thev will' retain sue 1 a quantity n f soil will, ,1m roots that the sbili will not; barm them Greenhouse.--! Jnrd-w-aoded nlani, need carclul watering durim- i);js ~,K i *V >r V V lO ' 1 , 11 '- A *ilca.s ericas, emteri . i mdodendrou--. eyi and kindred loams arc growing last, but there is a )‘Gc ol giving too much water at Ihe root.. Syringe Hie plants overhead ) ieo each him day. hut doiiT warnhe roots unless the soil is on the drv ■■me. lo keep the soil in the not; in 'a constant sodden condition is a certain rmul in latlure Tlmrdore examine each , | l,l C- I heivlore i xamine 'each I"in,cM fr - lvl "‘7 f i! - :l sl . :ai,> ,:, 1 > ' v iib your ku i-kles. J u gives a dear ring. M.der, it a. dull thud, don'l. Ealvia Splemlens.-. These plants' am now growing freely and should lie kepr 111 tins i nndnion until the season s ferowtli is completed. If j}ui planm ■' :l V' r ;| l '"( (1 k they will be ai lacked ''■ nil red spider. This pest will soon •moil tile Milage ami weaken tl„. pl.-mls is a goad plan to syringe the plants al ' ni,, 'ryii|s t,, keep the spider ''j l ' l ( ° ! 1 ;| i n the solution oi overv K\if '' nher flowering begonia; sh n nh] m-s ts Ilm so,, should he rich am! ■. - A V; T-V light compost is 0 LIU cause, of failure of n ams. i, ivo ,Imm lVosl ,‘ ;llj . 1 lev wall grow mom to!,mi. last inil( . h ' m l:o " i ;G nnd give mud, iarg-r i'" ,j hcarer coloured flowers than ban ■e olitanied Irom plums gnmu p, ;l boe mniusphero f; nv v .,,, k - )l];llll] ,, '■..tc {J.iee a wed; and damp ;| u , p |, over!mail every aiirruoott. 1 ’ /eniale. 1,,,- winter dowering should re m mi open nouiimt with, ;• view m meurmg a thoroughly matured growth’ ; 0 r wood mdl mg give flowers i„ da"Ul - 1 ire urn plants td.-mv „f 'yen- Gno can oiten > e e a 'hatch, ef points m a very open posiiion. but Placed so dose togdher that lidn ami s ". r can .oily, rmdt the tops of the I'hmts Hie plants should bo nut f-,,-enough apart to allow light and air to IfedN circulate around every Gale:; sparingly. Hear in mi, id that geraniums do best tn a moderately cW condition.