THE GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17038, 11 May 1923, Page 13

THE GARDEN.

KITCHEN GARDEN. Seeds to Sow—Broad beans, carrots, peas. What to Plant—Cabbage, cauliflower, Horse radish. We are having an unusually long spell- of wet days, and such a quantity of rain has fallen that most outside work has been postponed for a time. Keep off the ground as much as possible until the surface is dry enough to walk on without the soil sticking to your boots. There is plerftv of useful work that needs doing. Prepare a plan for cropping next season, and make up your order for the seeds and roots required. The sooner ihis is got out and posted to the seedsman the better for both parties. Early orders are easier to fill while supplies are in stock, and if von select any that are not, the seed merchant will have time to obtain them, before you need to sow or plant them.

Having compiled the order, make and paint labels for each variety and write the name on the labels. This saves a let of time during the busy seed-sowing season. You know how many sowings of different varieties you intend to make, therefore prepare and forward the number required for seeds and roots, both flowers and vegetables. Boxes for seedling plants can be repaired and new ones made according to requirements. This will make sowing and pricking off seedlings a much easiea task in the spring. Don’t make the boxes too big. Seeds germinate better when sown in shallow receptacles and seedlings grow faster if they are put in soil that dries fairly quickly. Then there is the handling of the boxes when filled with plants. A medium-sized box can be manipulated with greater ease and less risk to the plants than large, heavy ones. Stakes can he prepared and printed, and tied in .small bundles ready for use. Primings from apple, pear and plum trees are frequently thrown away nhd burnt on the rubbish fire. Collect the best and point them now while they are soft. These are more valuable for supporting tender plants than those made by machinery. Potatoes in store may be examined, especially if there is any suspicion of disease. HARDY FRUITS. Trees growing in grass can he pruned, but those that are growing in land that is cultivated should be left until the surface soil is dry enough to be trodden on without sticking to the boots. When pruning the trees put the straightest prunings in bundles for use as stakes, and tie them in bundles of fifty and a hundred. If you have

HELP AND HINTS FOR AMATEURS.

no use for them sell them to those who raise large numbers of plants. For supporting carnation spikes, they are invaluable, and not as aggressive as the white stakes so much in use. To enumerate one half of the plants for which these stakes are useful would fill more space than can be spared. FLOWER G ARDEN. “ Keep off the ground while it is saturated with water.” This advice should be observed as much as possible. It cannot be followed in every case, but one can hardly explain how much harm is done to some soils by walking and working on them when they are as sodden as they are at present. Get all the jobs done in sheds or houses. Transplanting had better be held in abeyance for a week or two. GREENHOUSE. Met weather is often welcomed by those who have glass-houses to manage. Too often many .'•mall items of work is left lor a spell of wet days. This, frequently, is a long time coming, but present conditions will enable most gardeners to make good all arrears, and get forward with other items. Examine the chrysanthemums grown i . pots, and mark any that do not give satisfaction. There are so inauv good varieties in cultivation that theio can be no excuse for growing any that are not satisfactory. Pick all decaying leaves from plants, and look out for greeu maggots.

Use very little water in houses filled with plants in flower. The atmosphere is moist, and as the plants are making but little growth they do not need much water. Too much will soon make the soil cold and sour, conditions that are unsuitable for the plants’ health. Pelargoniums—Old plants should bo put in their final pots. Make a rich, heavy compost and provide ample sized pots. Make the soil quite firm about the roots. A loose soil will encourage soft growth. A firm compost dwarf and sturdy shoots. Don’t allow too many .shots to remain on the plants. Several robust growths will produce a better display than could be obtained from twice the number. The fanev scction, having smaller leaves, need smaller pots. Be sparing with water for some time after re-potting. Dew the plants overhead on sunny days, and water only when the soil gets dry. Keep the plants quite near the glass. If necessary raise a temporary bench for the plants to stand on by putting a plank oii several flower beds. This i> a splendid method. secures a constant circulation of air through the plants, keeping them strong and dwarf, with good, healthy foliage. Turn the plants once a week to prevent any of them growing mis-shaped.